All Chapters of Breaking The Ice Between Us: Chapter 181 - Chapter 190

Harper POVI’m studying.Or at least pretending to.The same paragraph has been open in front of me for ten minutes and I still haven’t absorbed a single word.Because my brain keeps replaying everything Cole told me earlier.Logan overtraining.Not sleeping.Staying alone at the rink after midnight.And maybe worst of all—Coach saying Logan looked happier with me.The thought has been sitting painfully in my chest ever since.Because I spent weeks convincing myself leaving was helping him.But what if I was wrong?What if all I did was hurt both of us?My phone buzzes beside me.I barely glance at it at first.Probably Lila.Or my mom.Or another text I don’t have the emotional energy to answer.Then I see the name.Logan.Every ounce of air leaves my lungs instantly.I stare at the screen while my pulse starts hammering violently against my ribs.He hasn’t called me in days.Not since everything exploded between us.My thumb shakes slightly hovering over the answer button.Then fin

Logan POV Marco is staring at me like I might spontaneously combust. Honestly? Fair. “You screamed ‘I love her’ at your father in the middle of the rink?” I throw my gear bag onto the floor of the Ice House living room harder than necessary. “Yes.” Marco blinks slowly. “In front of Coach?” “Yes.” “And lived?” “Unfortunately.” Marco whistles low. “That’s either emotional growth or the beginning of your villain origin story.” I collapse onto the couch, dragging both hands over my face. Everything hurts. Not physically. Well… physically too. But mostly emotionally. The fight with my father cracked something open in me that I don’t think can be closed again. And honestly? I don’t want it closed. That’s the weirdest part. For the first time in my life, I said exactly what I felt without caring whether it made me look weak. And somehow— That felt better than winning. The thought should probably concern me more considering I’m literally tryi

Logan POV I haven’t been this nervous before a game in years. Which is saying something considering NHL scouts are literally in the building tonight. But somehow? That’s not what has my stomach twisted into knots. It’s Harper. Or more specifically— Whether she’ll actually show up. I lean forward in my stall slowly tightening the tape around my stick while the locker room buzzes around me. Music blasting. Guys chirping each other. Normal pregame energy. Except I can barely focus on any of it. Because my brain keeps replaying her text from earlier. I’ll be there. Three words. And somehow they scared me more than any scout report ever has. “You’re staring at your tape like it insulted your family.” I glance up. Marco. Of course. “I’m fine.” “You’ve checked your phone fourteen times in ten minutes.” “I hate you.” “No you don’t.” Unfortunately true. Marco grins before dropping onto the bench beside me. “So.” He wiggles his eyebrows obnox

Logan POVThe second the final buzzer sounds, I know I’m screwed.Not because of the game.Not because of scouts.Not because Coach is already yelling about defensive discipline even though we just won by three goals.No.I’m screwed because Marco saw Harper wearing my jersey.And Marco has the emotional maturity of a raccoon with access to energy drinks.The arena explodes around us.Fans are screaming, sticks are tapping against the ice, my teammates are piling into each other like we just won a championship instead of a regular season game. The energy is insane. Loud. Electric. Everything I used to love about nights like this.And tonight?I actually feel it again.Not the angry, hollow kind of focus I’ve been running on lately.Real adrenaline.Real pride.Real happiness.I skate toward the boards, breathing hard, sweat dripping down the back of my neck. Cole bumps his shoulder into mine as we make our way toward the tunnel.“Good game,” he says.I glance over at him.“You sound s

Harper POVI should’ve known this was a terrible idea.The first clue?Logan looked entirely too amused when I asked where we were going.The second clue?He refused to answer.The third clue?The giant hockey house currently sitting in front of me.“Absolutely not.”Logan laughs immediately.“It’s not that bad.”I stare at the Ice House.Then at him.Then back at the Ice House.“It literally looks like poor decisions happen there professionally.”“It does.”“Logan.”“Harper.”I narrow my eyes.He grins.The worst part?He’s handsome when he grins.It’s deeply unfair.“I hate that you’re cute.”His smile gets bigger.“I love that you think I’m cute.”“I didn’t say—”“You literally just did.”Traitorous mouth.I should’ve left it at the diner.Should’ve gone home.Should’ve made better life choices.Instead I’m standing outside the Ice House wearing his hoodie because the temperature dropped after sunset and Logan insisted I was freezing.For the record?I was freezing.But that’s not