All Chapters of Winter's Mate: Fated on Ice : Chapter 11 - Chapter 17

11RosieLate January.I was a bundle of nerves as I walked onto the campus for my first day. I didn’t think I’d be back in school in my life after being expelled. I’d given up on education for now, but here I was, in a red hoodie that covered the side of my face, my hands holding the handle of my bag tighter, feeling anxiety eating my soul up.God, I wasn’t really mentally prepared for this as I walked further, following the map pamphlet in my hand. Highland University was bigger and more lively than I expected, filled with groups of students chatting, laughing, and moving together. I felt like an outsider. Late registration, late acceptance. I was even shocked when I was given admission in my last semester of final year. Maybe because of my GPA throughout three and a half years, I had to count for something. But I prayed to be able to make it through.Although I was a top student throughout my life, that top was for my parents. I studied more than normal to be better than Sophia—lat

T13RosieJude and I had settled into a comfortable routine. Jude waited for me at the gate every morning, leaning against the brick wall with his hands in his pockets, that small smile appearing the moment he saw me. Then he’d fall into step beside me, walking me to my morning class before he went to practice. After practice, he’d find me again for lunch—always knew exactly where I’d be sitting—and then walk me to the café for my shift.It became something between us. Neither of us questioned it or found it unusual. Being together, walking together, and being each other’s company—it felt so natural. Like breathing. As it had always been and would always be.I tried not to think too hard about what it meant.After class, we went to the library. The library became our place, our moment. Second floor, corner table by the window where the afternoon light came in golden and warm. Jude was an excellent tutor. Patient in a way I didn’t expect from someone so naturally smart. He was a clear

15Rosie povI was the one who said I needed space, yet I missed him. I didn’t know how he’d grown on me. My heart ached and yearned to run to him, but I couldn’t. I should know my place.I was just building myself up for another heartbreak. I should stop whatever was building before it bloomed, because I knew—this would shatter me completely, worse than Josh’s betrayal.I’d tried my best effort to arrive at school early so that I wouldn’t catch Jude, even swallowing my anxiety and sitting in the middle of the students. And after class, I ran out to the café. I could feel Jude wanted to talk to me, but what would I say?There was this constant voice in my head, always there to make me feel worthless.I felt tears sting my eyes and I blinked them away as I tried to focus on the customer in front of me. Since I’d told Jude to give me space, headaches had been coming in and out and I thought it should be stress from overthinking and work clashing on me.The afternoon shift was always bus

1RosieMaya grabbed my arm after my shift ended and dragged me toward the parking lot with this determined look on her face that I knew meant trouble. “You’re coming to Jude’s hockey game tonight and I won’t take no for an answer,” she said while doing this wiggly eyebrow thing that made my face burn hot.“Maya, I don’t think—”“Nope, you’re going,” she interrupted me cheerfully while opening her truck door. “You need to see him play at least once and trust me, it’s worth it.”I wanted to refuse because big crowds and public spaces still made my skin crawl but Maya looked so excited and I couldn’t disappoint her again so I reluctantly nodded and climbed into the truck.The arena was packed when we arrived and my anxiety spiked immediately, all these people were crammed together, and what if someone recognized me? What if they knew? But Maya grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd to seats near the rink and I tried to focus on breathing instead of panicking.“Best seats in the