On Thin ice のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 6

I didn’t even feel my fist leave my body.One second Carter Vale’s mouth was moving, saying something about my sister that made the ice under my skates feel like it was cracking open. The next second my knuckles were buried in his face and blood was already painting the white surface red.The arena went dead quiet for half a heartbeat. Then it exploded.People screamed. Phones lit up like a thousand tiny stars. I stood over him, chest heaving so hard it hurt, gloves already off, the metallic taste of adrenaline thick in my throat. Vale was on his knees, hands cupped under his nose, blood pouring between his fingers. He looked up at me with pure shock, like he couldn’t believe I’d actually done it.Neither could I.“Harrington! Box! Now!”The ref’s voice barely cut through the roaring in my ears. Two of my teammates grabbed my arms and dragged me toward the penalty box. I let them. My legs felt disconnected, like they belonged to someone else. Coach’s face on the bench was the color of

They made us meet in the empty athletic department conference room like we were signing a peace treaty after a war neither of us wanted.I got there first. Habit. Always early, always ready, even when the only thing waiting for me was a disaster. The long table was covered in call sheets, branding packets, and a stack of NDAs so thick it looked like a threat. A camera was already set up in the corner, red light blinking. Another one faced the opposite wall. They weren’t even pretending this was private.My agent, Marcus, stood by the window scrolling through his phone. He didn’t look up when I walked in.“She’s late,” he said.“She’s probably trying to talk herself out of it.”Marcus finally glanced at me. “Don’t be an asshole when she gets here. Smile. Be charming. Do the thing you’re supposedly good at.”I dropped into a chair and stared at my hands. The knuckles on my right hand were still split and yellowing under the tape. Every time I flexed them I felt the impact again..bone on

The coffee shop they chose for the first official “date” was the kind of place that looked casual until you noticed the lighting had been adjusted for cameras.I arrived ten minutes early because I refused to look like I was the one being summoned. Jax was already there, seated at a corner table with his back to the wall, hoodie up, taped knuckles resting on the table like a warning. A single camera was positioned near the pastry case. Another floated near the window. Dana stood just out of frame, smiling like this was a gift she was giving us.I sat down without greeting him.“You’re early,” he said.“So are you.”“Didn’t feel like giving them the entrance shot.”I almost respected that. Almost.A server appeared with two cups neither of us had ordered. Dana’s voice floated over. “Just act natural. Talk about classes. Or the weather. Or how you can’t stop thinking about each other. Whatever feels true.”Jax’s mouth twitched. “None of that feels true.”“Then pretend harder,” Dana said