Breaking the ice

Grace

I still couldn't believe I had actually made that bet with Jaxon. A date with him? Me? Of all people? I was probably the most stubborn person in the world, but I had to admit it—part of me was excited. Not about the date, of course, but about proving him wrong. There was no way he could score a hat trick. I'd barely seen him score more than one goal in a game, so three was a stretch.

But here I was, standing at the edge of my seat, watching him glide across the ice like he was born to be there. It wasn't just his skill—it was the way he held himself, with that quiet confidence that seemed to have an effect on everyone around him. I'd never been one to be impressed by anyone so easily, but there was something magnetic about him.

Still, no way was I going to let that distract me. I couldn't afford to lose this bet. I had to keep my cool, especially with him out there playing like the stakes were life or death.

The first goal came quickly. The crowd went wild, and I found myself staring at him for a moment longer than I intended. I hated how good he was. How natural it all came to him.

I had to remind myself to breathe and focus on anything other than the fact that Jaxon had just scored. It was only one goal, but the way he celebrated with his teammates—grinning like it was nothing—made me wonder if he could actually do this.

"Two more to go," I muttered to myself, hoping my inner voice would be convincing enough to drown out the buzzing feeling that had started creeping up on me.

I glanced around the rink to distract myself, but it was impossible to ignore him. Every time he touched the puck, I couldn't help but watch. He had a way of moving that made everything look effortless, like the game wasn't as hard for him as it was for anyone else. It was almost annoying how good he was.

But when he scored that second goal, the feeling in my chest was a strange mix of frustration and admiration.

"No way," I whispered, barely able to contain my shock. I had bet he wouldn't get three. I hadn't actually thought he'd do it.

My fingers tightened around the railing in front of me. I stood up straighter, ignoring the growing tension in my stomach. One more goal, I thought. He can't get one more.

But as the game carried on, it became clear that he was only getting better. He was everywhere on the ice—leading the charge, driving the puck forward, and taking opportunities like they were second nature. His eyes locked on the goal, and it was like everything around him disappeared.

The third goal came so quickly I barely had time to react. The crowd erupted in cheers, and I was left standing there, my mouth slightly agape, as the noise around me blurred. Jaxon had actually done it.

Three goals.

I didn't know what to think at first. Part of me wanted to laugh it off, tell myself it didn't matter, but deep down, I knew. I knew I had to keep my end of the bargain. I had to go on that date with him.

But it wasn't just the bet. It was the way he'd gotten under my skin, the way his smirk had made me feel like I was always playing catch-up. Maybe he had won the game, but he hadn't won me. Not yet.

I saw him skate over to the bench, giving a quick high-five to a few of his teammates, then he turned and skated right toward the glass where I was standing. I could see his face through the mesh, his grin wide, and it made my stomach flip uncomfortably.

The crowd was still loud, but I couldn't focus on anything except the fact that Jaxon was standing there, his gaze now locked onto mine.

"Well, well, Grace. Looks like you owe me," he said, his tone casual but that cocky grin never leaving his face.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't suppress the small smile that tugged at the corner of my lips. I had to give it to him—he was relentless. He had the confidence of someone who always got what they wanted.

"Guess so," I replied, crossing my arms. "But don't think for a second that I'm going to make this easy on you."

He raised an eyebrow. "Easy? Who said anything about easy? This is going to be fun."

My heart skipped a beat. I couldn't tell if he was messing with me or if he genuinely thought he'd won me over. Either way, I wasn't going to make it that easy for him.

"I'll remind you, Jaxon," I said, leaning closer to the glass, "this isn't over. I haven't agreed to anything yet."

His smile widened. "Oh, I'm counting on it. Trust me, Grace. You won't regret it." He paused, his eyes gleaming with that playful challenge in them. "I'm just that good."

"Don't get ahead of yourself," I shot back, a mix of irritation and amusement bubbling inside me. "We'll see how good you really are."

The crowd's cheers were growing louder, and I could see Jaxon's teammates heading toward the locker room. He nodded to me, as if sealing the deal, before skating off, disappearing into the tunnel.

As I made my way out of the arena, I couldn't stop the smile creeping up on my face. I had to admit, I was curious. Maybe a little more than I should have been.

Maybe this bet wasn't such a bad thing after all.

But one thing was for sure—I wasn't going to let him get away with thinking he had me wrapped around his finger. Not just yet.

The sound of skates scraping against the ice still rang in my ears as I left the rink. I had agreed to a date with Jaxon, but I was determined to make sure he knew it was just for the bet. I wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of thinking I was interested in anything more than proving him wrong.

Still, a tiny voice in the back of my mind kept whispering that this wouldn't be as simple as I thought.

And for the first time in a long time, I was kind of excited to see where it would go.