Breaking the ice

Jaxon

The night was shaping up to be exactly what I needed—a little escape from the usual grind of practice and school. I hadn't spent much time outside of hockey with Grace, and I'd kind of been looking forward to it.

There was something... easy about being with her, like we just clicked. Dinner had been great—laughter, easy conversation, the kind of vibe you get when everything feels right. Nate and Emma were clearly hitting it off, their chemistry undeniable. Every time I glanced over at them, they were sharing some inside joke or laughing at something only they understood. It was almost too perfect.

But for some reason, I found myself not caring. They were a great pair, and I had no problem with it. But with Grace? That was a different story. The whole night, she and I had been teasing each other, playful back-and-forths that made everything feel lighthearted and fun. Every time I caught her eye, it was like the air between us changed, even if only for a moment. A little smile here, a lingering touch there. I loved how she made me feel—confident, alive, like I could be myself without the weight of expectations. We were just about to leave the restaurant when I decided to head to the bathroom, leaving Emma and Nate to chat. "Be right back," I told Grace, flashing her a smile as I stood up. She nodded, her eyes twinkling with something unspoken.

"Hurry back, Captain. We don't want to leave you behind." I grinned. "I wouldn't let you." It took a couple of minutes, but when I returned to the table, I wasn't expecting what I saw. Grace was talking to some guy—definitely not one of her friends—and as I watched from across the room, the way she was laughing with him, the way he was leaning in a little too close, something in my chest twisted.

I knew I wasn't supposed to feel anything, but for some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling of... jealousy? I stopped in my tracks, just for a moment, trying to figure out why it bothered me so much. This wasn't a date, just a night out with friends. But seeing her smile so easily at someone else, like she was genuinely enjoying his company, sparked something inside me that I wasn't ready to confront.

I swallowed hard, walking over to the table. Grace didn't even notice me coming up, still caught up in whatever conversation she was having with the guy. "Everything okay here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though I couldn't stop the tightness that had crept into my tone.

Grace looked up, startled, her eyes locking onto mine. For a split second, she looked guilty—like she hadn't expected me to come back. "Oh, hey, Jaxon," she said, her smile faltering slightly, but she recovered quickly. "This is Blake. He's in one of my classes." Blake? I didn't recognize him, but that didn't really matter. It was the fact that Grace was sitting there, leaning in with this guy, that bothered me.

That was *our* space, wasn't it? The teasing, the back-and-forth that we'd been enjoying all night—it had been *us*. Now, this random guy was making himself comfortable in it, and it didn't sit right with me.

Blake extended a hand toward me, his smile wide. "Hey, man. Nice to meet you. Grace talks about you all the time." I forced a smile, shaking his hand firmly, trying not to let the irritation seep through. "Yeah? Well, she's got a lot to say, apparently."

Grace's face flushed just a little. "Not *that* much," she added with a small laugh. But I didn't miss the way Blake's eyes flickered between us. I could feel the tension rising in the air, thick enough that even Emma and Nate seemed to notice. "Anyway," I said, cutting through the awkwardness, "I think we should get going. We've been here long enough, right?" I didn't wait for an answer.

I turned and started walking toward the door, not even looking to see if Grace was following. I knew that was a dumb move, but I couldn't help it. Something about the way Blake was hanging around her, that little spark between them, set me off. I could feel Grace's gaze on my back as I walked, but I kept my pace steady, not slowing down. Nate caught up to me first, his voice low. "Dude, what's going on? You good?" I gritted my teeth, shoving open the door to the restaurant and stepping out into the cool night air.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my body to relax, but everything inside me felt... off. "Yeah, I'm fine," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. Emma and Grace followed behind, and I could hear their footsteps quickening as they caught up. "Jaxon, wait!" Grace called out, her voice laced with confusion, maybe even a hint of frustration. "What's wrong?"

I turned to face her, and for a split second, I could see the guilt in her eyes. The guilt that I'd felt when I'd walked in and saw her with Blake. It made my chest tighten all over again. "I'm fine," I said, the words coming out harsher than I meant. "I just didn't know we were hanging out with him." Grace's face fell, a mix of frustration and hurt crossing her features. "Jaxon, don't do this. It's just Blake. He's a classmate." "I get that," I said, my voice quieter now. "But it doesn't change the fact that you're laughing with him like... like you're not with me." She opened her mouth to respond, but I cut her off before she could. "You know what? Forget it. I'm just... I'm not gonna stand around and watch you act like that."

Before I could say anything else, I turned and walked away, heading for the parking lot. I knew I shouldn't have reacted the way I did, but I couldn't help it. Watching her with him, seeing the way they were talking so easily, made something inside me snap. I wasn't used to feeling like this. And I hated that I had to walk away without giving her a chance to explain. But it was easier this way. It was safer this way.