Becoming The Ice King’s Forbidden Desire

~REESE~ My phone pinged twice, and I took it out from the apron where I had left it. There were two missed notifications from the email I had repeatedly kept refreshing over the last twenty-four hours. My thumb hovered around for half a second before I swiped without expecting anything. I made myself think of countless things it could be about, maybe a promotion email, something about a group chat notification or trending social media topics, but when I opened it, it was an offer from The New York Tigers. (Dear Ms Hale, we are pleased to inform you that you've been selected for the position of media coordinator.) I stood frozen at my spot, reading it again and again until Nanya’s voice cut through my disbelief, “Okay, you have to tell me right now, or I'm taking your phone.” She was still leaning against the counter. The cafe had gone quiet, and closing time was in about thirty minutes or thereabouts. “I got it.” My voice came out smaller than I intended for it to, “Got what, Reese? I love you, but you're being annoying—“ “The Tigers, I'm their new media coordinator.” Nanya’s mouth fell open and within seconds, she was around the counter, hugging me so tight that I nearly dropped my phone. “Shut up, shut up, shut up. Reese, this is huge, this is everything you—“ she suddenly pulled back, hands still on my shoulders, and her excitement dimmed just enough for me to see the flicker underneath it. “Wait. What about the Vipers offer?” I already knew what she was going to say before she even said it. “I’m turning it down. Tyler's transfer to New York Vipers didn't pull through, so I'm turning them down for Tigers.” I had applied to New York Vipers two weeks ago, but eight days ago, Tyler came crying to me that his transfer to New York Vipers didn't pull through, and so he was standing back with his current team. The best I could do to cheer him up was apply to his team. “Reese.” “Nanya, I already decided.” Truthfully, I had spent the last three weeks running numbers and calculating the salary difference, the bigger platform, and all of it. “The Tigers is where Tyler is. It just makes sense.” “The Vipers pay almost double what they are offering you. Everyone in this industry would kill for that logo on their resume." Nanya crossed her arms as she gave me a worried look. “You've wanted this since you were in undergrad, and now you're about to hand the better version of it away because your boyfriend plays for the other team?” “It's not about handing anything away.” I was already pulling my apron over my head, folding it over the back of the chair because if I stood here any longer, I was going to start doubting myself, and I didn't have room for that today. Tyler and I hadn't seen each other for almost a week, and this was the perfect surprise to visit him, “I want to be near him; is that so hard to understand?” Nanya didn't answer right away. “I'm happy for you.” She finally said, “I am. I just want you to be happy for you too, not just for the two of you.” I hugged her again before she could say anything else because I didn't want to think too hard about the way her words sat strangely in my chest. “I'll call the Vipers Representative on my way. I already know what I'm doing.” Just like I said I would, I called the recruiter from the sidewalk outside the cafe and rejected the offer, and although she sounded surprised, I had already made up my mind. I headed straight to Tyler's house, holding a bottle of his favorite wine in a small bag clutched to my fingers, and when I arrived, I let myself in with a spare key he had given me about eight months ago. Tyler's apartment was too quiet for six in the evening, but I didn't think anything of it until I heard a laugh that wasn't mine coming from down the hall. A knot in my stomach twisted as I walked further until I was standing in front of his bedroom door. “You feel sooo good baby…” “And you f**k sooo good…” She giggled, and I heard a slapping sound as my fingers pressed against the doorknob, pushing the door open, The package slipped from my hand, shattering the wine bottle against the floor, “Reese.” Adrian sat up, the look on his face so unbothered like I had interrupted a blissful moment before the finale, while the girl beside him reached for the sheet, “Who the hell are you?” A scoff forcefully escaped my throat from shock, or maybe disbelief, as I stared at her “Get the hell out right now.” She tilted her head to Tyler, and when he didn't utter a word, I watched her pick her things from the floor, “Babe…” Tyler called, but before he could speak further, she was out, slamming the door right behind me. It took me a while to inhale and exhale deeply, trying my best to keep my tears at bay and not show any sign of weakness, but it was impossible, “Three years, Tyler.” My voice broke out with a small sob, “Don't.” He was pulling on a shirt, avoiding my gaze like I was some inconvenience. “Don't stand there and act like you didn't see this coming.” “Excuse me?” “You gave up medicine for PR in college because it was easier for my schedule, and you've been holding onto me as if I owe you something for that. I needed someone who could keep up with where I'm going, Reese, and not someone with nothing to offer me. You're not, and you were never going to be enough for what I need. You don't have money, power, or even connections. You're not even—” He stopped himself, “Say it,” I said, “You're not even that good in bed. Harlow is so freaking young, exposed, and knows the right body styles to keep me fully satisfied. Most importantly, she's the daughter of a famous hockey star. Do you know what that means for me? What kind of career I could have if he decided to even train me himself.” So this wasn't about love, and neither was it about her. Tyler was just a backstabbing devil and a calculating bastard I had been hopelessly in love with all this time. “This is about my future, Reese.” I cleaned my tears as the pain and heartbreak were suddenly replaced with rage and anger. All these years of sacrifices and I wasn't part of his future. God, I was such a fool. “And I hope that future f*****g rots in the pit of hell.” I walked out of his apartment without any real direction, my mind going back to everything I had sacrificed for that piece of s**t. My career, money, time, effort. I was one of the best student media coordinators in college. I studied day and night on how to be the best of the best because of Tyler, because in every practical situation, I wanted to be chosen to ensure that whatever his college team didn't want slipping out to the media never did and everything concerning rumors was totally in check. I f*****g didn't come this far just to throw it all out. My phone suddenly rang in my pocket, and I pulled it out. I stared at the screen long enough for my eyes to burn before answering the call, “Hi Mom.” “Reese baby, thank you for the money you sent earlier today. It went a long way with your sister's college tuition fee.” A tear slid down. Reene had stayed back two years after high school because of me. If I had pursued medicine, maybe things wouldn't have been so tough, and I'd have gotten a good job. I worked my ass off at the coffee shop after I rejected every offer from hockey teams just because I wanted it to be the New York Tigers. “I'm so sorry, Mom. I ought to do better for you and Renee.” “You're doing enough, sweetheart. You're doing just fine.” She paused for a second. “I love you.” “I love you too, Mom,” I replied, and I meant every bit of it. “I promise, I'll make things right. I got an offer from New York Vipers, and trust me, everything's going to be fine.” She giggled, her voice filled with excitement, “I know you'll do great over there, Reese.” “Thank you so much, Mom.” I ended the call soon after and exhaled deeply. Nanya was right. New York Vipers was my dream club, and I wasn't letting this opportunity slip past me all because of a lying and backstabbing asshole.