Offside Hearts

Chapter 1

Isla's pov☆

I never pictured myself forfeiting a perfectly good Saturday night just to sit in a ice-cold, suffocatingly packed hockey arena. Yet here I was, having Nacos with cheese toppings and bottled water balanced in my other hand.

I was dragged up the bleachers by my two roommates at that moment.

"Isla, live a little," Nadia whined, throwing an arm over my shoulder as we shoved through the crowd. "It's game one of the season. Missing it is practically a crime. Plus, the entire campus hasn't shut up about Ashton Moore. He's the team captain, practically guaranteed for the NHL draft, the whole package."

I couldn't help the roll of my eyes, though a small smile cracked through. Nadia was a relentless idealist, the perfect counter to my deep-seated skepticism.

Then there was Cleo. The Queen of sarcasm and a half athletic fanatic.

"Seriously, Isla," Cleo chimed in with a wicked grin.

"You might actually enjoy yourself. Assuming you can look past all the helmet hair and damp, sweaty jerseys."

I nudged her shoulder with my elbow.

The energy pulsing through the arena was undeniable, the roar of the crowd echoing off the ice.

I attempted to stay engaged, but my attention kept wandering. Sports weren't really my thing, and I certainly hadn't bought a ticket to admire the game.

I was only here because Nadia and Cleo made it their personal mission to pull me out of isolation.

They wanted to drown out the lingering memories I preferred to keep buried. And perhaps, deep down, they hoped I'd watch the team's smug captain, Ashton Moore, step onto the ice and play the hero everyone expected him to be.

I was no fan. Not even close.

Not after what happened last year.

I crossed my arms tight against the chill, blocking out the endless campus rumors tied to his name. Wild, self-absorbed and a magnet for trouble.

Exactly the kind of guy I swore never to let near me.

Instead, I was testing myself. I came for the company, the chaos, and to prove I could handle stepping outside the safe, controlled life I'd built.

"Here we go," Nadia murmured, her eyes wide with excitement as the referee took position.

And out on the ice stood Ashton Moore, completely capable of turning my night upside down.

The arena exploded into a deafening roar as the puck slammed onto the ice. Beside me, Nadia and Cleo leapt to their feet, screaming like it was the c****x of the century. I attempted to mirror their enthusiasm, but my focus kept drifting toward the harsh stadium lights reflecting off the dark helmets below rather than the actual play.

"Did you see that?" Cleo gasped, nudging my side.

"Ashton's playing out of his mind."

I didn't bother looking up for long. "To me, it just looks like a bunch of grown men sliding around and shouting."

Nadia jabbed an elbow into my ribs. "You are completely hopeless, Isla. Mark my words, you'll be obsessed before the second period even starts."

I had my doubts. I'd survived plenty of noisy crowds and miserable nights before, but navigating the world of college hockey was something else.

Midway through the first period, Cleo leaned over the noise. "In all seriousness, he's more than just eye candy. Ashton has everything riding on this season. The stands are packed with NHL scouts and the pressure on him must be brutal."

I gave a faint nod, quietly wondering how someone carries weight like that without cracking.

Probably the exact same way I managed my own by putting up a front and acting like none of it affected me.

Suddenly, the arena exploded into a deafening roar. A fan favorite had just sent the puck straight into the net.

The entire place went wild, fans leaping out of their seats with fists raised, and despite myself, a small spark of the excitement managed to catch me off guard.

I glanced over at Nadia, who was beaming back at me.

"Told you!" she yelled over the crowd. "This is what you've been missing!"

I managed a soft smile.

I knew that somewhere out on that ice was Ashton Moore: arrogant, unpredictable, and bound to collide with my world in ways I wasn't prepared to handle.

The puck slid right past the goalie once more and the stands erupted into chaos.

A sudden vibration buzzed in my pocket, the phone screen lighting up with a notification from the one person I was trying so desperately to erase from my mind.

I shoved it deep into my coat pocket, forcing myself to swallow down the sudden surge of heavy memories.

This night was supposed to be a distraction. Just an ordinary game. Right?

The final horn sounded, cutting through the stadium as thousands of spectators broke into cheers and applause.

Opening night was a victory for the home team. Against my own instincts, I found myself clapping along, momentarily swept up in the energy filling the room.

Beside me, Nadia and Cleo were virtually bouncing off the floor with adrenaline.

"Unbelievable game!" Cleo yelled over the deafening noise. "Ashton completely dominated out there."

I offered a slight nod, letting my eyes sweep across the packed stadium.

The endless ocean of red jerseys and non-stop chants felt like a whole different planet. It wasn't a place I felt entirely at home in, but maybe... maybe watching from the sidelines was enough for now.

"Ready for the victory party?" Nadia chimed in, snatching my hand before I could even formulate an excuse.

I let out a quiet sigh, knowing resistance was useless. I had no idea what kind of night lay ahead, but with Nadia and Cleo pulling me along, turning back wasn't an option.

Back at the apartment, our living room transformed into the usual pre-game chaos.

Outfits littered every bed, makeup palettes spilled across the counter, and music blasted from .every direction.

I stood frozen in front of the vanity, hands trembling as I adjusted my hair, desperately trying to shake off the anxiety that refused to leave me alone.

Cleo peeked around the doorframe, a knowing grin tugging at her lips. "You look incredible, Isla. Seriously."

"Thanks," I murmured, offering a tight, forced smile. "Just promise you won't let me do anything reckless tonight."

Nadia burst out laughing from the hallway. "Messing up a little is literally the entire point!"

We squeezed into an Uber headed toward the hockey house that was a massive, sprawling place off campus. It practically reeked of beer, sweat, and the energy.

I walked behind Nadia and Cleo, my eyes combing through the crowded entryway, searching for any sign of the faces I was trying so hard to avoid.

The house was packed, bodies pressed against one another as drunk laughter and raised voices merged with music.

Within minutes, Nadia and Cleo were swept away by the crowd, leaving me hovering near.

I swirled the melting ice in my plastic cup, trying to ignore the tight knot twisting in my gut.

And then my eyes landed on him.

He stood out completely from the typical frat guys filling the room. Broad-shouldered, imposing, and wearing a dangerous, unbothered smirk that sent a chill straight through me when his eyes locked onto mine.