Frozen hearts Burning ice

SOMETHING SHE CAN’T CONTROL

Lena told herself it was nothing.

Just a moment.

Just adrenaline.

Just the way intense games blurred lines that didn’t exist off the ice.

But that wasn’t true.

And she knew it.

Because she felt it—

Even now.

THE DISTANCE SHE TRIES TO CREATE

She avoided him.

At practice.

In the halls.

Even on the ice.

Not obvious.

Not dramatic.

Just enough.

Enough to feel like control again.

Until—

“Nice move out there.”

The voice wasn’t his.

Lena turned.

Daniel Reyes.

Teammate.

Forward line.

Easy smile.

“Thanks,” she replied.

“Drinks later?” he asked casually.

She hesitated.

Not because of Daniel.

Because of what she was trying to avoid.

And maybe—

What she was trying to prove.

“Yeah,” she said finally.

Simple.

Controlled.

Safe.

At least—

That’s what she thought.

THE LOOK THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

She felt it before she saw him.

That shift in the air.

That awareness.

Ethan.

Standing across the rink.

Watching.

Not hiding it.

Not pretending.

Just watching.

His expression didn’t change.

But something in his eyes did.

Tighter.

Sharper.

And for the first time—

Not calm.

UNSTEADY

Lena forced herself to look away.

To focus.

To stay in control.

But her pulse had already shifted.

Because that look—

That wasn’t indifference.

That was something else.

Something she hadn’t expected.

Something she didn’t understand.

LATER THAT NIGHT

The bar was loud.

Crowded.

Normal.

Exactly what she needed.

Or what she told herself she needed.

Daniel talked easily beside her.

Light conversation.

No pressure.

No intensity.

Safe.

Lena laughed once—

But it didn’t feel real.

Because part of her—

Was somewhere else.

Somewhere colder.

Sharper.

More dangerous.

“You okay?” Daniel asked.

“Yeah.”

Another lie.

She reached for her drink—

And froze.

Because she saw him.

Across the room.

Ethan.

Of course.

Because apparently—

Distance didn’t exist anymore.

JEALOUSY

His gaze landed on her.

Then shifted—

To Daniel.

Back to her.

And something in his expression hardened.

Not anger.

Something quieter.

Something that hit deeper.

Lena’s chest tightened.

Because that look—

It shouldn’t matter.

But it did.

Too much.

❄️ THE CONFRONTATION

She didn’t plan it.

Didn’t think.

She just moved.

“Excuse me,” she muttered to Daniel.

And walked straight toward him.

Ethan didn’t move.

Didn’t step away.

Like he was waiting.

“Following me now?” she said.

His brow lifted slightly.

“This your place?”

“You showed up.”

“So did you.”

Silence.

Sharp.

“You look busy,” he added.

Her jaw tightened.

“That a problem?”

“No.”

A beat.

“Should it be?”

That—

That wasn’t neutral.

That was something else.

And now—

There was no pretending anymore.