DATING THE HOCKEY CAPTAIN

Nora knew the exact moment the night went wrong. It was not when she walked into the party. Not when the music hit her ears too loud or when someone shouted “Happy New Year!” in her face like everything in the world was perfect. It was when she saw him. Liam. He walked in like nothing had happened. Like yesterday had not existed. Like he had not ended things with her in the simplest, coldest way possible. And beside him was a girl. Not just any girl. A pretty one. The kind that laughed easily, her hand already resting on his arm like she belonged there. Nora stopped moving. For a second, she thought maybe she was imagining it. Maybe her mind was playing a cruel trick on her. But then Liam leaned closer to the girl, said something into her ear, and she laughed again. That laugh felt like a slap. Nora looked away quickly, her chest tightening. Around her, the party kept going. People were dancing, talking, drinking. Nobody cared that her world had just tilted. “Hey, Nora!” someone called. She forced a smile and waved without really seeing who it was. “Hey.” Her voice sounded normal. Too normal. She grabbed a drink from the nearest table just to have something to hold. Her fingers wrapped around the glass, cold and steady, even though nothing inside her felt steady. “Don’t react,” she muttered under her breath. “Don’t be stupid.” But her eyes betrayed her. They moved back to him. Liam was still there. Still with her. His hand now resting at the girl’s waist. Nora’s stomach twisted. The next day. The very next day. That thought burned. “Yeah, I’m not doing this,” she whispered. She turned before anyone could notice her staring and walked away. Not fast enough to look like she was running, but fast enough to escape. She pushed through the crowd, past the noise, until she found the kitchen. It was just as full. People laughing, bottles clinking, someone arguing over music. Too much. She slipped into the hallway beside it instead. Quiet. Dim. Empty. Perfect. Nora leaned against the wall and let out a slow breath. She stared at the drink in her hand. Still untouched. “This is so embarrassing,” she said softly. She lifted the glass and took a sip. It tasted like nothing. Or maybe she just couldn’t feel anything right now. “You picked a bad place to hide.” The voice came from behind her. Low. Calm. Too close. Nora turned, startled. Ethan Cole stood a few steps away, leaning casually against the wall like he had every right to be there. The hockey captain. The one everyone talked about. Confident, a little reckless, always surrounded by people. Right now, though, he was alone. And looking directly at her. “I’m not hiding,” Nora said quickly. He glanced at the full drink in her hand, then back at her face. “Sure.” She frowned. “Why are you here?” “Needed a break,” he said simply. Then he nodded toward the other room. “That your ex?” Straight to the point. Nora’s jaw tightened. “You ask everyone that or just me?” “Just you.” She looked away, staring at the floor for a second before answering. “Yeah. It’s him.” “He moved on fast.” The words landed heavy. Nora let out a short laugh, but there was no humor in it. “Clearly.” Ethan watched her for a moment, like he was trying to figure something out. It made her uncomfortable. “Relax,” she said, shifting slightly. “I’m not about to cry or anything.” “I didn’t say you were.” “You were thinking it.” He shrugged. “Maybe.” She rolled her eyes and took another sip of her drink, even though she still couldn’t taste it. Silence settled between them, but it wasn’t awkward. Just… there. Then Ethan spoke again. “I need a favor.” Nora blinked. “What?” “I need a favor,” he repeated, pushing off the wall and standing properly now. “And I think you might too.” She let out a small scoff. “I’m not doing anything illegal, if that’s where this is going.” He almost smiled. “Nothing like that.” “Then what?” He gestured slightly toward the party. “My teammates are out there. They won’t stop texting my ex. It’s annoying.” Nora frowned. “Okay… and?” “And if they think I’ve moved on, they’ll leave her alone.” She stared at him, not following. “So?” “So we pretend to be together.” Nora blinked again, slower this time. “You’re joking.” “I’m not.” “That’s your plan? Fake date a stranger in the middle of a party?” “It’s simple,” he said. “We walk out there, act like we’re into each other, and everyone backs off. Your ex sees you’re doing just fine. Everybody wins.” Nora shook her head immediately. “No. That’s ridiculous.” “Is it?” “Yes.” He stepped a little closer, not invading her space, just enough to make his point feel stronger. “You’re hiding in a hallway, Nora.” “I said I’m not hiding.” “Okay,” he said easily. “Then go back out there. Stand in front of him. Watch him with her and pretend it doesn’t bother you.” She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Because he was right. And she hated that. Ethan held her gaze. “Or,” he added quietly, “you walk out with me, and suddenly you don’t look like the girl who just got left.” The words stung, but they also made sense. Too much sense. Nora looked down at her drink again, her thoughts racing. This was crazy. It was childish. It was something she would normally never agree to. But then she remembered Liam’s hand on that girl’s waist. The way he smiled. Like Nora never mattered. Her grip on the glass tightened. “Just for tonight?” she asked. “Just for tonight,” Ethan said. She hesitated. Then she exhaled slowly. “Fine.” His expression didn’t change much, but there was a small shift in his eyes. “Yeah?” “Yeah. Fine,” she repeated. “Let’s do it.” “Good.” He stepped closer, reaching for her hand. His fingers wrapped around hers, warm and firm. Nora almost pulled back. Almost. But she didn’t. “Relax,” he said under his breath. “I am relaxed.” “You don’t look it.” “Maybe I’m just naturally tense.” That got a small, quiet laugh from him. Then his arm moved, settling lightly around her waist. It felt natural, like it belonged there. That surprised her more than anything. “Too much?” he asked. “No,” she said quickly. “It’s fine.” It wasn’t fine. It felt real. “Ready?” he asked. Nora took a deep breath and nodded. “Ready.” They walked out together. The noise hit them first. Then the lights. Then the people. It didn’t take long for others to notice. A few heads turned. Then more. Whispers followed. Ethan didn’t react. He just kept walking, steady and confident, his hand still at her waist. Nora stayed close, forcing herself to match his pace. Then she saw Liam. He was looking at them. Not smiling anymore. Not relaxed. Just… staring. Good. Nora leaned slightly into Ethan, just enough to make it believable. His hand tightened slightly in response. “Smile,” he murmured. She did. And this time, it felt real enough. Not because she was okay. But because for the first time that night, she didn’t feel small.