The Girl He Couldn't Ignore
974 Words
The university buzzed with excitement long before the puck ever touched the ice.
It was rivalry week.
Every hallway was decorated in Blackwood University's blue and silver. Students crowded around posters advertising Friday night's game, arguing over scores before the teams had even stepped onto the rink. The campus café was packed with hockey jerseys, and every conversation somehow found its way back to one name.
Liam Carter.
"He's going to destroy Westbridge this year."
"No chance. Their new captain's too good."
"I heard NHL scouts are coming."
I wrapped my fingers tighter around my coffee cup and kept walking.
No matter where I went, I couldn't escape hearing his name.
And somehow...
I didn't want to.
"Earth to Sophie."
Emma snapped her fingers in front of my face, pulling me back to reality.
"You've been smiling at your coffee for, like, two minutes."
"I have not."
She raised an eyebrow.
"You absolutely have."
I rolled my eyes, taking another sip to hide the heat creeping into my cheeks.
"I was thinking."
"Mmm."
Emma leaned across the table.
"Were you thinking about a certain hockey captain?"
I nearly choked.
"What? No!"
"Liar."
"I'm not lying."
She folded her arms.
"Sophie Bennett, we've been roommates for two years. I know what your 'I'm definitely not thinking about a guy' face looks like."
I laughed despite myself.
"You're impossible."
"No." She grinned. "You're in trouble."
Before I could answer, my phone vibrated across the table.
One message.
Unknown Number.
My heartbeat quickened before I even opened it.
Did you survive Professor Adams' lecture?
A smile escaped before I could stop it.
Emma caught it instantly.
"There it is."
"What?"
"The smile."
I quickly turned my phone over.
"It's nothing."
Emma gasped dramatically.
"Oh my gosh..."
"What?"
"You're texting him."
"I—"
"It's Liam, isn't it?"
I sighed.
"I hate you."
She pointed a triumphant finger at me.
"I knew it!"
"It's just texting."
"That's how every romance starts."
"It is not a romance."
"Yet."
I ignored her.
Or at least I tried to.
Instead, I unlocked my phone beneath the table.
Barely survived. I think he enjoys making us suffer.
Three dots appeared almost immediately.
Good. Means you're still alive.
I laughed quietly.
You're ridiculous.
I've been told worse.
His replies always came so naturally.
No games.
No trying too hard.
Talking to Liam felt... easy.
And that terrified me.
───
Practice ended just before sunset.
The hockey arena emptied slowly as players filtered into the parking lot, laughing and shoving one another after another hard session.
I spotted Liam immediately.
Not because I was looking for him.
At least, that's what I told myself.
His dark hair was damp from the shower, his gym bag slung over one shoulder. He laughed at something one of his teammates said before looking up.
Straight at me.
The smile on his face faded into something softer.
Warmer.
He changed direction without hesitation.
"You waited."
"I was walking."
He looked around the empty parking lot.
"Toward the arena?"
I bit back a smile.
"Maybe."
"I'll take maybe."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward anymore.
It felt comfortable.
Dangerously comfortable.
"You've been avoiding my messages."
"I answered every one."
"You answered eventually."
I shrugged.
"I was busy."
"You were overthinking."
I stared at him.
"How do you keep doing that?"
"What?"
"Knowing what I'm thinking."
A corner of his mouth lifted.
"You get this little line right here."
He reached toward my forehead but stopped himself halfway, dropping his hand instead.
"When you're worried."
My stomach flipped.
"You notice too much."
"I notice you."
The words settled between us.
Neither of us moved.
Neither of us seemed willing to break whatever this was becoming.
Finally, I whispered, "Why?"
His eyes searched mine.
"Because somewhere along the way..."
He paused.
"You became important."
The world seemed to disappear.
No students.
No traffic.
No hockey arena behind us.
Just us.
My heart beat so loudly I wondered if he could hear it.
Before I could answer—
"Sophie!"
Ryan's voice shattered the moment.
I turned.
He was jogging across the parking lot with a relaxed smile on his face.
Except...
It wasn't reaching his eyes.
"There you are."
His gaze flicked to Liam.
Then back to me.
"I've been looking everywhere."
"You have?"
"I texted you."
I reached into my pocket.
My phone was still on silent.
Three missed messages.
Two missed calls.
"I didn't hear it."
Ryan smiled.
"It's okay."
But something about the way he looked at Liam made my chest tighten.
Liam took a small step back.
"I should go."
"No, you don't—"
"It's fine."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
"I'll see you around, Sophie."
He nodded politely toward Ryan before walking away.
I watched him until he disappeared inside the arena.
Ryan was still beside me.
Watching.
"You seem... comfortable with him."
I looked away.
"We were talking."
"For twenty minutes?"
"You timed it?"
His smile faltered.
"No."
But he answered too quickly.
"I just noticed."
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
Ryan had always been protective.
Always kind.
So why did his words suddenly feel like questions instead of conversation?
He cleared his throat.
"There's a party at the hockey house tomorrow."
"I wasn't planning on going."
"You should."
"Why?"
His smile returned.
Because Ethan will be there."
He paused.
"And so will Liam."
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Ryan looked toward the arena where Liam had disappeared.
Then back at me.
"It means..."
His voice lowered just enough that I almost missed the words.
"Sometimes people show you who they really are when they think nobody's watching."
He smiled again.
Warm.
Friendly.
The Ryan everyone loved.
But as I watched him walk away...
I couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't been talking about Liam.
- Writer
