The Ice Between Us

Chapter 18 -Evan

Game day. I should be focused. Thinking about the matchup, the lines, the plays we drilled all week. But the second I wake up, my phone buzzes.

Lena:

Good luck today. You’ve got this.

I smile before I can stop myself. Then another message pops up:

Lena:

Also… Sabrina sends her love ❤️

I stare at the screen. Then I stare at the ceiling. Then I text back:

Evan:

Why are you like this.

She sends a GIF of someone cackling. I groan into my pillow.

Mason is already smirking when I walk into the locker room. “Big day, huh?” he says. “Your girlfriend and your side chick both in the stands tonight.”

I glare at him. “No. Absolutely not.”

He bumps my shoulder. “Come on, man. Lena AND Sabrina? That’s a lot of drama for one dude.”

“I’m not dating either of them.”

“Sure you’re not.”

“I’m not,” I repeat. “And if I did have a girlfriend, it definitely wouldn’t be Stalker Sabrina.”

Mason laughs so hard he nearly drops his stick. “Oh, this is gonna be fun.” I groan again.

The arena is packed. The crowd is loud. The energy is perfect. But the second we skate out, my eyes go straight to the stands. And there she is. Lena. Bundled up, cheeks pink, surrounded by the younger girls. She’s smiling, really smiling, and something warm settles in my chest.

I skate closer to the boards, just enough to catch her eye. She waves. I wave back. And then...Sabrina leans across two girls, practically climbing over them, and blows me a kiss.

I stop skating. Just… stop. Mason skates past me, laughing so hard he almost wipes out. I shake my head and force myself back into warmups. This game cannot end fast enough.

We win. The crowd goes wild. The locker room is chaos. But the press conference? That’s the real battle.

I sit down at the table, still buzzing from the win. The first few questions are normal, game highlights, playoff prep, team chemistry.

Then she raises her hand. The same reporter from last week.

“Evan,” she says, “last game you refused to comment on your relationship with Lena Merritt. Tonight, there are rumors circulating about your involvement with another young woman, Sabrina Cole. Can you clarify your relationship status with either of them?”

I blink. Oh, for the love of... “How does that pertain to the game?” I cut in. The room goes quiet. I lean forward. “We’re here to talk about hockey. Not rumors. Next question.”

The reporter looks offended, but Coach nods approvingly beside me. The next reporter jumps in immediately, and the moment passes. But I already know Lena is going to be dying laughing when she hears about this.

And honestly? I can’t wait to tell her.

The second the press conference ends, Coach pulls me aside in the hallway. His expression is tight, but not angry, more like he’s trying to figure out how to ask something without sounding like he’s asking it. “What was that about?” he says quietly. “The reporter. First Lena last week, now this Sabrina girl.”

I exhale. “Honestly? I have no idea.” He raises an eyebrow. “Apparently,” I continue, “Sabrina and I ‘met’ at a party in Chicago and had a ‘connection.’” I even add the air quotes. “But I don’t remember it. Or her. At all.”

Coach snorts. “Sounds like a mess.”

“It is,” I say. “And Lena and I are just friends. She needs to focus on her recovery. I need to focus on playoffs. I’m just… supporting her. That’s it.”

Coach studies me for a moment, then nods. “Good answer. Keep it that way. Stay on the playoff path.”

“I plan to.” He claps my shoulder and heads toward the locker room. I take a breath, shake out the tension, and head to the team gathering.

The place is already buzzing when I walk in, players, staff, family, friends. Music, laughter, the smell of food. It’s loud, warm, chaotic. And right in the middle of it? Lena. She’s standing with the younger girls, smiling, relaxed, actually enjoying herself. Mason’s already there too, and beside him is his little sister, Emma. I grin and head over.

“Hey,” I say, grabbing Mason by the hoodie and dragging him and Emma with me. “Come on. You need to meet someone.”

Emma squeaks. “Lena? Really? Oh my gosh...”

Mason laughs. “Dude, she’s gonna pass out.”

We reach the group, and Lena turns toward us. Her smile softens when she sees me, and something warm settles in my chest. “Lena,” I say, “this is Emma. Mason’s sister. She’s a huge fan.”

Emma nods so fast her beanie nearly flies off. “You’re my favorite skater ever. I want to be like you someday.”

Lena’s face lights up. “That’s really sweet. And if you want… you can come skate with me on the pond sometime. Show me what you can do.”

Emma gasps. “Really?!”

Coach Daniels, who’s hovering nearby, nods approvingly. “I think that’s a great idea.”

And then...Sabrina appears. She materializes out of nowhere like a villain in a movie, hair perfect, smile fake, eyes locked on me. “Evan,” she says breathlessly, stepping forward like we’re about to embrace.

I take a step back. “Hey,” I say flatly. She beams. I turn my back on her. Completely. I focus on Lena, on the girls, on Emma, on literally anyone else. I don’t give Sabrina even a sliver of attention. I don’t feed the delusion. I don’t encourage it. She hovers awkwardly for a moment, waiting for me to look at her again.

Lena catches my eye, biting back a laugh. The younger girls whisper behind their hands. Mason mutters, “Dude, she looks like she’s buffering.”

I choke on a laugh. And for the first time all night, I feel completely in control. Because I know exactly who I want to be talking to. And it sure as hell isn’t Sabrina.