2.He never came
1341 Words
Even though I had already left Mr. Ruffin’s office, my mind was only on one thing: Ethan Ice. I could still picture him, eyes as warm as the summer sky, chocolate-brown hair that seemed to have a license to be rebellious, and a smile that should’ve been arrested for being a killer. He was what you’d call a hopeless flirt, and like a fool, I fell into his trap.
How did it all start?
During my freshman year at one of the most prestigious universities in New York, Columbia University, my goal was simple: be a good student and keep my scholarship. Back then, I wore huge round glasses that I liked, but some classmates made fun of me. So I spent most of my time alone in the library, and that’s where it all began.
It felt like something out of a movie, or at least that’s how my young adult mind remembered it. One hand full of books, the other holding a cheap dollar coffee, and my brain trying to coordinate it all without falling. A lethal combination that led me to crash into him, spilling my coffee all over his shirt. I thought he’d laugh at me for the glasses, insult me, maybe even yell. But instead, he smiled. That charming, disarming smile.
He hinted that I should apologize properly, which I did. But then he said that, to him, a proper apology meant giving him my number and going on a date that night.
A playboy personality.
A smile that could melt glaciers.
And there I was, excited over a guy who was in his senior year and probably saw me as just another girl.
I knew it was a bad idea, but I accepted the date anyway, only to discover later that he was about to be signed to a professional hockey team. During our relationship, he seemed like an angel. I felt like I was in heaven, like I was the most special woman in the world. I gave him everything, my innocence, my first love, and my first heartbreak when I found out he was promised to someone else.
Why?
Even though he came off as laid-back, he was the son of one of the most powerful financial tycoons in the country, owner of one of the most prestigious banks in the United States. He was destined to become CEO once his father stepped down, but Ethan had chosen hockey because it was his true passion.
And me?
I was the poor gold digger of the moment. I even met his mother, who didn’t just dislike me, she despised me. But I didn’t care. Ethan and I loved each other. Or so I thought.
After eight months of dating, we agreed to get married. May 27, in front of the courthouse, in the pouring rain. I waited for three hours. My makeup melted off, my heart crumbling with every passing minute.
He never came.
He never called.
He never even answered my calls.
The worst part? I couldn’t tell him we have a baby together.
That semester ended, and I didn’t see him again. Later, I found out he’d signed with the Detroit Red Wings. I messaged him through emails, social media, everything. Nothing. Absolute silence.
Meanwhile, I had to stay as sane as possible. I was raising my son Edward on my own while studying and working. I barely slept a couple of hours a day, but I told myself that would be my motivation to succeed… or so I thought.
Years went by, and he remained my biggest heartbreak.
I banged my head on my desk with a loud sigh.
“Wow, if you hit it any harder, we’ll need to call an ambulance. Or better yet, maybe you’ll punch through the floor and make the news.”
His playful voice gave him away instantly. Brayson Lawrence, the office clown. The kind of guy who could make women follow him like mice after the Pied Piper. He and Josiah were the only ones who never made me feel out of place.
“Brayson, I’m not in the mood for your jokes.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because she was assigned her final story today. She’s probably nervous.”
A calm voice answered for me, reading my mind as if it were open text. I turned to see Josiah, holding a cup of coffee. His serene, condescending smile was more than enough.
“I brought coffee. You’re coming with me today,” he said, his calm smile bringing a little peace to my mind.
“You’re going with her? Do you have a date?” Brayson’s mock surprise made me laugh despite myself. “Didn’t know you were taking the plunge, buddy. Congrats.”
He slapped Josiah on the shoulder, who responded only with a dry look.
“No, Brayson. The only date we have is that I’ve been assigned to work with her to get an exclusive interview with Ethan Ice,” Josiah replied, his eyes now focused on me. “We’re the third team the boss has sent. Ethan rarely gives interviews. Rumor is, his personality is as cold as his name.”
“You mean because his last name is Ice? Oh, that’s clever. Or maybe he just hasn’t had good s*x in a while.”
I threw a pen at Brayson like a spear. He knew I had brothers, so he never treated me like some delicate flower. To him, I was a bro in a skirt.
“All right, enough joking. Abigail, are you ready to go?”
I left with Josiah, headed for our destination, Madison Square Garden, where the team was practicing. We made small talk over coffee. I glanced at him now and then, calm, responsible, gentle. The kind of man you’d want to build a family with.
But for me,
He was just a good friend.
The drive was smooth. When we arrived, I wasn’t surprised to find other reporters already there, cameras flashing. Josiah guided me to our assigned area. I sat, pulled out my camera, and got to work.
“At least if we don’t get the exclusive, let’s get some good shots,” Josiah said in that same soothing tone that always eased my nerves.
The players were a whirlwind of skill and intensity, showing why they were at the top of their game. I snapped photos, showing them to Josiah. He complimented them, and though I didn’t want to admit it, I liked it. I laughed at a few of his jokes and then lifted my camera again.
Through the lens, I saw the number six jersey.
Ice.
He moved quickly, weaving through defenders, landing a perfect goal. A visual masterpiece. His teammates cheered. He turned, and then everything froze.
It was him. Ethan.
I pressed the button, click, and the camera captured his face as his eyes locked onto mine. Suddenly, the world disappeared.
It was just the two of us.
I lowered the camera, my chest tight. So many emotions, twisted, tangled, raw. Especially when I remembered the news leak about his fiancée.
He stopped skating.
Removed his helmet.
Looked straight at me.
His gaze held me in place. It was like time rewound. The intensity between us wrapped me in something impossible to name.
Did he recognize me?
I doubted it.
Back then, I had short hair, baggy clothes, glasses, and always wore a messy ponytail.
“Now I understand why the Rangers paid so much for him,” Josiah said, his voice breaking the spell. “He’s good.”
He leaned in, too close.
“Those shots you took? They’ll be on the cover, no doubt.”
“You think so?”
“I’m sure of it.”
Our conversation continued, but a chill ran down my spine, as if something or someone was staring into me. I turned, following the prickling feeling.
And there he was.
Ethan.
His eyes weren’t warm anymore.
They burned.
He looked like a predator.
And I was his prey.
- Writer
