Holiday Hockey Tale: Breaking The Ice

Ch 2

The morning after the party, Grace woke up to the sound of Daisy rustling through her closet.

"Get up, sleepyhead," Daisy said, tossing a sweatshirt in Grace's direction. "We're going to the coffee shop. You need caffeine, and I need a bagel. Let's go."

Grace groaned but got out of bed, pulling on the sweatshirt and tying her hair into a messy bun. "Do I look alive enough to be seen in public?"

Daisy gave her an approving once-over. "Barely, but coffee fixes everything. Come on."

The small coffee shop near campus, Bean There Done That, was buzzing with students catching up on homework or nursing hangovers from the previous night's parties. Grace and Daisy found a small table by the window after placing their orders.

As Grace stirred her latte, Daisy leaned in and whispered, "Don't look now, but guess who just walked in."

Grace's curiosity got the better of her, and she turned to see Hannah Wells and Allie Hayes walking in with another girl Grace didn't recognize. The third girl was tall, with sleek black hair and an effortless coolness that immediately stood out.

Daisy sighed. "That's Sabrina. She's dating John Tucker—another one of Logan's hockey friends. They're, like, the holy trinity of cool girlfriends."

Grace chuckled. "You're acting like they're celebrities."

"They might as well be," Daisy said, watching as the three girls placed their orders. "Hannah's practically famous for taming Garrett, Allie's got Dean wrapped around her finger, and Sabrina? She's just... Sabrina. She doesn't even try, and she's perfect."

Before Grace could respond, Hannah spotted her and waved, a bright smile lighting up her face. She said something to the other two, and moments later, the trio was walking over to their table.

"Grace! Fancy seeing you here," Hannah said warmly. "Mind if we join you?"

"Not at all," Grace said, surprised but pleased by the invitation.

The three girls pulled up chairs, Sabrina greeted Grace with a friendly nod. "Nice to meet you. Tucker told me about you last night—said Logan couldn't stop talking about some freshman who beat him at flip cup."

Grace felt her cheeks heat up as Daisy's eyes widened in delight. "Really?" Daisy asked, practically bouncing in her seat. "What else did he say?"

Hannah laughed. "Tucker mostly thought it was hilarious. Logan's not used to losing. And Sabrina here is dying to hear the details."

"Only because Logan's usually too smooth for his own good," Sabrina added with a smirk. "If you knocked him down a peg, I'm a fan already."

Grace laughed nervously, trying to play it cool. "It was just a game. He was a good sport about it."

"Logan's always a good sport," Allie said, taking a sip of her coffee. "But if he's talking about you, it means you made an impression."

Grace wasn't sure what to say to that, but thankfully, Hannah changed the subject.

"So, how's the freshman life treating you so far?" Hannah asked.

"It's... a lot," Grace admitted. "I'm still getting used to everything."

"You'll find your groove," Sabrina said reassuringly. "And if you ever need advice or just want to hang out, let us know. We've all been the new girl at some point."

Grace felt a wave of gratitude. Despite their intimidating reputations, the girls were incredibly kind and welcoming.

As the conversation flowed, Grace found herself laughing along with their stories about the hockey team's antics and learning more about life at Weston University. By the time they finished their coffees, she felt like she'd gained not just acquaintances but potential friends.

As they stood to leave, Hannah leaned in and said, "By the way, Grace, there's a game next week. You should come. I bet Logan would like that."

Grace smiled, her heart fluttering at the thought. "I'll think about it."

As she and Daisy walked back to their dorm, Daisy couldn't stop grinning. "Grace, you've officially been adopted by the cool girls. Do you know what this means?"

"That I'll never have to figure out frat party punch on my own again?" Grace teased.

"It means," Daisy said dramatically, "that your life is about to get very interesting."

Grace couldn't argue with that.

Later on that night the coffee shop was quieter in the evening, with most of the morning chaos replaced by the soft hum of conversation and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine. Grace sat at a small table, her laptop open in front of her, a half-empty latte by her side. Daisy was across from her, flipping through her biology textbook while her boyfriend, Morris, scrolled through his notes on his phone.

"So, Grace," Morris said, breaking the silence, "how's your first month going? Adjusting to college life yet?"

Grace glanced up from her screen, stretching her arms over her head. "It's definitely an adjustment. Classes are tougher than I expected, but I'm surviving."

"She's more than surviving," Daisy chimed in with a proud grin. "She beat John Logan at flip cup last night."

Morris chuckled. "Logan? Hockey Logan? Impressive. Guy's a legend at this school."

Grace waved it off, trying not to let the attention fluster her. "It was just a lucky win."

"Still," Morris said, grinning. "Word spreads fast around here. You're probably already on their radar."

Grace didn't know what to say to that, so she focused back on her notes, trying to ignore the way her heart fluttered at the idea of being on Logan's radar.

The bell above the coffee shop door jingled, and the sound of heavy footsteps approached. Grace glanced up instinctively—and there he was.

John Logan strolled in, his usual confident air intact, wearing a dark hoodie and jeans. He spotted Grace almost immediately and made a beeline for their table, his lopsided grin firmly in place.

"Hey, freshman," Logan said, leaning casually on the edge of her table. "Fancy seeing you here. Didn't peg you as the coffee shop type."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "What exactly is the coffee shop type?"

"Someone who's not beating me at flip cup," he teased, crossing his arms.

Daisy smirked, nudging Grace with her foot under the table. "Looks like someone remembers you, Grace."

"Hard to forget," Logan said smoothly before turning his attention back to her. "Anyway, there's another party tonight. Thought I'd swing by and see if you wanted to redeem yourself—or let me redeem myself."

Grace hesitated, glancing down at her notes. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass. I've got a lot of work to do."

Logan tilted his head, clearly not used to being turned down. "Homework on a Friday night? That's dedication."

"Or necessity," Grace said, giving him a small smile. "I'm trying to stay on top of things."

Logan studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Fair enough. But you know, college isn't just about the work. You've gotta have some fun too."

"I had fun last night," Grace countered, meeting his gaze.

Logan chuckled. "Fair point. Alright, Grace, I'll let you get back to it. But if you change your mind, you know where to find me."

With that, he gave her a playful salute and walked toward the counter to grab a coffee for himself.

As soon as he was out of earshot, Daisy leaned forward, her eyes wide. "Oh my God, Grace, he just came here to see you. Did you hear how he called you 'Grace' instead of 'freshman' this time? That's progress."

"Daisy, stop," Grace said, though her cheeks were warm.

Morris chuckled. "He's definitely interested. You might be the only person who's ever turned him down for a party. That's probably messing with his head."

"I'm not trying to mess with anyone," Grace said quickly.

Daisy grinned. "No, but you are, and I love it. Keep playing it cool. He clearly can't stay away."

Grace rolled her eyes, but as she glanced toward the counter where Logan was waiting for his coffee, she couldn't help but feel a tiny spark of satisfaction. Maybe staying focused on her studies wasn't the worst move after all.

Later that evening, the coffee shop was nearly empty, the quiet making it easier for Grace to focus on her reading. Daisy and Morris had packed up their things and left a little while ago, heading off to grab dinner together.

"You sure you don't want to come with us?" Daisy had asked as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

Grace had smiled and shaken her head. "Thanks, but I'm good. I'll grab something quick and head back to the dorm. I think I'm in the mood for a low-key night."

Daisy had given her a playful pout before Morris ushered her out the door, leaving Grace to finish up her work in peace.

When her stomach finally started to growl, Grace decided it was time to grab dinner. She packed up her laptop and notes, slung her bag over her shoulder, and headed to the dining hall. The campus was lively as students milled about, some heading out for the night while others gathered in small groups around the quad.

The dining hall was bustling but not overwhelming, and Grace quickly got in line, picking out a sandwich and a side of fruit. She carried her tray to an empty table near the window, appreciating the quiet moment to herself.

As she ate, she let her mind wander back to the party the night before and Logan's unexpected appearance at the coffee shop earlier. He was persistent, she'd give him that. But Grace wasn't sure what to make of him yet. He seemed charming and confident—maybe a little too confident—but there was something else there, too. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

When she finished her meal, Grace decided to head back to her dorm. The air outside had cooled, and the campus felt calmer as the evening stretched on. She made her way to her building, climbed the stairs to her floor, and unlocked the door to her room.

The dorm was quiet, Daisy still out with Morris, and Grace felt a sense of relief as she slipped into her cozy clothes and settled onto her bed. She grabbed her laptop and scrolled through a streaming service, finally settling on a classic romantic comedy she hadn't seen in years.

As the movie started, Grace felt herself relax for the first time all day. The sound of laughter from the screen filled the room, and for a little while, she forgot about classes, parties, and the ever-persistent John Logan.

It wasn't a wild Friday night, but for Grace, it was exactly what she needed.

The party was in full swing at the hockey house, the music blasting and the living room packed with students laughing, drinking, and playing games. Logan leaned against the kitchen counter, a beer in hand, as Garrett, Dean, and Tucker surrounded him. They'd been talking about the usual—hockey, classes, and who had the best shot at beer pong—but the conversation inevitably shifted.

"So," Dean said, smirking as he leaned closer to Logan, "what's the deal with you and that freshman? Grace, right?"

Logan rolled his eyes, but the corner of his mouth quirked up into a grin. "There's no deal. She's cool. That's it."

"Yeah, okay," Garrett said, raising an eyebrow. "You don't make a special trip to the coffee shop for just anyone. You practically sprinted out of here earlier when you heard she was there."

"I didn't sprint," Logan said, taking a swig of his beer.

"You did," Tucker chimed in, leaning casually against the counter. "And don't think we didn't see her beating you at flip cup. I didn't think it was possible for someone to bruise your ego."

"It wasn't my ego," Logan defended. "She got lucky."

Garrett smirked. "Sure. But seriously, man, you like her, don't you?"

Logan hesitated, his usual confidence faltering for just a moment. "I don't know. She's... different. She's not throwing herself at me or trying to impress anyone. She's just doing her own thing."

Dean nodded knowingly. "So, what you're saying is, she's not falling for your usual charm, and now you're intrigued."

Logan rolled his eyes again, but he didn't deny it. "She's smart, too. When I invited her here tonight, she said no because she had studying to do. She actually said no."

Garrett let out a laugh. "That's gotta sting. You're not used to rejection."

"It's not rejection," Logan said quickly. "She's focused. I respect that."

"You respect it," Tucker echoed, grinning. "You've got it bad, man."

Logan groaned and leaned his head back against the cabinet. "You're all ridiculous."

"Maybe," Garrett said, clapping him on the shoulder. "But you're the one talking about her at a party when you could be out here doing literally anything else. Just saying."

Logan didn't respond, but his thoughts drifted to Grace anyway. She was probably back at her dorm by now, studying or doing something quiet and productive. It was such a stark contrast to the chaos around him, and for some reason, it made him want to know more about her.

Dean, always the instigator, grabbed another beer from the fridge and handed it to Logan. "Here's what I think. You give her time, let her see you're not just the guy who's good at flip cup and hockey, and eventually, she'll realize you're not so bad."

Tucker snorted. "Or she'll keep beating you at games and keep you humble. Either way, I'm entertained."

Logan shook his head but couldn't help the small smile that crept across his face. "You guys are the worst."

"Yeah, but we're right," Garrett said with a grin. "Now, stop brooding and come play darts. You can sulk about Grace after I beat you."

Logan laughed, shoving Garrett playfully as they left the kitchen. But as the night went on, his thoughts kept circling back to the girl who had somehow managed to get under his skin after just one party and a coffee shop conversation.