Holiday Hockey Tale: Breaking The Ice

Ch 6

The party was already in full swing when Grace, Daisy, and Morris stepped into the hockey house. Music thumped through the crowded space, and the air was thick with chatter and laughter. Daisy and Morris veered off toward the kitchen, but Grace hung back, scanning the room.

It didn't take long for her to spot familiar faces in the corner of the living room: Allie, Hannah, and Sabrina.

Hannah was the first to notice her, waving her over. "Grace! There you are!"

Grace made her way over, smiling. "Hey, guys."

Allie grinned as she tucked a strand of her blond hair behind her ear. "We were just saying we hoped you'd show up. Didn't think you were a party regular, though."

"I'm not," Grace admitted, laughing softly. "Daisy talked me into it."

"And maybe a certain someone else?" Sabrina teased, giving Grace a sly look. Her dark hair was pinned back, and she was holding a drink that looked suspiciously strong.

"Don't start," Grace groaned, already knowing where this was going.

"Too late," Hannah said with a smirk. "Logan told Garrett you were coming. He might've been talking about it all day."

Allie leaned in, grinning. "He's been moody ever since you destroyed him in flip cup last week. He hates losing, you know."

Grace rolled her eyes, but her cheeks flushed. "It was just a game."

"Uh-huh," Sabrina said, clearly unconvinced. "Anyway, get a drink and sit with us. We're not letting you wander around alone."

Reluctantly, Grace headed to the kitchen. She poured herself a cup of sangria and made her way back to the corner, settling in with the girls.

"So," Hannah began as Grace sat down, "what's the deal with you and Logan?"

"There is no deal," Grace said quickly.

Allie raised an eyebrow. "Really? Because he's been all weird and distracted lately. That's not normal for him."

Sabrina nodded. "He's usually the life of the party. Tonight, he's been in the kitchen, glancing at the door every five seconds. It's kind of adorable."

"Guys, seriously," Grace said, laughing despite herself. "We've just been texting. It's not a big deal."

"Uh-huh," Hannah said, her tone dripping with disbelief. "Sure."

Before Grace could respond, Allie nudged her. "Speak of the devil."

Grace turned her head to see Logan entering the living room, his eyes scanning the crowd. When he spotted her, his face lit up with a grin.

"Well, there goes his chill," Sabrina said under her breath, smirking.

Logan made his way over, his confidence seemingly effortless. "Hey," he said, his voice warm as he stopped in front of Grace. "Glad you made it."

"Yeah, Daisy dragged me along," Grace said, taking a sip of her drink to calm her nerves.

"Uh-huh," Logan said, his gaze steady. "And you're hanging out with these troublemakers?"

"They're good company," Grace replied, surprising herself with how natural it felt to talk to him.

"Careful," Logan said, glancing at the girls. "They'll turn you against me."

"Too late," Sabrina teased. "She's already our favorite."

Logan laughed, shaking his head. "Figures." He looked back at Grace. "You sticking around for a while?"

"Yeah," Grace said. "Just catching up with them."

"Cool," he said, his smile softening. "Let me know if you want to team up for a rematch. I've got my flip cup redemption arc planned."

Grace couldn't help but smile. "We'll see."

Logan gave her a small wave before heading back toward the kitchen, leaving Grace to face the triumphant grins of Allie, Hannah, and Sabrina.

"So," Hannah said, drawing out the word, "just texting, huh?"

"Don't," Grace groaned, burying her face in her hands.

The girls burst into laughter, and for the first time that night, Grace let herself relax. Maybe this party wouldn't be so bad after all.

As Logan disappeared back into the crowd, Grace settled back onto the couch with Allie, Hannah, and Sabrina. The teasing had died down—for now—but Grace could still feel their curiosity buzzing in the air.

Sabrina leaned forward, her drink in hand, her dark eyes sparkling with interest. "So, Grace, you're a freshman, right?"

Grace nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Yeah, just started this year. Why?"

Allie exchanged a look with Hannah before grinning. "It's just funny. You're so chill. Most freshmen at these parties are either way too nervous or way too excited."

"Not to mention they're usually the ones spilling drinks or dancing on tables," Hannah added with a laugh.

Grace rolled her eyes, though she smiled. "Well, I'm not exactly the partying type. Honestly, if Daisy hadn't convinced me, I'd probably be at home with a book right now."

"Classic freshman move," Sabrina teased. "Though I'll give you credit—you don't seem out of place here at all. Especially after how you handled Logan last week."

Grace groaned, her cheeks warming. "Are we really going to keep talking about that?"

"Yes," Allie said firmly. "Do you know how rare it is for someone to beat Logan at flip cup? The guy's competitive to a fault. And the fact that you're a freshman? Even better."

"I don't think he'll ever live it down," Hannah chimed in, smirking. "Garrett brings it up constantly."

Grace laughed softly, shaking her head. "I'm starting to feel bad about it."

"Don't," Sabrina said. "He likes it. Trust me, Logan's the kind of guy who doesn't waste time on people he's not interested in."

"Exactly," Allie agreed, leaning back. "Besides, you're different. Most freshmen would be throwing themselves at him, and you're just... you."

"Which makes you cooler than most people he's probably used to," Hannah added with a shrug.

Grace didn't know how to respond to that, so she just sipped her drink, trying to ignore the heat rising in her cheeks.

"So," Sabrina said, shifting the topic slightly, "how are you liking your first year so far? Adjusting okay?"

"It's been good," Grace said honestly. "Classes are tough, but I like the campus. And Daisy's been a big help—she's pretty much the only reason I've met people outside of class."

"Daisy's great," Allie said with a grin. "Morris lucked out with her. She's got a way of bringing people together."

Grace nodded. "She does. I'm pretty introverted, so having her push me out of my comfort zone has been... interesting."

"Interesting is one way to put it," Sabrina teased. "But hey, at least you're hanging out with us now. Junior year's where the fun really starts."

"Yeah," Hannah added. "Freshman year is all about figuring out where you fit. By the time you're a junior, you've got it down. You'll see."

Grace smiled, feeling a little more at ease. These girls, with their easy confidence and genuine kindness, made her feel like maybe she wasn't so out of place after all.

The music thumped louder in the background as Grace found herself being dragged by Hannah toward the makeshift beer pong table in the living room. The table was already surrounded by a small crowd, cheering as a pair of guys tried to sink the last cup.

Hannah turned to Grace with a mischievous grin. "Come on, freshman. Time to show us what you've got."

Grace raised an eyebrow. "I thought I proved myself with flip cup last week."

"You did," Hannah admitted, "but beer pong's a whole different game. Besides, Garrett's been talking a big game all night, and I need a partner to take him down."

As if on cue, Garrett appeared beside Hannah, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You're delusional if you think you're winning tonight. I'm on fire."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Please. You've missed more than you've hit."

Logan, who had been standing nearby, overheard the exchange and stepped up beside Grace, his signature smirk in place. "If we're talking big games, I think it's only fair I team up with Grace. She's the reigning flip cup champion, after all."

Garrett snorted. "Oh, this is going to be fun. You're going down, Lo."

The crowd around the table cheered as the teams were set: Grace and Logan against Hannah and Garrett. Cups were filled, and the game began.

Garrett took the first shot, sinking a cup immediately. He raised his hands in triumph. "Told you, I'm on fire."

"Beginner's luck," Logan said, grabbing a ball. "Watch and learn."

He lined up his shot, easily sinking one of the cups on Garrett and Hannah's side. Grace couldn't help but smile as Logan's confidence lit up the table.

"Nice shot," she said, stepping up for her turn.

"Thanks," Logan replied, leaning in slightly. "No pressure, but if you don't make this, I'm never letting you forget it."

Grace smirked, locking eyes with him. "Pressure's where I thrive." She tossed the ball, and it arced perfectly into one of the cups. The crowd erupted in cheers.

"Damn," Logan said, grinning. "Remind me not to bet against you."

The game continued, growing more intense with every turn. Garrett's trash-talking grew louder, Hannah matched him with her competitive fire, and Logan and Grace found themselves falling into a rhythm, their banter easy and natural.

"You're surprisingly good at this," Logan said as Grace stepped up for another shot.

"Surprising how?" she asked, pretending to be offended.

Logan shrugged, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You don't seem like the type to frequent beer pong tables."

"I'm not," Grace admitted, tossing the ball. It bounced off the rim, and she groaned. "But I am the type who hates to lose."

Logan laughed, retrieving the ball for her. "Good. Because so do I."

As the game went on, Logan leaned closer to Grace between shots. "So, are you actually having fun, or are you just humoring Daisy?"

"A little of both," Grace said, her lips curving into a small smile. "This isn't really my scene, but it's not as bad as I thought it'd be."

"Not as bad?" Logan repeated, feigning offense.

Grace laughed softly. "Okay, fine. It's fun. But only because of the people."

Logan's grin widened, his eyes glinting with something warm and genuine. "Glad I made the cut."

Hannah's voice cut through the moment. "Less flirting, more playing, you two! We're not letting you win just because you're making googly eyes at each other."

Grace's face burned, but Logan only laughed. "You're just jealous, Hannah," he shot back, tossing the ball. It landed perfectly, knocking out one of the last cups on their side.

The game came down to a single cup on each side. The tension was thick as Logan handed Grace the ball.

"This is it," he said. "All or nothing. No pressure, though."

Grace rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "You're terrible at pep talks."

"Come on, champ. You've got this," Logan said, his voice dropping to a softer, encouraging tone.

She took a deep breath, focused, and released the ball. It soared through the air, landing perfectly in the last cup.

The room erupted in cheers, and Logan threw his hands in the air. "Yes! That's my partner!"

Hannah groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I can't believe we lost."

Garrett clapped Logan on the back, shaking his head. "Alright, Logan. I'll admit it. You've got a solid teammate."

Logan turned to Grace, his grin infectious. "Told you we'd win."

Grace couldn't help but laugh, feeling a rare sense of pride. "Yeah, yeah. Don't let it go to your head."

As the crowd began to disperse, Logan leaned closer, his voice just loud enough for her to hear over the music. "So, what's next? Rematch, or are we retiring as champions?"

Grace tilted her head, meeting his gaze. "I guess that depends—can you handle losing to me twice in one week?"

Logan chuckled, shaking his head. "You're something else, Grace."

And for the first time all night, Grace realized she didn't mind being the center of attention—at least, not when it came to Logan.

The beer pong table was buzzing with energy as Logan leaned against it, spinning a ping-pong ball in his hand. He glanced over at Grace with a smirk. "Alright, Grace. How about we team up again? Show these amateurs how it's done."

Grace arched an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "You just want me to carry you again."

Logan feigned offense, placing a hand over his heart. "Carry me? Please. We're a team. Besides, I need someone who can match my competitive energy."

"Fine," Grace said with a smile, grabbing a ball. "But if we lose, it's your fault."

Dean, who had been standing nearby, laughed. "Oh, this is going to be fun. Allie and I are taking you two down."

Allie appeared at Dean's side, her grin confident. "Prepare to lose, Logan. And Grace, don't let him talk you into thinking you stand a chance."

Logan let out a short laugh. "Big talk for someone who barely knows how to aim."

"Let's settle this on the table," Allie shot back, setting up the cups.

The crowd gathered as the teams got into position. Logan handed Grace a ball, his voice low and playful. "No pressure, partner, but I hope you're ready to dominate."

"I was born ready," Grace replied, narrowing her eyes in mock determination.

The game began, and Dean was the first to take a shot. The ball hit the rim of the cup and bounced off, eliciting groans from the crowd.

"Rusty already?" Logan teased as he stepped up to the table. He lined up his shot and sank it into one of Dean and Allie's cups with ease.

"Don't get too comfortable," Dean said, grabbing the ball.

Grace was up next. She took a deep breath, focusing on the cup, and tossed the ball. It landed perfectly, and the crowd cheered.

Logan clapped her on the back, grinning. "That's what I'm talking about! Perfect shot."

"Thanks," Grace said, trying to play it cool despite the heat rising to her cheeks.

As the game went on, the competitive banter between the teams escalated. Dean sank a cup, and Allie celebrated like they'd just won the championship.

"See? That's skill," Allie said, pointing at Logan.

"Blind luck," Logan countered, grabbing the ball.

He stepped up to the table, his usual confidence shining through. Before taking his shot, he turned to Grace, lowering his voice. "Watch this. I'm about to remind them who they're dealing with."

Grace smirked. "Don't miss, or I'm going to have to carry us again."

Logan chuckled, then tossed the ball. It bounced once before landing squarely in a cup.

"That's how it's done," he said, flashing Grace a grin.

"Alright, show-off," she said, laughing as she grabbed the ball for her turn.

Logan leaned closer as she lined up her shot. "No pressure, but if you make this, I'll admit you're better at this than I am."

Grace didn't look at him, but she couldn't help smiling. "I don't need your validation, Logan."

She tossed the ball, and it arced perfectly into the cup. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Logan threw his arms up in mock defeat.

"Alright, fine," he said, grinning. "You're better than me. Happy?"

"Very," Grace replied, her eyes sparkling.

The game came down to a single cup on each side, the tension thick as both teams focused. Dean took his shot, but it bounced off the rim.

"Choke artist," Logan muttered under his breath, earning a glare from Dean.

Logan handed the ball to Grace, his voice low and encouraging. "This is it, partner. Game-winning shot. You got this."

Grace took a deep breath, her hands steady as she lined up the shot. Logan was watching her intently, his usual playful smirk replaced by a softer expression.

She tossed the ball, and it sailed through the air, landing perfectly in the final cup.

The room erupted in cheers, and Logan turned to Grace, grabbing her hand and raising it in victory. "That's my partner!"

Allie groaned, throwing her hands up. "Unbelievable. You two are ridiculous."

Dean shook his head, laughing. "Alright, fine. You won. But don't get too cocky."

Logan smirked, turning to Grace. "Too late. I've got the best partner in the house. Can't help but be cocky."

Grace rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her smile. "You're impossible."

"And you like it," Logan shot back, his grin widening.

As the crowd began to disperse, Logan leaned closer to Grace, his voice dropping. "So, rematch or are we retiring undefeated?"

Grace glanced at him, her smile growing. "Depends—can you handle me showing you up again?"

Logan laughed, his blue eyes gleaming. "I think I can live with it."

And for the rest of the night, the playful rivalry between them only seemed to bring them closer.

Grace leaned against the edge of the beer pong table, catching her breath after their hard-fought victory. Logan was grinning beside her, clearly riding the high of their win.

She turned to him, her lips quirking into a smile. "I think we should retire undefeated. Go out on top, you know?"

Logan tilted his head, pretending to consider her words. "You sure? We're kind of unstoppable."

"Exactly why we shouldn't push our luck," Grace teased. "Besides, you can keep playing. I'm going to find Daisy and Morris—it's getting late."

Logan frowned slightly, but it quickly shifted back to his easygoing grin. "Alright, fair enough. But you're abandoning me to weaker teammates. Don't blame me if I lose the next game."

Grace laughed softly, shaking her head. "You'll survive. And hey," she added, giving him a genuine look, "thanks for a great night. And for being an even better beer pong partner."

Logan's grin softened into something more genuine. "The pleasure was all mine, partner. Don't think I've ever had this much fun losing—or winning."

Grace rolled her eyes playfully before turning toward the living room to search for Daisy and Morris. She found them on the couch, deep in conversation with Sabrina and Tucker. Daisy looked up as Grace approached.

"Hey! You ready to head out?" Daisy asked, noticing Grace's expression.

"Yeah, it's getting late," Grace said, stifling a yawn.

Morris nodded and stood. "Let me grab my keys."

Before they left, Grace made her rounds to say goodbye. She walked back to where Hannah, Allie, and Sabrina were standing, chatting with their boyfriends.

"Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys tonight," Grace said, smiling warmly at the girls.

"Of course! You're officially part of the crew now," Hannah said, pulling Grace into a quick hug.

"Next time, you're on my team," Allie said with a wink.

"Good luck beating her," Sabrina chimed in. "She's a secret weapon."

Grace laughed, thanking them again before turning to the guys. Tucker gave her a friendly fist bump, Dean waved, and Garrett saluted her with his drink.

Finally, she turned to Logan, who was now leaning casually against the wall, watching her with that easy smirk of his.

"Goodnight, Logan," she said, her voice soft but sincere.

"Night, Grace," he replied, his smirk shifting into a warm smile. "Get home safe."

She nodded, turning to leave with Daisy and Morris. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Grace felt a small, unfamiliar flutter in her chest.

It had been a long night, but she couldn't stop thinking about Logan's grin—or the way he made her laugh more than anyone had in a long time.