Holiday Hockey Tale: Breaking The Ice

Ch 3

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the dorm room window as Grace sat cross-legged on her bed, flipping through her planner. She was jotting down her to-do list for the weekend when the door swung open, and Daisy strolled in, her overnight bag slung over her shoulder.

"Morning!" Daisy chirped, kicking off her sneakers by the door. She dropped her bag onto her desk chair and flopped dramatically onto her bed.

Grace glanced up, amused. "Morning. How was your night?"

Daisy grinned, propping herself up on her elbows. "Pretty great. Morris and I grabbed dinner, watched a movie at his dorm, and then... you know." She wiggled her eyebrows playfully.

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "Glad you had fun."

Daisy sat up fully, her eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Okay, but what about you? How was your wild night of solitude? Did you end up doing anything exciting after we left the coffee shop?"

Grace shrugged, closing her planner. "Not really. I grabbed dinner at the dinning hall, came back here, and watched a movie. It was nice, actually—exactly what I needed after this week."

Daisy groaned, flopping back onto her bed. "Grace, you're killing me. You didn't even consider going to that party Logan told you about? You know he was hoping you'd show up, right?"

Grace rolled her eyes, though her cheeks warmed slightly. "I told him I had studying to do, which was true. Besides, I don't think he actually cared if I went or not. He's just being friendly."

Daisy bolted upright, her expression incredulous. "Friendly? Grace, no guy goes out of his way to invite you to a party, especially Logan, unless he's interested. And the fact that you said no probably made him even more interested."

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "You're reading too much into it."

"Am I, though?" Daisy said, giving her a knowing look. "Logan's not exactly subtle. And you've clearly got his attention. So, what's the plan?"

"There is no plan," Grace said firmly. "I'm not here to get caught up in all that. I just want to focus on school and figure out this whole college thing. Parties and hockey guys aren't really part of the equation."

Daisy sighed dramatically. "You're too responsible for your own good. But, fine. I'll drop it—for now."

"Thank you," Grace said with mock relief.

Daisy grinned and leaned over to her desk, rummaging through her bag. "Alright, responsible one, what's on the agenda for today?"

Grace glanced at her planner. "I was thinking about hitting the library for a bit, maybe getting ahead on some reading. What about you?"

"I'm meeting Morris for lunch, but we'll be around later," Daisy said, glancing at Grace with a mischievous smile. "Just in case you change your mind and decide you want to do something fun."

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "I'll keep that in mind."

As Daisy headed to the bathroom to freshen up, Grace leaned back against her pillows, letting her thoughts drift. She appreciated Daisy's enthusiasm, but she wasn't sure she was ready to dive into the chaos of college social life just yet. Still, she couldn't completely ignore the small flutter in her chest when she thought about Logan and the way he'd looked at her at the coffee shop.

Pushing the thought aside, Grace grabbed her bag and started packing up for the library. There'd be plenty of time to figure out the rest later.

The library was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers or the muted sound of keyboards clicking. Grace sat at a corner table, surrounded by textbooks, highlighters, and her laptop. She had spent most of the morning diving into her reading assignments and was now putting the finishing touches on a paper due the following week.

As she typed her last paragraph, her phone buzzed on the table. Grace glanced at the screen to see a text from Daisy.

Daisy: Hey, studious one, Morris is having a get-together at his dorm tonight. Your attendance is MANDATORY.

Grace rolled her eyes and typed back.

Grace: Mandatory? That's a strong word for something I didn't sign up for.

Daisy's response came almost immediately.

Daisy: Exactly why I'm using it. You've been holed up with books all day. Time to socialize.

Grace: I went to the party last night. That counts.

Daisy: Wrong. You were at a party 2 nights ago, and most of that time, you were with me.

Grace sighed, shaking her head but unable to stop the small smile that crept onto her face. Daisy wasn't going to let this go.

Grace: Fine. But only for a little while.

Daisy: Victory! Be at Morris' by 8. Don't make me come drag you out of the library.

Grace chuckled, setting her phone down. She glanced at the clock on her laptop—plenty of time to wrap up her work before Daisy came after her. Satisfied with her final edits, Grace saved her paper, packed up her things, and returned her books to the shelves.

As she walked back to her dorm, she couldn't help but feel a mix of dread and curiosity about the night ahead. Daisy was relentless, but at least a small gathering at Morris' dorm sounded less intimidating than another massive party. Still, part of her couldn't shake the nagging thought that Daisy might have ulterior motives—ones that involved her running into Logan again.

Back at the dorm, Grace was rifling through her closet, trying to pick something that said "casual but not trying too hard." Daisy had texted her twice already, reminding her not to bail, which only made Grace more determined to keep her promise and show up.

She finally settled on a simple pair of skinny jeans and a fitted sweater, something comfortable but still put-together. After running a brush through her hair and swiping on a bit of lip gloss, she grabbed her phone and keys, ready to face the evening.

The walk to Morris' dorm was brisk, the September air hitting her cheeks. Grace shoved her hands into her pockets and focused on the path ahead. She was about halfway there when she heard the unmistakable sound of laughter and voices behind her.

Turning her head, she spotted four familiar figures heading in her direction. Garrett, Dean, Tucker, and Logan were walking together, clearly in high spirits as they joked with one another.

Grace considered speeding up to avoid interaction, but it was too late. Logan's sharp eyes had already spotted her.

"Hey, Grace!" Logan called, his grin widening as he jogged a few steps to catch up with her. The other three followed, clearly curious.

"Fancy running into you here," Dean said with a mischievous smirk. "What are the odds?"

Garrett raised an eyebrow. "Heading to another library study session, or are you actually doing something fun tonight?"

Grace rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. "For your information, I'm going to a get-together at Morris' dorm."

"Morris," Tucker said, nodding in recognition. "Daisy's boyfriend, right? Small world. We were just heading that way too."

"You're kidding," Grace said, stopping in her tracks.

Logan shrugged, his grin never wavering. "Nope. Morris is tight with a couple of the guys on the team. We hang out there sometimes."

Dean leaned in, a sly smile on his face. "Guess that means we'll see you there, huh, Grace?"

Grace wasn't sure if she should laugh or groan. Daisy had definitely set her up for this.

"Looks like it," she said with a resigned sigh, resuming her walk.

Logan fell into step beside her, hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie. "So, what made you change your mind? I thought parties weren't your thing."

"It's not exactly a party," Grace said. "And Daisy declared my attendance mandatory."

Garrett chuckled. "She's not wrong. You can't just bury yourself in books all weekend. Even we take breaks."

Dean snorted. "Barely."

As the group neared the dorm building, Tucker nudged Logan. "Looks like someone's night just got a little more interesting, huh?"

Logan shot him a warning look but didn't respond. Grace noticed the exchange but chose to ignore it, focusing instead on steeling herself for whatever chaos awaited inside.

When they reached the entrance, Garrett opened the door and gestured for Grace to go first with an exaggerated bow.

"After you, Grace," he said with mock chivalry.

"Thanks," she said dryly, stepping inside as the others followed.

Whatever quiet evening she'd envisioned earlier was clearly out the window now.

The dorm was already buzzing with activity when Grace walked in, the sound of laughter and music filtering through the common area. She scanned the room, quickly spotting Daisy by the makeshift snack table. Daisy waved enthusiastically, her grin widening when she noticed the group of guys trailing behind Grace.

Grace made a beeline for her friend, ignoring the amused looks from Logan and the others as they headed toward Morris, who was chatting with a few of his teammates.

"Okay," Grace said the moment she reached Daisy, crossing her arms. "You set me up."

Daisy's eyes widened with faux innocence as she handed Grace a plastic cup filled with what smelled like a fruity cocktail. "Set you up? I have no idea what you're talking about."

Grace raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Don't play dumb. The hockey guys just happened to be on their way here, and now they're acting like this is a big coincidence. You totally planned this."

Daisy took a sip of her drink, failing miserably to hide her smirk. "Alright, fine. Maybe I mentioned to Morris that you were coming, and maybe he invited them. But you've gotta admit, it's kind of perfect. Logan's clearly into you, and you're way too responsible to make the first move. I'm just giving fate a little push."

"Daisy," Grace groaned, taking a sip of her drink to hide her exasperation. "I came here because you said I needed to be more social, not to be ambushed."

Daisy shrugged, unapologetic. "You're being social, aren't you? Mission accomplished."

Before Grace could argue further, the door opened again, and in walked Hannah, Allie, and Sabrina, their voices carrying over the crowd as they greeted a few familiar faces.

Daisy's face lit up. "Oh my God, they're here! Come on, we have to say hi!"

"Do I have a choice?" Grace asked dryly, but Daisy was already grabbing her hand and pulling her toward the trio.

"Hannah, Allie, Sabrina!" Daisy called, waving them over.

The three girls turned, their faces lighting up in recognition.

"Daisy, Grace Hi!" Hannah said, wrapping them in a quick hug. The girls settled into easy conversation, Grace couldn't help but feel more at ease.

Across the room, Logan and the guys were still deep in conversation with Morris, though Logan's gaze flickered toward her every so often. Grace caught him looking once and quickly turned back to her drink, trying to ignore the warmth creeping up her neck.

Daisy leaned over and whispered, "See? This isn't so bad, right?"

Grace sighed, but a small smile tugged at her lips. "Fine. You win—for now."

Daisy grinned, clearly pleased with herself. "Told you this would be fun."

The energy in Morris' dorm ramped up as the night went on, the music louder and the crowd livelier. Grace found herself relaxing more than she thought she would, thanks in no small part to Daisy, Hannah, Allie, and Sabrina, who pulled her into their orbit with easy conversation and contagious laughter.

At one point, Daisy grabbed Grace's hand and dragged her into the makeshift dance area that had formed in the middle of the room. "Come on, Grace! Time to loosen up!"

Grace hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist Daisy's enthusiasm. The other girls quickly joined in, forming a small circle as they danced and sang along to the upbeat pop song blasting from the speakers.

Grace laughed as Daisy twirled her dramatically, almost spilling her drink in the process. "You're ridiculous!" she shouted over the music.

"That's why you love me!" Daisy shot back, spinning herself and bumping into Sabrina, who giggled and joined in.

As the songs changed, Grace felt herself letting go of her usual reservations. She didn't care if she wasn't the best dancer or if people were watching—she was having fun. Hannah and Allie danced next to her, their playful energy infectious, and Grace found herself smiling so much her cheeks started to hurt.

"You've got moves, Grace!" Allie teased, throwing her hands in the air.

"Hardly," Grace said, laughing.

"Don't sell yourself short!" Hannah added, giving her an encouraging grin.

Across the room, Logan leaned against the wall with Garrett, Dean, and Tucker, his beer forgotten in his hand as he watched Grace. She looked different like this—more carefree, her smile lighting up her face as she laughed with the girls.

"Logan," Garrett said, nudging him with his elbow. "You're staring."

Logan blinked, tearing his gaze away. "I'm not staring."

"You're definitely staring," Dean said with a smirk. "You've got that look."

"What look?" Logan asked, trying to sound casual.

"The 'I've got it bad' look," Tucker chimed in, taking a sip of his drink.

Logan rolled his eyes but didn't bother denying it. "She just looks like she's having a good time. That's all."

Garrett snorted. "Uh-huh. Sure, man. Keep telling yourself that."

Back on the dance floor, Grace was completely caught up in the moment, swaying to the music and laughing as Daisy tried to teach her a complicated move.

"You're a natural!" Daisy exclaimed, grabbing Grace's hands and pulling her into a spin.

Grace stumbled slightly but caught herself, laughing harder. "I think you're just saying that to make me feel better."

"Nah," Daisy said, grinning. "You're killing it, Grace."

As the song ended, Grace stepped back to catch her breath, her heart racing from the dancing and the pure joy of the moment. She hadn't expected to have this much fun tonight, but she was glad Daisy had dragged her out of the dorm. Logan, still watching from the sidelines, finally pushed off the wall and started making his way toward her, his confidence masking the nervous energy bubbling beneath the surface.

Garrett raised his beer in salute. "Go get her, Lo."

Logan ignored him, weaving through the crowd until he reached Grace, who was fanning herself with one hand and laughing at something Daisy said.

"You look like you're having fun," Logan said, his voice cutting through the noise.

Grace turned, startled, and found herself face-to-face with him. "I am," she admitted, her cheeks still flushed from dancing.

"Good," Logan said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You should do it more often."

Grace raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "What, dance?"

"Have fun," Logan clarified. "Though you're pretty good at the dancing part too."

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "You're just saying that."

"Maybe," Logan said, his grin widening. "But I mean it."

Daisy, ever the opportunist, grabbed Hannah, Sabrina, and Allie's arms and pulled them toward the snack table, shooting Grace a pointed look as she left her alone with Logan.

Grace glanced after her, exhaling softly. "Subtle, isn't she?"

"Not at all," Logan said, chuckling. "But I can't say I mind."

Grace met his gaze, her earlier hesitations softening. Maybe Daisy was right. Maybe she did need to loosen up a little—and maybe, just maybe, Logan wasn't so bad after all.

Logan and Grace stood near the edge of the dance floor, the energy of the party swirling around them. Logan leaned casually against the wall, his beer in one hand, while Grace sipped the last of her fruity drink. Their conversation had started light—class schedules, favorite coffee spots on campus—but as the minutes passed, it turned deeper, more personal.

"So, you're a business major?" Logan asked, his head tilted slightly as he studied her.

Grace nodded. "Yeah. I'm still figuring out what I want to do with it, though. What about you? Daisy said you're studying sports management?"

"Yeah," Logan said with a small grin. "It's a good fit with hockey. I've been playing since I could walk, so it made sense to stick with something related to sports."

Grace smiled. "That's cool. It's nice that you've found something you're passionate about."

Logan shrugged, a hint of self-deprecation in his smile. "It's not as impressive as it sounds. Hockey's pretty much my life, but I'm trying to think beyond it, you know? What about you—what made you pick business?"

Grace hesitated, twirling her empty cup in her hands. "It's practical, I guess. My parents pushed me toward something stable. I like it, but sometimes I wonder if I'm playing it too safe."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Playing it safe isn't a bad thing, but I get it. College is the time to figure out what you actually want, not just what other people expect."

Grace looked at him, surprised by his insight. "That's... actually really good advice."

Logan grinned, pretending to look offended. "What, you thought I couldn't be wise?"

Grace laughed, shaking her head. "I didn't say that."