Holiday Hockey Tale: Breaking The Ice

Ch 9

The Saturday afternoon sun streamed through the library windows as Grace settled into their usual study room. She sipped her caramel coffee, her laptop open and notes scattered in front of her. She was reviewing an Econ problem Logan had struggled with earlier in the week when the door opened, and Logan walked in, his usual confident grin on display.

"Hey," he said, dropping his bag onto the table and sitting across from her. "You're early."

"I figured I'd get a head start," Grace replied, smiling. "I'm trying to make sense of this graph before you tell me it's just like a hockey play again."

Logan laughed, leaning back in his chair. "Hey, my analogies work, don't they?"

She rolled her eyes but grinned. "I'll admit they do. Sometimes."

They settled into their routine quickly, alternating between Econ problems and Logan's latest essay draft. Their conversation flowed easily, as it always did, filled with teasing remarks and occasional focus on their work.

About an hour in, Logan closed his notebook and leaned his elbows on the table, looking at Grace thoughtfully.

"What?" she asked, pausing mid-note.

"Nothing," Logan said, though the mischievous glint in his eye said otherwise. "Just thinking."

"About?"

"About how I'm about to ask you something, and I'm not sure how you'll respond," he said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Grace raised an eyebrow, intrigued but wary. "Okay... what is it?"

Logan hesitated for half a second, then leaned forward, his expression softening. "There's a party tonight at one of my teammates' places. And I was wondering if you'd want to come—with me. As my date."

Grace blinked, her pen slipping from her fingers. "Wait, what?"

Logan chuckled, clearly enjoying her surprise. "You heard me. I want you to come to the party tonight. With me. As my date."

Her heart raced as she tried to process his words. "Why me? I mean, don't you usually go to those things with someone... more, I don't know, your speed?"

Logan frowned slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean..." Grace hesitated, looking down at her notebook. "I'm not exactly the party type. And you could probably ask anyone else, and they'd say yes in a heartbeat."

"Yeah, I could," Logan said, his tone serious now. "But I don't want to ask anyone else. I want to ask you. You're fun, smart, and you're way more interesting than anyone else I know."

Grace felt her cheeks flush, and she looked up to meet his gaze. His blue eyes were steady, honest, and she realized he wasn't joking or trying to play it cool. He was genuinely asking her.

"I don't know, Logan..." she started, unsure.

He reached across the table, tapping her notebook lightly. "Come on. It's not a big deal. You already know my friends, and I'll be with you the whole time. Plus, it's way more fun than staying in and staring at Econ graphs all night."

Grace hesitated for a moment longer before finally nodding. "Okay. I'll go."

Logan's grin returned, brighter than before. "Good. You won't regret it, I promise."

She couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm, though her stomach was already tying itself in knots at the thought of being his date.

"Just one thing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I'm not playing flip cup again. I've already peaked in that department."

Logan laughed. "Fair enough. But if you change your mind, I'll make sure you have a good partner."

As they returned to their work, Grace found it harder to focus. Her mind kept drifting to tonight, wondering what it would be like to go to a party with Logan—not as study buddies, but as something... more.

Later that afternoon, Grace found herself pacing in her dorm room, her phone in hand, staring at the screen like it held all the answers to her questions. She had said yes to Logan—as his date—but the weight of that decision hadn't fully hit her until now.

Daisy was sprawled on the couch, flipping through her phone, but when she saw Grace's hesitant expression, she put it down, sitting up straight. "Okay, something's up. What happened?"

Grace bit her lip, debating whether or not to share all the nerves bubbling inside her. Finally, she blurted out, "Logan asked me to go to the party tonight... as his date."

Daisy's face lit up, her eyes wide. "Wait—what? As his date? Like, a real date?"

Grace nodded, still feeling a little stunned. "Yeah. He... he actually wants me to go with him."

Daisy jumped up from the couch, her excitement infectious. "Grace, this is huge! He likes you. Like, likes you."

"I don't know," Grace muttered, feeling her stomach tighten. "I mean, he's popular, and I'm... I'm just me. I'm not exactly his usual type."

Daisy raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, well, maybe his usual type is overrated. You're smart, funny, and clearly way cooler than you give yourself credit for. He wants you there tonight—with him—not anyone else. You've gotta take this chance."

Grace flopped down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling. "I know, but what if I mess it up? What if it's just... a party thing, and I'm making it into something bigger than it is?"

Daisy sat down next to her, rubbing her back. "Grace, slow down. First, you're not going to mess it up. Second, this isn't about 'messing up.' You're going to have fun, see where it goes, and if anything, you'll have a great night. Trust me on this one. You deserve it."

Grace let out a deep breath, smiling faintly. "Okay. You're right. I'll go."

Daisy grinned. "Hell yes, you will. And I want all the details tomorrow, got it?"

Grace nodded, laughing as Daisy jumped up to rummage through her closet. "But for real, Grace. You've got this. Don't overthink it."

Meanwhile, across town, Logan was lying on his bed, phone in hand, staring at the screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard before he finally typed the message to his friends.

Logan: She said yes.

He hit send and leaned back, letting out a deep breath. The relief was instant, but the butterflies still lingered in his stomach. He couldn't believe it—Grace had actually agreed to be his date tonight.

A few moments later, his phone buzzed with multiple responses.

Garett: Knew it. She's the one, man. You're golden.

Tuck: You better not screw this up, Logan. If I hear you dropped the ball, I'll never let you hear the end of it.

Dean: Told you she'd say yes. Now let's just hope she's as fun as we think she is.

Logan chuckled at Dean's response but felt a sudden surge of excitement. He wasn't just looking forward to the party anymore—he was looking forward to spending time with Grace. No more pretending or overthinking. Just her and him, enjoying the night together.

He quickly typed back, smiling to himself.

Logan: Don't worry, guys. I've got this. Thanks for the support.

He set the phone down, running a hand through his hair as he thought about tonight. He was finally going to take the next step with Grace, and somehow, he was more nervous about this than any game or big moment on the ice.

But as the clock ticked closer to party time, Logan felt a quiet confidence settle in. He didn't need to worry about messing up—he just needed to be himself. And if tonight was any indication, being himself was exactly what had brought Grace into his life in the first place.

That evening, Logan stood in front of Grace's dorm building, his heart racing with anticipation. He'd never been this excited for a party before, but tonight was different. Tonight, he was picking up Grace, and tonight, they were going to spend the evening together. Not as study partners or casual friends—but as something more.

When Grace stepped out of the dorm building, Logan's breath hitched. She looked incredible. She wore a simple yet flattering outfit—dark jeans, a soft tank top, and a cardigan that was the perfect mix of casual and stylish. Her hair was loose around her shoulders, and her smile as she spotted him made his nerves ease just a bit.

"You look great," he said, trying to sound casual, but his voice betrayed the way he felt.

"Thanks," Grace replied, her cheeks flushing slightly. She quickly added, "You don't look so bad yourself."

Logan grinned, holding open the door of his truck for her. "Shall we?"

Grace nodded, sliding into the passenger seat. As Logan started the truck, the air between them was comfortable but charged. There were so many things unsaid between them—things they hadn't had the chance to talk about yet. But for now, he was content just being in her company.

As they drove to the party, the conversation flowed easily. They talked about school, what they had been working on recently, and even exchanged a few funny stories from their weeks. The music on the radio was a low hum in the background, giving way to the rhythm of their voices and laughter.

When they pulled up to the house, Logan took a deep breath, trying to settle his nerves. It wasn't like him to get so worked up about something like this, but there was something about tonight that felt different. Maybe it was the way Grace made him feel more himself than anyone else could. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was about to spend the night with her, and he didn't want to mess it up.

He turned off the engine and looked over at her. "Ready?"

Grace nodded, her expression matching his nerves. "Yeah. Let's do this."

Logan grinned, opening his door and walking around to her side. He held out his hand as she stepped out of the truck, and when she took it, it felt like everything clicked into place. They walked toward the door of the house, Logan's hand casually but confidently intertwined with hers.

The noise from the party was already spilling out the front door as they approached, the bass of the music vibrating through the ground beneath their feet. Logan looked down at Grace, seeing her smile and feeling his nerves fade. He wasn't worried about impressing her anymore—this felt easy.

As they walked into the crowded living room, Logan kept a relaxed hold on Grace's hand, making sure she was comfortable. The party was in full swing, with people scattered around the room, chatting, laughing, and dancing. But as they stepped inside, Logan was aware of nothing else but her.

"You good?" Logan asked, his voice low so only she could hear.

Grace gave him a smile, squeezing his hand lightly. "Yeah, I'm good. It's a lot of people, but it's fine."

Logan smiled back, feeling a sense of pride that she seemed comfortable with him. He led her further into the house, and the ease between them felt natural, like they had done this a thousand times.

"Let's get you a drink," he suggested, guiding her toward the kitchen.

As they made their way through the crowd, he couldn't help but feel a surge of confidence. With Grace by his side, walking hand-in-hand through the chaos of the party, he didn't feel like just another popular hockey player in a crowd. He felt like himself—and that was more than enough.

When they reached the kitchen, Logan grabbed a couple of cups with sangria in them, handing one to Grace before taking his own. "To a night of not thinking about school," he said, raising his cups.

Grace laughed, clinking her cup against his. "I'll drink to that."

As they made their way back toward the main room, Logan couldn't help but glance at Grace every few seconds, his heart swelling with something he couldn't quite put into words. They hadn't talked about what they were or where this might go—but for now, he was content to just enjoy the night with her, holding her hand, and letting the world around them fade into the background.

As the night wore on, Logan found himself lost in conversation with Grace. It was easy to talk to her, like they were in their own little bubble despite the chaotic energy of the party around them. The noise from the crowd, the music blaring, and the occasional shout from a nearby group didn't faze him. All he could focus on was Grace—the way she laughed, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her classes or a funny story from back home.

They were standing off to the side in a quieter part of the living room, leaning against the wall, casually sipping their drinks. Every so often, Logan would reach out and brush a strand of hair away from Grace's face, his touch gentle, instinctive. He just wanted to be close to her, feel that connection.

"I still don't understand how you're so good at writing essays," Logan said, a teasing glint in his eyes as he leaned in closer. "Meanwhile, I'm over here struggling, and you make it look effortless—like some kind of essay wizard."

Grace laughed, her expression warm and amused. "It's really not that big of a deal," she said with a modest shrug, though the hint of pride in her eyes didn't go unnoticed. "Once you get the hang of it, it just makes sense."

Logan let out a dramatic sigh. "You say that like it's easy. I swear, I need whatever secret formula you've got."

Grace nudged him playfully. "Lucky for you, I'm always willing to help."

Before Logan could respond, someone called out from across the room, pulling his attention away. A couple of his teammates waved him over, and Logan glanced at Grace. He could see she was still comfortable, but the thought of leaving her alone in the middle of the crowd didn't sit right with him.

"I'll be right back," he said, giving her a quick smile. "Don't go anywhere."

Grace grinned back at him. "I'll try not to."

But as Logan turned to walk toward his friends, he felt an overwhelming urge to stay connected with her. He stopped in his tracks and glanced over his shoulder, meeting her gaze. Grace was standing where he'd left her, but there was something in her expression that made his chest tighten.

Logan walked back to her without thinking, his hand reaching out for hers. "Actually," he said, his voice softer this time, "You should come with me. Don't want to leave you out here alone."

Grace's smile widened as she placed her hand in his, and they made their way over to his friends together. The simple act of holding her hand made everything feel right, as if he was where he was supposed to be.

As they approached his friends, Logan introduced Grace, making sure she was included in the conversation. But he didn't let go of her hand, even as they talked. It felt natural, like he didn't want to separate from her even for a moment.

At one point, when someone laughed loudly nearby, Grace instinctively took a small step closer to him. Without thinking, Logan slid his hand to her back, gently resting it there as if to reassure her, to keep her close.

"Everything okay?" he asked, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

Grace looked up at him, her eyes soft. "Yeah, just... a little overwhelming."

Logan gave her a warm smile, his hand still resting on her back. "I got you. We don't have to stay if you're not feeling it."

She shook her head, her lips curving into a small smile. "No, I'm fine. Just, you know, still getting used to all of this."

"Yeah," Logan said, squeezing her back lightly. "I get it. But don't worry, we're in this together. If you need a break, we can step outside or... whatever you want."

Grace nodded, the warmth of his presence making her feel more comfortable. "Thanks, Logan. I appreciate it."

He couldn't help but smile at her, feeling something stir inside him. He was happy to be there with her, happy to just be in her orbit, even if it meant navigating the chaos of the party together.

As the night continued, Logan kept Grace close. Whether it was a hand on her back, their fingers intertwined, or simply staying within a few feet of her, he wanted to make sure she felt at ease. This wasn't just about having fun at a party—it was about being there for her, offering the support and comfort she needed.

At some point, he found himself not caring about the loud music, the drinking games, or his friends' laughter. The only thing that mattered to him was the feeling of Grace standing next to him, the quiet moments where they shared glances or small conversations, and the way her hand fit perfectly in his.

For Logan, tonight was more than just a party—it was a chance to be with someone who made him feel more than he ever had before.

As the party continued to buzz around them, Grace found herself feeling more and more out of place. The music had started to feel too loud, and the conversations around her blurred into white noise. She was tired, the excitement of the evening wearing off as she realized how much she'd been holding back. Logan seemed to be having a great time with his friends, but Grace couldn't shake the feeling that she was ready to leave.

She turned to Logan, her fingers still intertwined with his, and spoke up. "Hey, I think I'm gonna head out. It's getting late, and I'm kind of... tired."

Logan looked at her, a hint of concern crossing his features. "You sure?" He scanned her face for any sign of hesitation, and when he found none, he added, "I don't want you to feel like you have to leave because of me."

Grace smiled, squeezing his hand gently. "No, it's not that. You can stay and hang out with your friends. I'm fine on my own. I just... I think I'm done for tonight."

Logan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm not just going to let you go by yourself. You're my date, Grace. I'm taking you back."

She gave him a soft smile, appreciating his persistence, but also understanding that he wasn't going to let her slip away without a fight. He didn't want her to feel alone or like she was walking out on her own after agreeing to spend time with him.

"I don't mind, Logan. Really," she said, her voice reassuring but firm. "You should stay. I'll be fine."

But Logan was already moving toward the door, tugging her along gently, his hand still clasped around hers. "Nope. Not happening. I'll make sure you get back to your dorm safe, and I'll drive you there myself. It's the least I can do."

Grace let out a soft laugh, realizing she wasn't going to win this battle. "Okay, okay. But you don't have to walk me all the way up. I can handle it."

"Not taking any chances," he replied with a playful grin.

Together, they made their way out of the house, stepping into the cool night air. The party's noise faded behind them as Logan led the way to his truck, his hand never leaving hers. As they reached the truck, Logan opened the door for her, ushering her inside before sliding into the driver's seat. The drive back to campus was quiet but comfortable, the hum of the truck's engine filling the gaps in their conversation.

When they pulled up to her dorm, Logan parked the truck and turned to Grace. "I'll walk you to your door. No arguments," he said, his tone light but insistent.

Grace smiled at his protectiveness, not minding one bit. "Okay, you win. Lead the way."

Logan got out of the truck, opening the door for her once again. They walked up the path to her dorm, the night sky overhead clear and calm, and the sounds of the city distant in the background. When they reached the door, Logan stopped, turning to face her.

"I'm glad you came tonight," he said, his voice quieter now, a more genuine note of sincerity in his words. "I know it wasn't exactly your scene, but I'm really happy we got to hang out."

Grace smiled, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. "Me too. I'm really glad I came."

Logan hesitated for a moment, his hand brushing a strand of hair behind her ear before his eyes locked with hers. He stepped closer, his heartbeat quickening. Without saying another word, he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her cheek.

Grace's breath caught at the unexpected warmth of his touch, her chest tightening in a way she hadn't anticipated. But as Logan pulled away, a new feeling settled over her—something bold and fearless that hadn't been there before.

She reached up and cupped his face, her thumb brushing lightly over his jaw. Logan's eyes widened, surprised by the shift, but before he could say anything, Grace pulled him back toward her, kissing him on the mouth.

The kiss was soft at first—gentle, like they were both testing the waters, unsure of what it meant or where it might lead. But it didn't take long before the connection deepened, their lips moving in sync as if they'd done this a hundred times before.

When they finally pulled away, Grace smiled shyly, her heart racing in her chest. Logan's eyes sparkled with something she couldn't quite place, but it was enough to make her stomach flip.

"Well," he said, his voice hoarse, "I didn't see that coming."

Grace chuckled, her cheeks flushed with warmth. "Neither did I, but... I think I'm glad it happened."

Logan laughed softly, his thumb brushing her cheek. "Me too."

For a moment, neither of them spoke, the silence between them comfortable and full of unspoken understanding. But when Logan spoke again, his voice was quieter, more serious.

"Goodnight, Grace."

"Goodnight, Logan."

And with that, Grace turned and walked into the dorm, her heart fluttering, while Logan stood there for a moment longer, watching her go. As he made his way back to his truck, he couldn't help but smile. Tonight had been unexpected, but in the best possible way.