Jace’s POV
The arena lights beat down on the ice as I skated out for warm-ups. My skates cut clean lines, but my mind was somewhere else. Dad’s voice from yesterday still rang in my ears; sharp, disappointed, demanding focus. And now she was here. Ariana. Sitting in the stands as my “girlfriend” for the first time.
I glanced up toward the section Mike had pointed out earlier. She was there, in a simple gray sweater, hair tied back, looking small among the crowd of fans in team colors. Our eyes met for a second. She gave a small, awkward wave. I lifted my stick in response, forcing a smile that felt too wide.
Mike skated up beside me, tapping my shin pad. “She actually came, you good?”
I nodded, but my stomach was tight. “Yeah. Just… weird seeing her here like this.”
The crowd noise sw
