Assigned to the Captain
1324 Words
The next morning, I convinced myself yesterday had been an isolated incident.
One awkward interview.
One unexpected reunion.
Nothing more.
I’d survived.
Barely.
Now all I had to do was survive another six months.
Easy.
…Right.
The Frosthawks’ media room buzzed with reporters balancing coffee cups, cameras, and laptops while waiting for the team’s weekly press conference.
I slipped into the last empty chair, hoping to blend into the crowd.
No such luck.
“Ava!”
I looked up to find Noah Collins waving enthusiastically from across the room.
Sports columnist.
Professional loudmouth.
One of the few friends I’d made since moving to New York.
He hurried over.
“I heard you’re covering the Frosthawks all season.”
“I lost a bet with the universe.”
He laughed.
“No kidding. Half the media department is jealous.”
“They can have it.”
“You don’t mean that.”
No.
Five years ago, I would’ve considered this assignment the opportunity of a lifetime.
Now?
It felt like slow torture.
Before Noah could ask another question, the room quieted.
The players walked in one by one.
Laughter.
Conversations.
A few playful shoves.
Then Liam entered.
Every conversation stopped for a fraction of a second.
Not because he demanded attention.
Because attention naturally found him.
He wore a black suit tailored to perfection, his tie loosened just enough to make him look effortlessly handsome instead of overly polished.
His expression remained unreadable.
Professional.
Controlled.
Until his eyes landed on me.
There it was again.
That look.
As if five years had never passed.
As if he’d memorized every inch of my face and was silently comparing it to the woman he’d once loved.
I immediately looked away.
Coward.
The press conference began.
Questions flew from every direction.
“Liam, thoughts on your MVP odds?”
“How’s your shoulder after last week’s collision?”
“Any pressure heading into playoffs?”
He answered each one with practiced ease.
Short.
Confident.
Respectful.
Exactly the captain everyone expected.
Then another reporter stood.
“Captain Hayes.”
Liam nodded.
“How does it feel having exclusive coverage following the team this season?”
His gaze drifted toward me before returning to the reporter.
“If it helps people appreciate hockey…”
His voice remained calm.
“…then it’s worth it.”
A tiny smile.
Barely noticeable.
“But I hope she asks better questions.”
Laughter erupted throughout the room.
Heat climbed into my cheeks.
Jerk.
He’d just mocked my interview yesterday.
The worst part?
I deserved it.
I’d barely managed complete sentences.
Noah leaned toward me.
“You know him?”
I forced a shrug.
“Professionally.”
“Really?”
“Mhm.”
“You’ve got the weirdest chemistry.”
“What chemistry?”
“The kind where two people either dated…”
He paused.
“…or desperately want to.”
I nearly choked on my coffee.
Before I could deny it, the press conference ended.
Players dispersed.
Reporters packed their equipment.
I reached for my bag.
“Ava.”
The familiar voice stopped me cold.
I closed my eyes for exactly one second before turning.
Liam stood a few feet away.
Hands tucked inside his pockets.
Towering over nearly everyone in the room.
“What?”
Professional.
Stay professional.
“The media director wants to finalize your travel schedule.”
“I already received it.”
“I know.”
Reporters continued walking around us, completely oblivious.
“You’ll be flying with the team.”
“I’m aware.”
“Staying at the same hotels.”
“I read the itinerary.”
His jaw flexed.
“You always were stubborn.”
“And you always liked telling people what they already knew.”
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Almost a smile.
Almost.
“I forgot.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“No.”
His voice softened.
“I didn’t.”
The air suddenly felt too heavy.
Five years disappeared again.
Just like yesterday.
Just like every time we looked at each other.
I hated it.
I hated how familiar this felt.
How natural.
As though we’d simply paused our relationship instead of ending it.
A woman suddenly wrapped her arm around Liam’s shoulder.
“There you are.”
Tall.
Beautiful.
Blonde.
Model gorgeous.
She smiled brightly at him before noticing me.
“Oh.”
Her smile faltered.
“I didn’t realize you were busy.”
Liam gently removed her arm from his shoulder.
“We’re done.”
She looked between us.
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
She extended a hand toward me.
“I’m Chloe.”
I shook it politely.
“Ava.”
“I’m with the team’s marketing department.”
Of course she was.
Young.
Beautiful.
Perfect.
The type of woman magazine covers loved placing beside famous athletes.
She smiled warmly.
“I’ve heard great things about your articles.”
“Thank you.”
Liam remained silent.
Watching me.
Watching everything.
Chloe glanced at him.
“We’re still having dinner with the sponsors tonight.”
“I’ll be there.”
She nodded before walking away.
I hated myself for the ridiculous sting of jealousy that followed.
Five years.
He’d obviously dated.
So had I.
Well…
I’d tried.
None of them lasted.
Because every man I met eventually reminded me of someone else.
Someone impossible to replace.
“You look disappointed.”
I frowned.
“What?”
“You assumed she was my girlfriend.”
“I assumed nothing.”
“You’ve never been a good liar.”
I folded my arms.
“And you’ve always had an inflated ego.”
“I’ve also always known your tells.”
My heart stumbled.
Because he was right.
He knew every expression.
Every nervous habit.
Every lie.
Just as I knew his.
Like the way his left hand flexed whenever he was anxious.
The tiny crease between his eyebrows when he was frustrated.
The way he clenched his jaw instead of raising his voice.
He was doing all three.
Right now.
“I should go.”
I turned.
“Ava.”
I stopped.
Not because I wanted to.
Because hearing my name in his voice still did something to me.
He spoke quietly.
“So…”
I looked over my shoulder.
“…did forever only last five years?”
My breath caught.
The words sliced through every defense I’d built.
He remembered.
Of course he remembered.
The promise.
Forever.
My fingers tightened around my notebook.
“You know why it ended.”
His eyes darkened.
“No.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“I know it ended.”
Before I could answer, his phone rang.
The moment shattered.
He glanced at the screen before slipping it back into his pocket.
Duty.
Always duty.
It had chosen him once before.
Maybe it always would.
“I’ll see you in Boston.”
He walked away without another word.
I watched him disappear down the hallway.
Five years ago, I used to watch him leave for road trips with a kiss and a promise to call every night.
Now I watched him leave as if we were strangers.
The distance between us wasn’t measured in steps.
It was measured in everything we had lost.
And somehow…
It still wasn’t enough to make my heart stop choosing him.
⸻
That evening, I unpacked inside my apartment while reviewing the Frosthawks’ travel schedule.
Boston.
Chicago.
Toronto.
Montreal.
Six cities.
Twenty-three games.
Nearly half a year following Liam Hayes.
My phone buzzed.
Rachel.
Pack extra clothes.
You’ll be sharing transportation with the team.
I frowned.
Another message arrived.
One more thing.
Due to budget changes, some hotels only have limited media rooms.
Don’t panic when you see the room assignments tomorrow.
I stared at the screen.
A strange feeling settled in my stomach.
Don’t panic?
What exactly was I supposed to panic about?
I had a feeling tomorrow was about to make yesterday look easy.
- Writer
