OFF THE ICE: FAKE DATING MY HOCKEY ENEMY

GREAT JOB, CALLAHAN

REEVE’S POV

I had ruined everything—again.

My knees hit the floors. I could taste the bile in my mouth, feeling the burn at the back of my throat while the crew murmured somewhere behind me.

With eyes watering, while my stomach heaved again and again until there was nothing left. God—this was going worse than I expected.

“Hey—easy there.” Zane’s agent, Derek’s voice was close, almost steadying me. His hand appeared in my blurry vision, holding out a bottle of water. “Here, drink up.”

I took it with shaky hands, unscrewed the cap and lifted the bottle into my mouth. I rinsed it, then spat into the floor that already smelt like my embarrassment.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. My voice scraped out raw. “I-i’m so sorry.”

”Don’t apologize.” He crouched beside me, still looking so calm and collected. Like he’d seen worse. “Can you stand?”

I gave a curt nod, rising up slowly but my legs wobbled. My hands flailed slightly at my sides but he caught my elbow, steadying me. The room seemed to spin slightly before settling in.

Then my gaze landed on him.

Zane.

He stood ten feet away with his arms crossed, watching me with such an expressionless face. No concern, or disgust as usual. Just nothing. Our eyes met for a split second before I looked away.

”Let’s get you cleaned up.” Derek guided me towards the back of the set, away from the cameras, away from the crew pretending not to stare.

Away from him, Zane. His cold and empty gaze.

”I’ll take it from here.” I mouthed, pausing my steps. The bathroom was just a few steps from me. I raised my head to look at him, he let out a soft exhale along with a curt nod.

“Thank you.” I mouthed, hands digging into my sides as I turned to walk away. My chest caved in, like I’d break down in tears soon. On getting to the bathroom, I pressed down on the handle, prying it open and stepping in.

The door closed behind me and I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. It was small with a little fluorescent light, making everything look worse than it was.

I swallowed down hard right before I gripped the sink with both hands, staring at my reflection. My make up was starting to smudge, eyes getting red-rimmed and the expensive sweater they put me in now had a small stain near the collar.

I looked exactly like I felt. Like the girl who didn’t belong here.

”f**k—-“ I mouthed, my eyes squeezing shut. “Get it together, Reeve. You can’t fall apart now.”

But my grip on the sink trembled even more. I opened my eyes, turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on my face. Maybe that would wash away the terror on my face. The water turned pink from the make up.

I threw up on national television. Well, pre-national television. They hadn’t aired it yet. But thirty crew members saw it. Priya saw it. Derek too and—

Zane.

And he caused it. With that whisper in my ear, knowing that I was terrified as hell. He knew exactly what buttons to push to break me—-because of how close we were.

I dried my face with a paper towel, took a long breath and nodded sharply. I could do this. I had to. For my sister, or the fact that walking away would mean a lawsuit I couldn’t afford and a reputation I'd never recover from .

I straightened my shoulders, smoothed down the sweater and opened the door. My eyes landed on Zane and I froze. He was leaning against the wall opposite the bathroom, arms still crossed with a tight jaw—waiting.

For me.

Our eyes locked,and something passed between us. I didn’t know what it was, but it felt like the heavy suffocating weight of two people who hated being together—-at least to him.

His gaze dropped to my hands. I realized I was still gripping the paper towel, crumpling it between my fingers.

“Great job, Callahan.” He mocked, with a small smile. But before he could say any more, Priya stepped in with her clipboard in hand and a very disappointed look.

”There you are.” She looked between us, eyes narrowing slightly at the tension in the small space. “I need both of you in my office, now.”

With another hard swallow, I gave a curt nod, stepping out of the bathroom fully. Her ‘office’ was just a corner of the production trailer with a desk, two folding chairs, and a monitor showing footage from today’s shoot.

I sat down slowly on one of the chairs, and Zane settled in the other beside me, not sparing me a glance.

Priya stood in front of us, arms crossed with her face pulled into something that made my stomach tie into knots all over again.

”That—“ She started, gesturing towards the monitor. “—Was a f*****g joke.”

My gaze lowered to my feet slowly.

”Your chemistry is terrible.” She clicked something on her phone, the screen lit up with footage of us standing together during the intro shot. Zane’s arms around my waist, my smile that looked more like a grimace.

”You look like strangers being forced to hug for a hostage photo.”

I took a quick glance at Zane, but he remained expressionless. My eyes fell back on my hands, staring.

”I’ve produced twelve seasons of reality television,” She continued, her voice rising, that professionalism cracking. “I know when two people have potential. I know you have to fake it.” She leaned against the desk. “But you’re so bad at it.”

”We’re trying. I’m sorry i—“ I tried to water down her anger but she cut me off.

“That kind of trying isn’t good enough.” Her eyes cut to me. “The network wants authenticity. They want to believe you two are falling for each other despite the odds.” A sharp exhale tore through her.

“Right now, I wouldn't believe you were falling for each other even if you were both set on fire.”

Silence settled in the room. Zane shifted in his seat beside me, and I could feel the tension radiating off him finally.

“So—“ Priya continued, leaning off the desk. “I’m going to do what any good producer would do when their leads have zero chemistry.”

She tapped her clipboard. “I’m forcing proximity.”

I felt my stomach drop. Why did it feel like this was going to get way worse?

“ I talked to the athletic director this morning,” She continued. “We already spoke of a plan B in case this sort of thing happened and—“

I shifted to the edge of my seat, holding her gaze. She was stalling on purpose, her eyes moving between us.

“You’ll be moving in together.” The bomb dropped.

”What!?”

”Excuse you!?” Zane and I shouted simultaneously.

“Is this some kind of sick joke!?” Zane sprung up, his chair scraping off the floors. “I mean—no, no f*****g way.”

”Yes, Mr. Ashford.” Priya gritted, her gaze hardening “And you’re moving into the apartment tonight.”

A short humorless laugh escaped Zane and he paced to the other side of the room. I shot up instantly. “Tonight?” I echoed, my voice rising.

“That’s not—-i can’t just—“

”You can, and you will!” She pressed further, stepping closer. “It’s in your contract. Clause seventeen. The network reserves the right to adjust living arrangements as needed for content purposes.”

Shit! I didn’t see that. It had to be a hidden clause or something.

I felt the floor tilt beneath me.

“The apartment is furnished. It’s two bedrooms with a fully stocked kitchen. The camera crew will be there tomorrow morning at six am to film your first ‘morning routine’ segment.” She checked her clipboard.

My eyes turned to Zane. His hands ran through his hair as he paced, gazing up.

“Pack your things,” Priya said in a firm tone, I turned to her. “A car will pick you up at eight pm. So don’t be late.”

”Wait, please.” I moved closer, maybe I could talk some sense into her. This wouldn’t work. He’d hate me even more.

”No, Reeve.” She turned to me sharply, staring for a few seconds before walking out. I remained still, holding the floor like if I looked elsewhere it’ll tilt completely.

I was going to live with him. The guy who told me not to talk to him. The one that was in this mess because of me. Now we’re in this again, because of me.

Together—under the same roof.

“Jesus fuckin Christ—-“ I heard him mutter. Then he turned to me slowly, my head rising to meet his face.

“I don’t know what it is about you.” He said quietly, yet I could sense not only the anger but disappointment. “But you—you ruin everything for me and I don't even know you like that.”

My heart thudded against my chest, hands digging at my sides as I blinked back the tears that burned at the back of my eyes.

“If this gets worse than this, Callahan.”

His gaze held mine.

“God knows what I’d do to you.”

He finished before stepping out of the tent.

My legs wobbled and I grabbed the desk for support, heart beat rising faster.

I thought he hated me before—but now

It was going to get so much worse.