Edges Of Us

My Safe Place

The next morning, Kai showed up again like he already belonged there.

He walked in with that same confident grin, skates over his shoulder, looking way too awake for 5 AM.

“Morning, guys,” he said, eyes landing on me first. “Ready to sweat?”

Mason didn’t even bother replying. He just laced up faster, jaw locked tight.

We started training, but the energy was different. Worse.

Kai was good — really good. Clean lines, strong core, and he wasn’t shy about showing it. Every time I demonstrated something, he watched me like I was the only person in the rink. His compliments came easy.

“Damn, Ezra,” he said after I landed a clean axel. “You make that look effortless. The way your body moves… it’s insane. You’re easily the best-looking skater I’ve seen here. No offense, Mason.”

Mason’s head snapped toward him so fast I thought he’d pull a muscle.

Kai just laughed lightly. “What? It’s true. Ezra’s got that whole pretty-boy thing going on. Face, body, the grace… it’s a package. Mason’s strong and all, but Ezra’s on another level.”

I felt my face heat up. “Kai, chill.”

Mason didn’t say a word. But I could see his hands clenching at his sides.

We kept going, but the tension was thick. Every time Kai got close to me to correct my form or just talk, Mason would skate over and insert himself between us. It was subtle, but I noticed, and so did Kai.

Halfway through the session, Kai skated over to me while Mason was on the other side catching his breath.

“Real talk,” Kai said quietly, eyes locked on mine. “You’re actually beautiful when you skate. Like… stupid handsome. The kind of face that makes people stare. Mason’s the golden boy of hockey, sure, but you? You’re the whole damn meal.”

I didn’t know what to say. Before I could respond, Mason’s voice cut through the air.

“You done flirting yet?”

Kai turned, still smiling. “Just being honest, man.”

Mason skated right up to us, breathing hard, eyes dark. “We’re here to train. Not to stroke Ezra’s ego.”

Kai raised an eyebrow. “Jealous much?”

Mason stepped closer, voice low and dangerous. “Watch your mouth.”

The air crackled. For a second I thought they were actually going to throw hands right there on the ice.

“Both of you, chill,” I snapped, stepping between them. “We’re supposed to be training, not starting another war.”

Kai backed off first, hands up. “My bad. Just calling it like I see it.” He looked at me one more time, eyes lingering. “You really are something else, Ezra.”

He skated away.

Mason stood there, chest heaving, staring at me like I’d done something wrong.

“What?” I asked.

“You like it?” he said, voice sharp. “All these people telling you how hot you are?”

I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “You’re the one who told me to go for Lila. Now you’re mad because Kai said I’m good-looking?”

Mason’s jaw worked. “It’s not the same.”

“Why? Because he’s a guy?”

Mason didn’t answer. He just turned and skated hard to the other side of the rink, pushing himself like he was trying to outrun whatever was happening in his head.

The rest of the session was painful. Mason barely looked at me. Kai kept throwing me small smiles and compliments when Mason wasn’t looking. I felt stuck in the middle of something I didn’t ask for.

When we finally finished, Mason grabbed his bag without a word and headed for the locker room. I followed him.

The second the door closed behind us, he spun around.

“You really gonna let him keep training with us?” he asked, voice tight.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

Mason laughed bitterly. “Of course you haven’t. He’s out here telling everyone how handsome you are, how much better you look than me, and you’re just standing there taking it.”

“He didn’t say better than you.”

“He didn’t have to.” Mason stepped closer, eyes burning. “I heard him talking to one of the other skaters earlier when he thought I was closing my locker. Said you’re the hottest guy he’s seen in this school. Said your face and body are ‘unfair.’ Said even the golden boy of hockey can’t compete.”

My stomach flipped.

Mason’s voice dropped. “You like hearing that s**t?”

I met his eyes. “Why do you care so much?”

He opened his mouth then closed it. For a second he looked lost.

Then he shook his head and turned away.

“Forget it,” he muttered. “Do whatever you want.”

He stormed out of the locker room, leaving me standing there alone with my heart pounding way too hard.

I hated how jealous Mason Reid's getting.

But most of all… I hated that some small, stupid part of me liked that he cared.