My First Love Is My Boyfriend's Hockey Rival

Ivy POV I ran down the sidewalk toward the ice arena, breathing heavily, cursing Caleb with every step. "Uh, you said you had everything," I muttered softly, repeating our conversation from this morning. I had stood at the apartment door, watching him carry two big bags. "I thought I did, babe," he replied casually over the phone five minutes ago. His voice was calm, just like Caleb who never panics. Of course, he didn't. Instead his action made me panic! He had left a small bag with his mouthguard and spare gloves on the kitchen table. I was used to his forgetfulness, but today was the first warm-up game of the season. Being late meant trouble with the coach. And Caleb, as the captain, had to set an example. When I arrived at the players' entrance at the back of the arena, my second problem appeared. A large security guard immediately spread his arms, stopping me with a stern face. "I'm with the team," I said quickly, holding up the small black bag with the team logo. I was still panting. The man narrowed his eyes, looking me up and down. "Sorry, access is only for players and official staff." "I'm Caleb's girlfriend. Caleb Davis. The team captain." I pushed down my frustration. Time was running out. "He left his gear at the apartment and needs this right now." The guard didn't budge, making me almost groan in frustration. I quickly reached into my pocket, taking out my phone to call the team manager. But before I could press the button, the man recognized the varsity jacket I was wearing. The jacket with Caleb's number on the back. He sighed deeply and took a step back. "Alright. Don't take too long in the locker area." "Thank you." I slipped inside, not wasting a single second. Once I passed through the double doors, the atmosphere inside changed instantly. The cold air bit my skin, making me pull my jacket collar tighter. The back hallway of this ice arena felt like my second home; a unique smell of shaved ice from the Zamboni and the scent of rubbing rubber mats immediately filled my lungs. It was always noisy here. From ahead, the sound of ice skate blades hitting the rubber floor echoed with the excited shouts of the players from inside the locker room. Fast-paced hip-hop music boomed loudly, shaking the concrete walls along the hallway. I walked faster. This hallway was winding, and I rounded the last corner toward the locker room without slowing down. Then, someone appeared from the opposite direction just as fast. CRASH!!! The collision was unavoidable. My right shoulder hit something that felt as hard as a brick wall. The small gear bag in my hand flew to the floor. My phone slipped from my grip and clattered onto the rubber mat. Pain immediately shot from my shoulder to my neck. I stumbled backward, groaning while holding my arm. The person who bumped into me also stumbled back. He almost lost his balance, his feet shifting quickly to support his large body. "Seriously?" I snapped. My anger, which had been building up since I was on the road, peaked. The guy was bending down, picking up my phone and Caleb's bag. He was still wearing some of his practice gear; a black long-sleeved compression shirt and thick hockey pants. His back was broad, and he stood with his back to me. "Hey, you ran into me," he replied. His voice was low. "Duh, but why were you running," I talked back, my voice rising. "So were you." Wow. This guy was really annoying. I rolled my eyes, ignoring the throbbing pain in my shoulder. I was out of time. Caleb must be pacing in the locker room waiting for his stuff, and why was everyone in this arena moving like they were being chased by the cops? I just needed him to move aside so I could hand over this bag and get back to my peaceful life. "Move," I said sharply. "I'm in a hurry." The guy stood up slowly. He was still holding my phone. "Here." One word. Just that one word. But as soon as his voice sounded, something pulled hard at the bottom of my stomach. Something very familiar. No. My mind instantly rejected it. My chest suddenly felt tight, my heart beating in a messy rhythm. Impossible. The voice just happened to sound similar. My mind was playing tricks on me because I was tired. Then, he turned around. Only now could I see his face clearly. My heart seemed to stop beating. All the air was forced out of my lungs. Kai Sorensen. I knew that face. I had spent years trying to forget it. His face had changed, of course. His jawline was now much sharper, his features harder and firmer than the last memory I had kept hidden away. But that look in his eyes—dark, calm, and as if he could read my every weakness—was exactly the same. Kai also froze. His hand holding my phone stopped in the air, as if frozen in place. For a few agonizing seconds, we just stared at each other in silence in the middle of the noisy hallway. The booming music and the shouts of the players simply vanished from my ears. I saw a quick change in his eyes. Shock. There was a flash of emotion breaking there, as if he wanted to say a thousand things to me at once. But in the next second, he shut it all down. His expression went blank again, his emotions locked tight behind an invisible wall. "Ivy?" he called. His voice was almost a whisper, but it sounded like an explosion in my ears. My world, which I had worked so hard to build up to be stable, felt like it was shifting violently. I swallowed, trying to find air. My feet felt nailed to the rubber floor, but I refused to look broken. No, not anymore. I lifted my chin, forcing my face to look blank and uncaring. "You know me?" I asked coldly. My hand moved fast to snatch my phone from his grip. Kai looked like someone who had misspoken. He opened his mouth, looking unsure, as if trying to control what would come out of his lips. Then, before he could stop himself, one word slipped out. "Marshmallow." My body tensed instantly. That nickname. A stupid childhood nickname that no one else in the whole world had ever used but him. Absolute proof that Kai wasn't just a stranger who knew me. He used to be very close to me. "Don't call me that," I hissed quickly, taking a step back. My defensive mode immediately took over. I glared at him, hating how easily he disturbed my walls. Kai went silent. His eyes stared at me closely, searching for something behind my angry gaze. "I thought you—" He cut his own sentence off. His jaw tightened. He looked away, staring at the brick wall beside me as if the words he wanted to say were forced back down. He was holding back, and I hated that. I hated seeing him standing here, as if disappearing for years without a word meant nothing. "Babyyy!" A voice from the end of the hallway broke the suffocating tension between us. I turned my head. Caleb was walking toward us. He was already wearing his white warm-up jersey. His face was relaxed, and the bright smile that always managed to calm my nerves immediately formed on his lips when he saw me. He was completely unaware of the storm that had just hit me. "Oh man, thank goodness you're here," Caleb said, sighing in relief. He walked up to me, took the black bag from my hand, and wrapped one arm around my back. A very natural, affectionate gesture; the gesture of a perfect boyfriend. I leaned slightly into him. Caleb was my safe choice. My safe harbor after Kai disappeared. Caleb then turned to Kai, who was still standing frozen near us. Caleb's eyebrows raised a little seeing the two of us. "You two know each other?" Caleb asked casually, breaking the silence. The pressure in the hallway skyrocketed, making me hold my breath. My mouth was half open. I was about to answer, but Kai spoke much faster than me. His eyes looked straight at me. Ambiguous and sharp. "We used to." Used to. Those two words hit me like a physical slap. Caleb, who didn't know our history, actually smiled widely. "Wait, you guys know each other? That's actually perfect," Caleb said cheerfully, his voice full of enthusiasm. He gently patted my waist. "Kai, this is Ivy. My girlfriend." The introduction felt incredibly ironic. Kai obviously already knew who I was. Kai looked at Caleb for a long time. Slowly, his gaze shifted to me. I glanced at his hand hanging by his side. His fingers clenched tightly until his knuckles turned white, before he finally forced his muscles to relax. He nodded slowly. His expression was unreadable. "Caleb! Coach is looking for you!" A loud shout from the locker room echoed down the hallway. Caleb turned his head, then looked at me. "I have to go back inside now. Wait for me in the stands, okay? I'll find you after the warm-up is done." He squeezed my hand briefly before jogging down the hallway and disappearing behind a wooden door. I turned around, getting ready to leave as fast as possible toward the grandstand stairs. Away from his gaze. "Ivy." That one short call stopped me. My steps halted, but I didn't turn around. I could feel his presence behind me. And when he spoke again, his cold expression finally cracked. "Marsh." The call sounded quieter than before. I clenched my jaw tightly. I didn't answer. Kai went silent for a few seconds. Then, before I walked away, his voice was heard again. "You really don't remember?" I forced my legs to walk away, climbing the stairs away from him. But my mind was buzzing loudly. My heart was pumping wild adrenaline. Kai Sorensen didn't look like someone who left without a reason. And now, he was back.