Breaking The Ice

CHAPTER 12

Jaxon POV

By the second week of classes, everyone was tired. Not the normal kind of tired. The college kind. The kind where you couldn't remember if you'd forgotten to eat lunch or if lunch had simply never happened. The hockey schedule wasn't helping. Morning conditioning. Classes. Team meetings. Practice. Assignments. Sleep. Repeat.

Gray stared blankly at his cereal across the kitchen table. "I think my brain has filed for divorce.” Connor poured himself another cup of coffee. "I don't think that's how brains work.” Gray pointed his spoon at him. "Neither do I."

Tyler wandered into the house without knocking, carrying two coffees. “Morning." Connor looked up. "You know this isn't your house.” Tyler handed him one of the coffees. "And yet... here I am.” Gray looked between them. "Did nobody bring me coffee?” Gray asked. "You still owe me twelve dollars.” Tyler said. "I was hoping you'd forgotten.” Gray grumbled. "I write your debts down.” Gray gasped dramatically. "That's friendship with conditions.” He retorted. "It's survival.” Tyler said grinning.

I grabbed my backpack from beside the door. "I'm heading out.” Connor frowned.

"You've got class in an hour.” "I've got a meeting with Professor Harrison first.” Gray saluted lazily from his chair. "Tell him I died.” Gray said unhelpfully. "I'll tell him you're considering it.” I said from over my shoulder. "Close enough."

Campus had settled into a comfortable routine. Students no longer wandered around clutching maps. Everyone seemed to know where they were going. Or at least looked confident pretending they did. I crossed the quad toward the business building before cutting through the student union. The line at the coffee shop stretched halfway down the hallway. No surprise there. As I walked past, I caught sight of someone standing off to one side.

Riley. She wasn't in hockey gear for once. Dark jeans. A navy Wolf Ridge hoodie. Hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She stared down at her phone, completely still. Something about her expression made me slow down. She wasn't smiling. She wasn't frustrated. She looked… Worried.

Her phone buzzed again. She answered immediately. “Hi..." A pause. "No, I understand.” Another pause. Her shoulders sank. "I know.” Silence. "I'll figure something out.” Those six words caught my attention. Not: Can you help? Not: What should I do? Just… "I'll figure something out.” And the call ended.

She stayed where she was for another moment before slipping the phone into her pocket. When she turned around, she nearly walked straight into me. “Oh." She blinked. “Sorry." She said quickly. "You okay?” I asked but the answer came too quickly. “Yeah." It was a lie. I could tell. "You sure?” She smiled. A little too brightly. "Just family stuff.” I nodded. If she wanted to leave it there, I wasn't going to push.

"See you at practice?” I said instead. "Wouldn't miss it.” She said back and started walking away. After three steps she stopped. Turned back. "Good luck with your meeting.” I frowned. "How did you know I had one?” She shrugged. "You always carry that folder when you're going somewhere you don't want to be.” She said and I looked down. She was right. I was carrying the blue folder I'd used for every meeting with Professor Harrison since freshman year. "Huh."

A small smile appeared on her face. "I notice things.” Then she disappeared into the crowd. I stood there for a second longer than necessary. She noticed things. And apparently… So did I.

Practice that afternoon was brutal. Coach had us running transition drills until everyone's legs felt like concrete. Then came battle drills. One-on-one. Corner battles. Board work. No mercy. Halfway through one drill, Riley took a heavy hit from Tyler. She bounced off the boards, regained her balance, stole the puck back, and somehow managed to skate away with it.

Coach blew his whistle. “Again!" Tyler laughed as they skated back. "I hit you harder than that.” Riley said. "You'll have to try harder.” She continued. "I was being nice.” He said and I saw her roll her eyes. "You don't know how.” Connor skated past me. "They're becoming competitive.” He remarked "They already were.” I commented thoughtfully. “No." He smirked. "Now they're enjoying it.” He wasn't wrong. Every battle between Tyler and Riley seemed to end with both of them laughing.

The team had completely stopped treating her differently. She wasn't "the girl.” She was Bennett. Just another defenseman. Exactly the way she'd wanted it.

Practice ended just after six. Most of the team headed toward the locker room. I stayed behind to help Coach collect pucks. "You've been quiet today.” Coach said. "I usually am.” I said simply. "You've been quieter.” I tossed another puck into the bucket. He waited. Eventually I spoke. "I think something's bothering Bennett.” I finally said. Coach glanced toward the empty bench. "What makes you say that?” "She got a phone call.” I said and coach looked at me. “And?" I fished for more. "She looked worried.” Coach shrugged. "Did you ask her?” "I did.” I answered. “And?" He inquired. "She said she was fine.” Coach smiled faintly. "Which means she isn’t." I looked at him. "You knew that?” He laughed.

"I've coached college athletes for twenty-five years.” He said as he tossed another puck into the bucket. "They all say they're fine.” I couldn't argue with that. Coach rested both hands on his stick. "If she needs help…" He looked at me. "...she'll ask.” He said but I wasn't so sure. Everything I'd learned about Riley Bennett suggested the exact opposite. She'd rather carry the weight herself than let someone else do it for her. For some reason… That bothered me. More than it probably should have.

That evening, I walked into the house to find Connor sitting at the kitchen table surrounded by textbooks. Gray was asleep on the couch with one sock on and one sock off. I decided not to ask. Connor looked up. "Practice got to him.” He said. "I can see that.” I headed for the fridge before stopping. There was a folded piece of paper on the kitchen counter.

HOUSE INSPECTION. FRIDAY. PLEASE ENSURE ALL ROOMS ARE PRESENTABLE.

Gray mumbled something in his sleep. Connor sighed. "I don't even want to know what his room looks like.” Connor grumbled. "I do.” Connor looked horrified. “Why?" He asked. "Because whatever's in there is probably against university regulations.” Gray spoke without opening his eyes. "They're more like... suggestions.” Connor closed his textbook. "I hate living with him.” Connor said, snapping another book close. "You'd miss me.” Gray muttered sleepily. Connor and I exchanged a look. “No." We both said together. Gray smiled without opening his eyes. "Liars."

I laughed quietly as I grabbed a bottle of water and headed upstairs. But even after closing my bedroom door… My thoughts drifted back to one sentence. I'll figure something out. For some reason… I had a feeling Riley Bennett was about to try doing exactly that. Alone.