Breaking The Ice

CHAPTER 17

Riley POV

Tuesday afternoon began with hope and it ended with silence. My phone rang halfway through lunch. The number wasn't saved, but I recognised the area code immediately. The elderly landlady. I answered before the second ring. "Hello?"

"Riley, dear?” Her gentle voice made my stomach twist. “Yes." There was a pause. "I'm so sorry.” I already knew. "The young man signed the lease this morning.” For a second, I forgot how to breathe. "I wanted to call you myself.” She continued. "I appreciate that.” I said with a sunken heart. "I truly wish I had better news.” She said sympathetically. "So do I.” Another small pause. "I'll keep your number.” I smiled even though she couldn't see it. "Thank you."

After we hung up, I stared at the dark screen of my phone. Apartment number nine. Gone. I stared at my phone for another minute, half expecting it to ring again. Half hoping she'd call back and tell me she'd made a mistake. That he had changed their mind. That somehow the apartment was still mine. The phone stayed silent. I sighed.

I opened my notebook. One by one, I crossed out the last address. There were no more names. No more numbers. No more places to call. Just empty space beneath a page full of black ink. I closed the notebook. Slowly.

Classes passed in a blur. Professor Lewis called on me twice. I answered both questions automatically. I couldn't remember what either question had been. By the time practice started, I'd convinced myself to stop thinking about it. One problem at a time. Hockey first. Everything else later. Coach Reynolds divided us into small-area games. Quick decisions. Quick passes. Quick feet. Normally, I loved these drills but today… I felt half a step behind. Not physically. Mentally.

Coach blew the whistle. “Bennett." I looked up. The puck had slid straight past my stick. Something that hadn't happened once all season. The entire drill had stopped because of me. “Again." Heat crept into my cheeks. "Sorry, Coach.” I said in embarrassment. We reset. This time, I didn't hesitate. The drill flowed perfectly. Coach nodded once. "Better."

Jaxon skated past me on the way back to the line. "You all right?” He asked. "I'm fine.” The words came automatically now. So automatically that I barely heard myself say them. His expression didn't change. But I knew he didn't believe me.

Practice ended an hour later. Most of the team headed for the showers but I stayed behind. Not to skate. Just… To sit. The arena was quiet once everyone left. I rested my elbows on my knees and stared out across the empty ice. Funny. The rink had always been the place where I escaped problems. Now it was the place I kept bringing them. "You planning to sleep there?” I looked over. Coach Reynolds stood in the tunnel, hands tucked into the pockets of his jacket. “No." I replied. "You've been sitting there for ten minutes.” He said. "Have I?” I asked as I realised that I have lost track of time. "You have."

He walked down to the bench beside me. For a while, neither of us spoke. He didn't rush the silence. I appreciated that. Finally, he asked, "Want to tell me what's going on?” I smiled faintly. "You already know.” I told him. "I know part of it.” I looked down at my hands. "The apartment's gone.” He nodded slowly. "I figured.” He said. "There aren't any others.” Silence. “But, I’ll work something out.” I told him. There it was again. The sentence I'd been living on. Coach looked at me for a long moment. "I believe you.” That surprised me. "You do?” I asked surprised. "I do."

He leaned back against the boards. "But believing you'll solve it…" He glanced sideways at me. "...doesn't mean you should have to solve it alone.” I looked away. "I don't want people feeling sorry for me.” Coach stayed quiet as I rubbed my hands together.

"I've spent my whole life trying to prove I belong.” My voice was barely above a whisper. "The last thing I want is people thinking I only made it because they felt bad for me.” I said and what Coach said next surprised me.

"They don’t." His answer came immediately. "They're worried.” I frowned. “They?" Coach smiled. "You'd be surprised how many people have been trying to find apartments for you.” My head snapped toward him. “What?" I asked flabbergasted. “Connor." He said and started to count on his fingers. “Tyler." Another finger. “Gray." Then another. “Jaxon.” Another finger. I stared at him. "They've been looking?” I asked with shock written all over my face that I knew he could see. "For days.” Nobody had said anything. Nobody had asked for credit. Nobody had tried to make me feel guilty. They'd simply… Helped. Without telling me.

A strange ache settled in my chest. "They shouldn't have.” Coach chuckled softly. "That's the funny thing about teams.” He stood up. "They don't usually ask permission.” He started walking toward the tunnel before stopping. “Oh..." He said as though he had almost forgotten something. I looked up. "One more thing.” He said. “Yeah?" I asked. "You're not alone anymore, Bennett.” Then he disappeared down the hallway. I sat there for a long time after he left. Not thinking about apartments. Not thinking about money. Just… Thinking about the team. About Tyler checking listings. Gray pretending not to notice. Connor quietly asking how I was doing. And Jaxon… Trying to help without making me feel weak. For weeks, I'd been fighting to prove I belonged with the Wolves. Maybe… Without realizing it… The Wolves had already decided that I did.

That thought stayed with me all the way back to Cedar Hall. When I unlocked my room, I looked around at the boxes I'd quietly started packing the night before. Only one drawer. Just in case. I walked over, pushed the drawer closed again, and slid it back into the dresser. Not because I'd solved anything. Because for the first time since all of this had started… The future didn't feel quite so lonely.