Maddie felt a spark in her chest.“Wouldn’t miss it,” she said, realizing that this season, the rink wouldn’t be the only thing heating up.
Chapter 2:
Flirting on Ice
The next day, Maddie arrived at the rink early, stretching her legs and checking her gear. She was determined to stay focused, to dominate practice, and to keep her mind off the way Ryan Harper’s smile lingered in her thoughts.
“Morning, Carter,” Ryan called as he skated onto the ice, tossing her a playful wink.
Maddie raised an eyebrow.“Morning, Harper. Ready to lose today?”
“Ha!” he laughed, gliding closer.“We’ll see who’s losing by the end of practice. Don’t get too confident.”
The whistle blew, and drills began. Maddie noticed how Ryan kept intentionally teasing her — blocking her passes with a grin, skating just fast enough to challenge her without fully stealing the puck. It was infuriating… and thrilling.
“You’re getting slow,” Ryan said, darting past her in a sudden burst of speed during a scrimmage.“Better pick it up!”
Maddie huffed, skating hard to catch up.“Slow? You wish!” she shot back, twisting around him and stealing the puck with a flick of her stick.
He laughed, eyes sparkling.“Impressive… but not enough!”
By the end of practice, both were sweaty, flushed, and breathing hard. Maddie was proud of herself, but also aware that her heart wasn’t racing just from exertion. There was something aboutRyan — the way he laughed, the way his eyes met hers after every playful challenge — that made it impossible to ignore him.
As the team gathered their gear, Ryan skated up to her, tossing her a water bottle.“Good work today. You’re fast. Faster than I expected.”
Maddie smirked, taking a sip.“I could say the same about you.”
“You know,” he said, lowering his voice slightly,“it’s kind of fun, this little… rivalry. Makes practice more interesting.”
Maddie’s cheeks warmed.“Just don’t get used to winning, Harper.”
Ryan grinned, leaning casually against the boards.“We’ll see… Carter. We’ll see.”
For the first time, Maddie realized that hockey practice wasn’t just about the game anymore. It was about the sparks between them — playful, competitive, and maybe, just maybe, a little more.
And she couldn’t wait to see where this season would take them — both on the ice, and off.
Chapter 3:
Sparks on the Ice
The rink was alive with the sound of skates slicing ice and sticks clashing against pucks. Today’s scrimmage was intense — the coach had split the team into two, and Maddie found herself paired against Ryan once again.
“Ready to lose?” Ryan called, skating toward her with a grin.
Maddie smirked, tightening her grip on her stick.“Not a chance, Harper.”
The game began, fast and furious. Maddie darted past opponents, weaving in and out with precision, only to feel Ryan intercept the puck again and again. He was fast, skilled, and annoyingly charming in his competitive streak.
“You’re improving,” he teased breathlessly as they skated side by side,“but you’ll never beat me.”
“Oh really?” Maddie shot back, spinning around him and swiping the puck.“Watch this!”
Their playful banter and competitive energy drew the attention of the entire rink. Every time their sticks clashed or they raced for the puck, sparks seemed to fly — literally and figuratively.
During a break, they huffed for breath, laughing at their mutual exhaustion. Maddie leaned against the boards, glancing at him.“You know,” she said, trying to sound casual,“you’re actually kind of fun to compete against.”
Ryan’s smirk softened.“Kind of fun? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
