“You should,” Maddie said, brushing hair from her damp face.“Don’t get used to it, though. I’m only letting you think that because I’m feeling generous.”
“I’ll accept it,” Ryan replied, leaning closer.“Besides, it’s fun seeing you get competitive. I like it.”
Maddie felt her cheeks heat up.“You… like it?” she asked, trying to mask her surprise.
Ryan nodded, eyes locking with hers.“Yeah. I like it… and I like this.” He gestured around the rink, and then toward her.“Us. On the ice. Competing. Teasing. Laughing.”
Maddie’s heart fluttered.“I… like it too,” she admitted softly, almost whispering.
The rest of practice passed in a blur of speed and laughter. By the time the team called it a day, Maddie realized something important: her feelings for Ryan were no longer just butterflies or playful tension. Something deeper was forming — something that went beyond competition, beyond the ice, and into a connection that neither of them could ignore.
As they walked out of the rink together, sticks slung over their shoulders and skates clattering against the floor, Ryan nudged her gently.“Same time tomorrow?”
Maddie smiled, a warmth spreading through her chest.“Wouldn’t miss it.”
And for the first time, she knew this season wasn’t just about hockey. It was about him — Ryan Harper — and the sparks they were chasing together.
Chapter 4:
Falling for You
The rink was buzzing with energy. Maddie Carter was focused, her skates gliding across the ice as she chased the puck during a fast-paced drill. Ryan Harper was right behind her, grinning as he tried to outmaneuver her.
“You’re faster than last week,” he called,“but I’m not letting you win this time!”
Maddie laughed, weaving around him.“Dream on, Harper!”
Suddenly, her skate caught an uneven patch of ice. Time seemed to slow as she tumbled forward, sliding across the rink and landing hard on her side. Pain shot through her shoulder and hip.
Ryan was instantly at her side.“Maddie! Are you okay?”
She grimaced, trying to sit up.“I… I think so. Just… banged my shoulder a bit.”
He gently helped her to her feet, steadying her.“You’re tough, you know that? But you don’t have to prove it every second.”
Maddie looked at him, noticing the concern in his eyes. Something about the way he stayed close, making sure she wasn’t hurt, made her heart race in a way the scrimmages never did.
“Thanks, Ryan,” she said softly, brushing ice off her jacket.“I’m okay, really.”
“I know,” he said, his voice quieter now.“But still… don’t scare me like that.”
She laughed nervously, and he smiled, a warmth spreading between them. For a moment, the competitive energy of the rink vanished, leaving just the two of them.
“You know,” Maddie said, a small smile forming,“I might have to start letting you win sometimes, just to keep you from hovering over me like this.”
Ryan chuckled.“I wouldn’t want that. I like seeing that fire of yours — on the ice and off it.”
Their eyes met, and the playful tension of their previous encounters softened into something more intimate, more vulnerable. Maddie realized she didn’t just like competing with him — she liked him. A lot.
As practice wrapped up, Ryan skated beside her toward the locker room.“Next time,” he said,“let me catch you for ice cream instead of letting you fall.”
Maddie smiled, feeling her chest flutter.“Deal. But only if you promise not to steal all the chocolate toppings.”
He grinned, giving her hand a light squeeze.“You’ve got a deal, Carter.”
And as they left the rink, the chilly evening air around them didn’t compare to the warmth Maddie felt inside — a warmth that had nothing to do with the ice and everything to do with him.
Chapter 5:
