Chapter 23 Jealousy On Ice
Shawn’s POV
“Listen up!” Coach Ramirez’s voice thundered across the entire rink as he began to address us. “If we don’t train we’ll, the Seattle Krakens are going to eat you alive…especially if you show up like this on that day!”
He paced the boards like a caged animal, his face red with frustration. Meanwhile, the rest of the team skated hard, each of their sticks slapping pucks, blades carving sharp lines into the ice.
But Coach Ramirez’s words didn’t register with me. My eyes kept scanning the rink, looking for one face that wasn’t there.
Rafe.
He hadn’t come back to the dorm last night after he walked in on me and Avery, the door had slammed so hard I thought the hinges would break. After Avery left, I stayed awake for hours waiting for him, staring at the empty bed across the room.
What if he’d done something stupid out of jealousy?
What if he was hurt?
The thoughts made my chest tight with unwarranted worry.
Stop thinking about him, Shawn!
He told you to stay the fuck away.
Whatever happened between us was a mistake. One drunken, angry mistake.
“Calder.”
Coach Ramirez’s voice echoed through the rink the first time, but I didn’t register it.
“Calder!”
The second time he barked my name, I jerked my head up, nearly losing my balance on my skates.
“Yes, Coach?”
He skated closer, his eyes raking all over me with irritation. “What the fuck is going on in that head of yours, Captain? You should be focused on the game, not daydreaming like some rookie. We’re playing against the Krakens very soon, and if you’re not focused…the whole team suffers.”
“I…It’s nothing Coach,” I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to be steady. “Just thinking about strategies for their power play. Trying to figure out how to shut down their top line.”
It was a stupid lie, but Coach Ramirez grunted, and for a terrifying moment he believed it. “Better keep that head of yours in the game, son. We need you sharp!”
“Y—“
BANG!
Before I could finish my words, the door to the rink slammed open. Rafe burst in, breathing as if he’d just run an entire marathon, his hair messy.
The fucking jerk is finally here
A flood of relief washed through me at the sight of him.
“Navarro!” Coach Ramirez immediately turned to face him. “You’re late, care to explain why the hell you think you can stroll in halfway through my drill?”
Rafe stopped midway, his still chest rising and falling heavily. “I’m sorry, Coach…I wasn't feeling well last night. Stomach bug or something, but I’m good now.”
“You'd better get your ass to the clinic and get checked,” Coach Ramirez replied, his gaze taking over him with suspicion. “I need all my players at a hundred percent, and if you’re not fit. You’re out!”
“I’m fine,” Rafe insisted, his voice barely above a whisper, “It won’t happen again, Coach.”
Coach Ramirez turned away from him immediately, muttering something under his breath as he signaled him to get onto the Ice. “Get your gear on. We’re pairing up for one-on-one drills…you and Calder, pair up!”
What the—
My heart sank the instant Coach said those words. Of course! Out of everyone in the entire room, he had to pair me with Rafe. Because the universe clearly hated me.
“Now!”
His voice shatters through my thoughts instantly and I flinch. Without hesitation, I skated to my assigned section of the ice in heavy silence.
The usual trash-talking Shawn was gone now, no teasing nicknames, no sharp jabs about who was the better player. Instead, the air between us crackled with something darker.
“Fweeeet!”
Coach Ramirez’s whistle signaled the start, and we did. The drill started simple at first, simple puck passes, defensive positioning, but every movement with Rafe felt like a battle.
I tried to dominate, using my size to overshadow him, my stick chasing the puck aggressively. Much to my dismay, Rafe gave me zero space, he began to match me move for move, his body slamming into mine with bruising force.
Pain shoots through me instantly as we collide, but I ignore it, shoving him back even harder. But Rafe remained immovable, his eyes burning with barely contained anger.
For a second it felt like the only thing left was for both of us to start punching each other across the face now.
“Enough!”
Coach Ramirez’s voice cut through the tension, his voice thundering across the entire rink. “Calder and Navarro…what the fuck is happening between you two? You’re supposed to be teammates, not trying to kill each other!”
We both froze, breathing hard.
“It’s nothing, Coach,” I said quickly, forcing my voice to stay calm despite the way my chest was rising and falling heavily.
“Nothing,” Rafe replied too, his jaw clenched tightly.
For a moment, Coach Ramirez stood there, staring at both of us he could see straight through the bullshit. “I don’t know what crawled up both your asses, but fix it. You two are key players, and if we lose to the Krakens because you can’t work together, your careers are over…”
“…so you both better get your fucking shit together!”
We were about to return to the rink when he blew his whistle sharply. “Five-minute break for everyone. Hydrate and clear your fucking heads.”
Without hesitation, the team began to scatter one by one. But not Rafe and I, we stood there for a second, staring at each other across the small space between us like we were about to kill each other.
Then, we turned and skated in opposite directions. I was almost close to the boards when a familiar high-pitched squeal cut through the quiet.
“Baby!”
I turned immediately to see Avery running toward me from the rink door entrance, a bright smile etched across her face. Before I could say anything, she launched herself at me, throwing her arms around my neck and kissing me passionately right there in front of everyone.
For a split second, I kissed her back without meaning to, but then, as she pulled away, my gaze shifted involuntarily toward the doorway.
Rafe was standing there, watching us. The expression on his face was nothing but pure, barely restrained fury. Seeing him look that jealous sent a twisted spark of satisfaction through me.
Good. Let him feel very jealous
Before my brain could think twice, I pulled Avery closer to me, one hand sliding to the small of her back, the other cupping her jaw. I deepened the kiss now, making it slower but much more intense.
A surprised moan escaped Avery’s mouth, but I swallowed it, deepening the kiss even more now. I knew Rafe was still watching, because I could still feel his stare burning into my skin like a brand.
The jealousy radiating off him was almost too damn good not to die for, and some ugly, wicked part of me loved every second of it.
You told me to stay away from you.
The thought runs through me as Avery’s tongue brushes against mine.
This is what staying away looks like.
When we finally broke apart, Avery was blushing and filled with happiness, completely unaware that I was only doing this to make Rafe jealous.
My hands were still locked around her waist, holding her close, while my eyes were still locked on Rafe standing across the rink.
“Well…this is going to be fun.”