carved in ice | cayden

7

〖 chapter seven 〗

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Connor had missed the game after dragging the Stars captain into a sweat and forceful kiss, he'd gone home oddly, he'd gone and sat on his bed with his head in hands as regret filled his system.

He'd wanted to kiss her, he was drawn to her. Her love for hockey and her white smile.

He wanted to play hockey professionally and he couldn't be distracted by her, yet over the past few weeks her brunette hair and vanilla scent had been nothing but his main thoughts.

He was a mess.

...

The rink was empty, it always was at 4am.
Connor sat in the home stands watching the rink, he liked it empty and surprisingly he preferred it that way.

Without the fans and the commentators singing through the speakers, without the music and the screaming coaches.

When it was silent.

The scent of vanilla filled his nostrils as the chair folded down beside him, he knew exactly who it was.

"Jayden, I'm sorry" he says before the brunette even had chance to open her mouth.

Her pale fingers landed in his riser cheeks, forcing his gaze onto her hazel eyes.

"Why are you sorry?" She smiled towards him.

His face was dressed in guilt. "I shouldn't have kissed you, it was all so rushed and I didn't think, I'm sorry"

The brunettes smile dropped, her mouth slightly falling agape. "Oh ok" she accepted dragging her hands from his face.

He caught her skinny wrist in his palm. "I don't want this to stop us being friends" The blonde stated.

Jaydens shoulders went back with confidence as she held in what was falling apart inside. "Of course not, we're all good" she showed a weak smile quickly as she took her wrist from his grasp.

"See you at school, captain"

With a tap on the back she'd gone. Her thin legs carrying her at a quick pace.

There was still a pit in his stomach as he attempted the reassure himself that this was the right decision.

...

Hockey practice rolled around again for the Rays.

"We're just going to run a few drills quickly to finish up" Connor spoke loudly towards his team.

They skated the ice back and forth with speed working on being swift and agile, first without sticks and pucks, then with.

There was a clatter from the home tunnel as the Stars made there way onto the ice. Their captain skating forward towards Connor, removing her helmet.

"Our ice time Finnerty" she stated.

Connor laughed slightly, hoping it was a joke.

"We've booked it until half 8" he read from a sheet of paper in his hands.

The brunette held up an opposing piece of paper to him. "Play for it?" Jayden asked.

The blonde nodded with confidence.

...

The game had ended in the Rays getting their ice time unsurprisingly, however the Stars had given them a run for their money.

The exhausted girls team retired to the locker room.

"Now we know what we're up against, we need to learn how they play in order to win" Jayden told her team.

The listened, acknowledged and then turned to ramble amongst themselves.

Annie plodded towards Jayden, tapping her slightly with the end of her stick. "Everything airtight cap" she asked.

"Well the funniest things have taken place, fancy getting drinks with Lauren and Kenzie tonight?" Jayden explained.

Annie nodded excitement dancing on her smile.

...

The bar was small and very well lit.

There was small booths lining the walls and tall table with stools good centre on the dark wood room.

The brunette and her closest teammates we're squeezed in a table at the back.

"He kissed you" Kenzie hushed with excitement.

"I know exciting right" The captain said sarcastically "until he mentioned he wanted to keep it as friends".

The girls fell silent.

"Urgh that sucks" Annie sighed.

"He is married to hockey, it's probably not that he doesn't like you, he's probably trying to stay on track for the NHL" Annie explained taking a sip of her gin.

"Maybe" Jayden hummed, taking a larger gulp of hers.