On Thin Ice With You.

I. First sight.

I arrived at the rink at the crack of dawn, the early morning chill biting into my skin as I made my determined way toward the ice. The sun had barely mustered the strength to rise, casting a soft, ethereal glow on the pristine surface of the rink. But my thoughts weren't on the beauty of the dawn; they were consumed by the enigmatic star of the ice, Tyler.

As I approached the boards, a rush of anticipation surged through me, almost drowning out the frigid air. Today was the day. The day I would finally come face-to-face with Tyler, the charismatic and elusive hockey sensation.

There he was, already on the ice, his movements fluid and mesmerizing. He glided with an otherworldly grace, his powerful strides and precision turns carving an intricate dance on the frozen canvas. It was a sight to behold, a masterful performance in itself.

His teammates, grinning like conspirators, acknowledged my presence with teasing glances, but I paid them little mind. My focus was on Tyler, and as he noticed my approach, the hint of amusement in his piercing blue eyes only fueled my determination.

"Bright and early, aren't you?" Tyler greeted me with a cocky smirk, an aura of confidence enveloping him.

His condescending tone gnawed at my patience, but I refused to waver. I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on.

"I wanted to catch you before your practice session," I replied with unwavering resolve. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

Tyler's smirk widened, and he tilted his head, his eyes raking over me with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Not at all," he purred, his voice as smooth as silk. "I'm always up for a little distraction."

My annoyance threatened to bubble to the surface at his flirtatious comment, but I fought to maintain my professional composure. I pulled out my notebook, ready to dive into the interview.

"Alright, Tyler," I declared, determination lacing my voice. "Let's cut to the chase, shall we?"

Tyler's smirk only grew more pronounced as he leaned in closer, mischief dancing in his eyes. "Of course, rookie," he replied, sarcasm dripping from every word. "But I should warn you, I'm not known for giving away my secrets easily."

I raised an eyebrow, his cocky attitude washing over me without effect. "We'll see about that," I shot back, flipping open my notebook and scanning my questions. "Let's start with your performance in the last game. Some critics have suggested that you were off your game. Care to comment?"

For the briefest of moments, Tyler's smirk wavered, but he quickly masked it with practiced ease. "Critics love to talk, don't they?" he dismissed, skating closer to me. "But the scoreboard doesn't lie. I still led the team to victory, just like I always do."

My irritation flared, and I refused to let him off the hook. "But there are those who argue that your attitude on the ice sometimes overshadows the team's success," I pressed, my pen poised to record his response.

Tyler's playful demeanor gave way to a flash of annoyance. "You've done your homework, haven't you?" he retorted, his cockiness returning in full force. "Listen, sweetheart, hockey is a game of passion and strategy. I play my way, and it works. The team benefits from it. End of story."

I wasn't about to back down, undeterred by his arrogance. "Isn't there a fine line between passion and recklessness?" I challenged. "Some would argue that your behavior on the ice sometimes borders on the latter."

Tyler's eyes flared with irritation, and he moved closer, his imposing presence suddenly dominating the space between us. "You really like to push, don't you?" he sneered, a defiant glint in his gaze.

I met his challenging stare with unwavering resolve. "I'm here to get the truth, Tyler."

He chuckled darkly, a low and almost sinister sound. "Well, you might just get more than you bargained for, rookie."

Before I could react, he dismissed me with a casual wave of his hand. "I've had enough of this interview for now. What's your name, anyway?"

His sudden change in tone caught me off guard, but I replied, "It's Evie."

Tyler grinned, a wicked and amused gleam in his eyes. "Evie, huh? I have a feeling you're going to be a lot more trouble than you're worth. But for now, I've got practice to finish."

A/N: If you enjoyed this chapter and are eager to read more of Evie and Tyler's story, please consider leaving a review with stars! Your feedback and support are greatly appreciated. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐