Back on thin ice

Olivia

The hum of the floor buffer is my constant companion in the mornings. The sound echoes off the empty walls of the hockey rink, filling the silence with a steady rhythm that I find oddly comforting. It's earlier than I'd like, but that's the job. Cleaning up after the team has finished their late-night practice, making sure the locker rooms are spotless, the ice is pristine, and everything is in place before the day begins.

I've worked at the rink for years, ever since Kate was old enough to go to school. It's a job, and it pays the bills, but lately, I've been feeling more out of place than ever. Maybe it's because there's been talk of changes coming—new management, new players, a new team captain. No one has told me much, but I can feel the shift in the air.

I stop the buffer and wipe my brow with the back of my hand. I glance around the rink, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling that's been creeping up on me. I'm used to changes, but this one feels different—bigger, somehow. Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but I can't shake the feeling that something is about to happen.

I lean the buffer against the wall and start wiping down the seats in the stands, my mind drifting. As much as I try to focus on work, my thoughts keep circling back to Aaron. I've been hearing his name more often lately, in conversations I'm not meant to overhear. I tell myself it's just because he's the town's golden boy, the one who made it big. But deep down, I know that's not the only reason he's been on my mind.

It's been eight years since I last saw him, eight years since I made the hardest decision of my life. I never thought he'd come back to this town, not after everything that happened. But here I am, cleaning the rink where he once spent hours practising, the same rink where I used to sit and watch him, dreaming about our future together.

I shake my head, trying to dispel the memories. There's no point in dwelling on the past. Aaron is gone, living the life he always wanted, and I've moved on too—or at least, I'm trying to.

The sound of voices pulls me out of my thoughts. I look up and see a group of players walking out onto the ice, their laughter and easy banter filling the rink. My heart skips a beat when I see him—Aaron. He's the same, but different. Taller, broader, with a presence that demands attention. He's laughing at something one of the guys said, but when his eyes meet mine, the smile fades.

"Olivia?" His voice is deeper than I remember, but there's no mistaking it. "Is that you?"

I feel like a deer caught in headlights. "Hi, Aaron." My voice comes out softer than I intended, almost a whisper.

He steps off the ice, skates still on, and walks over to me. "I didn't know you worked here."

I nod, trying to keep my composure. "Yeah, for a while now."

He's staring at me like he's trying to figure out a puzzle, and I can see the questions forming in his mind. But before he can ask, another voice cuts through the air.

"Hey, Mason! You coming or what?"

It's Courtney, the coach's daughter. She's everything I'm not—confident, beautiful, and most of all, she knows exactly what she wants. And right now, she wants Aaron. She's been hanging around the rink more than usual since he got back, and I've seen the way she looks at him. But Aaron barely spares her a glance.

"In a minute," he calls back, his eyes still on me.

Courtney's glare could melt ice. She tosses her hair over her shoulder and skates off, clearly annoyed that she didn't get his full attention. I've never had any trouble with her before, but I can tell that's about to change.

Aaron turns back to me. "It's really good to see you, Olivia. Maybe we could catch up sometime?"

I open my mouth to respond, but the words catch in my throat. What could I possibly say? That I've been thinking about him every day for the last eight years? That I have a daughter who looks just like him? Before I can figure it out, the rink's manager, Rick, walks in.

"Olivia," Rick says, his tone sharp. "I need to talk to you. Now."

I feel a pit in my stomach as I follow Rick out of earshot of the players. Aaron is still watching me, concern etched on his face, but there's nothing he can do.

"Look, Olivia," Rick starts, not even bothering to sugarcoat it. "We've got to make some cuts around here, and... well, I'm sorry, but we have to let you go."

"What? Rick, I've been here for years. I need this job," I plead, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.

"I know, and I'm sorry. It's just... there's nothing I can do," he says, avoiding my eyes.

I nod numbly, the shock of his words settling in. Fired. Just like that.

As I walk back to collect my things, I feel a hand on my arm. I look up to see Aaron standing there, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Is everything okay?" he asks, his voice gentle.

"No," I admit, my voice shaking. "I just got fired."

His eyes narrow, and I can see the anger flicker there. "That's not right. Look... I was actually going to ask you something."

I blink up at him, confused. "What?"

"I need a personal assistant. Someone I can trust, someone who knows me. What do you say?"

My heart skips a beat. This is too much—too much all at once. But when I look into his eyes, I see the boy I once loved, the boy I still care about. Maybe this is fate giving me a second chance. Or maybe it's a disaster waiting to happen. But I nod anyway.

"Okay," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. "I'll do it."

Aaron smiles, and for the first time in years, I feel a spark of hope. But I also know that things are about to get a lot more complicated.