Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Unravelling Threads. 19

Alex and Cass made their way to the locker rooms, their skates slung over their shoulders, the rush of adrenaline still humming in their veins. The rink was now bustling with activity as more skaters filtered in, but the earlier tension had dissolved. For the first time all day, Alex felt like he could breathe.

“You were on fire out there,” Cass said, bumping shoulders with him as they walked side by side.

Alex chuckled, though his voice was still shaky from the emotional rollercoaster. “Thanks, but I definitely would’ve wiped out if you hadn’t been there.”

Cass raised an eyebrow, a playful smile tugging at their lips. “Hey, you didn’t wipe out, and that’s all that matters. We make a pretty good team.”

“We do,” Alex agreed, his gaze flicking over to Cass. There was something unspoken between them—an understanding that went beyond words. Maybe it was the way Cass had his back, or how they moved in sync without having to say a thing. He felt lucky, not just to skate with them, but to have Cass as part of his life.

As they rounded the corner to the locker rooms, the echo of familiar voices caught their attention. Coach Carter stood near the entrance, his arms folded as he talked to Coach Evans, Cass’s figure skating coach. They both looked serious, deep in discussion.

“I wonder what that’s about,” Alex muttered, his brow furrowing. He could tell from Coach Carter’s expression that something was on his mind, something beyond their usual practice schedules.

Cass seemed to notice too, their posture stiffening slightly as they slowed their steps. “Looks intense. Let’s hope it’s not bad news.”

They exchanged a quick glance before continuing forward. As they approached, the coaches turned to face them, their expressions softening but still holding that weight of responsibility that both Alex and Cass had grown accustomed to.

“Alex, Cass, come here for a minute,” Coach Carter called out, motioning them over.

Alex felt his stomach twist, anxiety flickering in his chest. He shot a glance at Cass, who gave him a small nod before they both stepped closer.

Coach Evans spoke first, her voice calm but firm. “We’ve been discussing the upcoming competitions, and there are some changes that may affect both of you.”

“Changes?” Cass asked, their voice laced with concern.

Coach Carter sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, looks like the schedule for the regional hockey tournament is going to overlap with the figure skating championships. It’s unfortunate, but it’s out of our hands.”

Alex’s heart sank. He’d been training for months for regionals, and he knew how important the championships were to Cass. Competing meant everything to both of them, and now it felt like everything was crashing down at once.

Cass spoke up, their voice tight. “What does that mean for us? Are we going to have to choose?”

Coach Evans exchanged a glance with Coach Carter before nodding slowly. “It looks like that’s a possibility. We don’t have all the details yet, but we wanted to give you both a heads-up. You’ll need to think about what’s most important and how you want to proceed.”

Alex felt like the ground was being pulled out from beneath him. He’d never considered that he’d have to choose between hockey and supporting Cass in their competition. The thought of not being there for each other, especially when they needed it most, gnawed at him.

Cass was silent for a moment, their eyes fixed on the floor. When they finally spoke, their voice was barely above a whisper. “So, we can’t do both?”

Coach Carter shook his head apologetically. “Not with the way the schedules are set right now. We’ll keep you updated if anything changes, but… for now, you’ll have to start thinking about how to handle this.”

Alex nodded, though his mind was racing. How could he even begin to make that kind of decision? Skating with Cass had become as important as hockey, but his team counted on him. And Cass—he couldn’t imagine not being there for Cass during one of the biggest moments of their career.

Cass gave a tight-lipped smile, though it didn’t reach their eyes. “Thanks for letting us know.”

The coaches nodded and excused themselves, leaving Alex and Cass standing in the hallway, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily between them.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke.

Finally, Alex broke the silence, his voice rough. “I don’t know what to do.”

Cass didn’t respond right away. When they finally looked up, their expression was conflicted, pain flickering behind their eyes. “Me neither. I’ve never had to think about something like this before.”

“Yeah,” Alex said, feeling helpless. The decision felt impossible. How could he choose between his own passion and supporting the person he cared about most?

Cass took a deep breath, their voice soft but steady. “Maybe we don’t have to figure it out right now. Let’s just… think about it. See if anything changes.”

Alex nodded, grateful for the reprieve, but he couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the clock was already ticking. They were running out of time, and sooner or later, they’d have to make a choice—one that could change everything.