Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Unravelling Threads. 29

Alex pedaled hard, his muscles burning with the effort as he cut through the cold afternoon air. The ride home wasn’t long, but it gave him just enough time to try and sort through the jumble of thoughts in his head. He knew he had to figure out a way to balance everything: hockey, Cass, school—it all felt like a delicate stack of cards, one wrong move and the whole thing would come crashing down.

When he reached his house, he tossed his bike against the fence, barely taking time to lock it before heading inside. The warmth of the house hit him as soon as he opened the door, the smell of his mom’s cooking filling the air—something savory, probably her chicken stew. Normally, that smell would comfort him, remind him of home. But today, it only added to the swirling anxiety in his chest.

He kicked off his shoes and dropped his bag by the stairs, his mind still stuck on Coach’s words from earlier. The idea of sitting on the bench during regionals was enough to make his stomach churn. But more than that, it was the thought of letting his team down that really got to him. Hockey had always been his escape, his way of proving himself. If he lost that, what did he have left?

“Alex, is that you?” his mom called from the kitchen.

“Yeah,” he replied, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice.

“Dinner’s almost ready. How was practice?” she asked, her voice full of that usual motherly concern.

Alex hesitated, unsure how much he wanted to share. “It was fine,” he lied, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.

His mom poked her head out from the kitchen, giving him a knowing look. “You sure? You don’t look fine.”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just a lot going on, Mom. I’m trying to keep up with everything.”

She wiped her hands on a towel, stepping into the doorway with a soft expression. “I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but don’t forget to take care of yourself too. You can’t do everything perfectly, no matter how hard you try.”

Her words were kind, but they stung a little too. He wasn’t trying to be perfect—he just didn’t want to let anyone down. “I’m doing the best I can,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze.

His mom sighed, sensing the tension. “Alright, just… don’t bottle everything up, okay? If you need to talk, I’m here.”

Alex gave her a small nod, though he wasn’t sure if talking would really help. He was so deep in everything that he didn’t know where to start. “Thanks, Mom.”

She smiled softly before heading back into the kitchen. “Come grab a plate in a bit.”

Alex nodded again, then headed upstairs to his room. He closed the door behind him, dropping onto his bed with a heavy sigh. His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him out of his thoughts. He pulled it out, half expecting it to be a message from Cass, but it was Leo instead.

Leo: Yo, we’re all heading to Skate City tonight. You down?

Skate City. The rink where Cass practiced figure skating. Alex’s stomach flipped at the thought of running into them after last night. Things felt better, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready for another heavy conversation. Still, it could be a chance to clear his head, to relax for a bit. He hadn’t been to Skate City with the guys in ages.

He hesitated before responding.

Alex: Yeah, sure. What time?

Leo: 7. See you there.

Alex tossed his phone onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. Maybe skating with his friends would help him shake off the tension from practice and everything with Cass. He just had to make it through the rest of the day without falling apart first.

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