Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Breaking The surface. 61

The rink was eerily quiet that morning, the sound of skates cutting through the ice echoing in the vast, empty space. Alex arrived early, long before the usual crowd of skaters filtered in. It was his favorite time to practice—when the world felt still, and it was just him and the ice.

His breath fogged in the cold air as he pulled on his gloves, tightening them with a practiced motion. He liked this solitude. No pressure, no distractions. Just him, the rink, and the rhythm of his skates. Today, though, his mind was far from clear. Thoughts of Cass lingered in the back of his head, twisting around his concentration like the laces of his skates.

He couldn’t stop replaying their last practice together. The ease with which they had laughed, the unspoken connection as they moved in sync on the ice. It was all so… different. But what bothered him most wasn’t just their growing friendship—it was how much he wanted it to be something more.

Alex gripped the sides of his skates, tugging them tighter than usual. He couldn’t afford to be distracted, not with the competition coming up.

The distant creak of the rink door pulled him from his thoughts. He glanced up to see his coach, Natalie, stepping into the arena, her eyes scanning the empty space before settling on him. She was always early too, never one to miss an opportunity to push him harder.

“You’re here early again,” she called, her voice carrying across the ice. “That’s what I like to see.”

Alex gave her a small smile, though it felt forced. “Just getting in some extra practice before the crowd shows up.”

Natalie approached the boards, her sharp gaze never wavering. She had a way of seeing through him, and today was no exception. “What’s going on, Alex? You’re quieter than usual.”

He shook his head, brushing off her concern. “Just thinking about the competition.”

She wasn’t buying it. “You’re skating well, but your head’s somewhere else. You know I can tell when something’s bothering you.”

Alex sighed, pushing off from the boards and gliding onto the ice. “It’s nothing, really. Just trying to focus, I guess.”

Natalie narrowed her eyes but didn’t push further. “Alright, but you need to keep your mind sharp. The moment you let distractions in, that’s when mistakes happen.”

He nodded, knowing she was right, but the distraction wasn’t something he could shake so easily. Cass had made him feel things he didn’t know how to handle, and it was all becoming harder to ignore. But now wasn’t the time for feelings. Now was the time for hockey.

“Let’s work on your acceleration today,” Natalie said, snapping him out of his thoughts. “You’re fast, but we need you to be faster.”

Alex took a deep breath, focusing on the task at hand. He pushed off harder, feeling the familiar power in his legs as he flew down the ice. For now, he let everything else melt away. The ice was his escape, and in that moment, it was all he needed.

But even as he skated, the memory of Cass lingered like a shadow, just beyond reach, waiting for him to confront it.