𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭

thirty seven

Kaiden

In the days after our last match, I found myself itching for a rematch. I didn't know what it was about Delphine, but she had this energy that made it hard to walk away.

When she skated, there was an effortless grace to it, but there was also a bite—a fire that kept her focused. Playing alongside her last time was one thing, but competing against her felt like something else entirely. She was a challenge, and I liked that.

Today, as I laced up my skates and glanced across the rink, there she was, finishing her warmup laps. Her movements were smooth and unbroken, every glide more deliberate than the last. She was completely in her element here, almost like she was part of the ice itself. For a moment,

I just watched, taking it all in. Then, like she felt my gaze, she looked up and our eyes met. Delphine nodded, giving me a small, confident grin.

"You ready to lose, Everhart?" she called out, skating closer.

I snorted, unable to help the grin that crept onto my face. "Bold words. We'll see if you can back them up."

She rolled her eyes but smirked, and we both turned toward the center of the rink, taking our positions.

This time, it was just the two of us.

No Eliza, no Ethan.

No distractions.

I won the puck on the first faceoff, but she was fast, closing in on me before I could gain any real ground. Her stick darted out, and she managed to flick the puck from under me, taking possession almost instantly.

"Not so fast, Delphine," I muttered, quickly catching up to her as she dashed down the ice. But she just laughed—a short, genuine laugh that echoed around the rink. It caught me off guard for a second, hearing her like that. She wasn't just playing to win; she was genuinely enjoying herself, and I hadn't realized how infectious that could be.

When I recovered, I sped up, my skates gliding across the ice as I closed the distance.

She dodged, spinning around me, but I kept on her, using my height and reach to cut off her angles. She was relentless, her moves sharper and quicker than before. Every time I thought I'd caught up, she was a step ahead, as if she was reading my mind before I even knew my next move.

She finally took a shot at the goal, but I managed to block it, sending the puck flying back down the rink.

This time, I didn't waste a second. I took off, pushing myself as fast as I could. I could hear her skates behind me, and I knew she was right on my heels. But for once, I had a clear path to the goal. I swung my stick back, aiming—

And then she was there, stealing the puck just before I could take my shot. She whirled around, skating backwards, grinning at me with this infuriatingly smug look.

"Too slow, Kaiden," she taunted, flicking the puck back up the rink.

My brows shot up. "Oh, we're taunting now?"

She just shrugged, still smirking as she glided away. I shook my head, both amused and a little impressed.

No one usually dared to challenge me like this, especially not on the ice. But Delphine was different. She didn't hold back, and I respected that.

We kept at it, the game turning into this fierce back-and-forth where neither of us gave an inch.

I'd score a point, then she'd tie it up right after. Each goal pushed us to try harder, to move faster, like we were both too stubborn to let the other win.

And as the minutes passed, I could feel the competition between us shifting. It wasn't just about the score anymore. It was... personal, somehow.

I started noticing the little things—how her eyes narrowed in focus whenever she went for a shot, the way she bit her lip when I managed to block her.

And when she scored, there was this flash of pure triumph in her eyes, a spark that only fueled my own determination to beat her. It was maddening and exhilarating all at once.

At one point, we both collided, our sticks tangling as we fought for control. She was pressed close, her breath coming in short bursts from the intensity. Our eyes met, and for a split second, we were both still, caught in this charged moment. But then she grinned, her eyes challenging, and pushed away, breaking the spell.

I laughed, shaking my head. "You really don't give up, do you?"

"Not a chance," she replied, already back in motion.

The game went on, and finally, we were down to the last point. She had possession of the puck, and I could tell she was setting up for a final shot. I wasn't about to let her win so easily. I skated in, fast, closing the gap between us until she had nowhere left to go. She faked right, but I didn't fall for it, blocking her path and forcing her left.

Just when I thought I had her, she spun around me, her move so quick and fluid that I almost stumbled. Before I knew it, she'd taken the shot. The puck sailed past me, hitting the goal with a resounding clank.

She raised her arms in victory, laughing as she skated in a small circle. "And that, Kaiden, is how it's done."

I groaned, skating over with a mock look of defeat. "Alright, alright. You won... this time."

She smirked, crossing her arms. "Are you saying you want a rematch?"

"Maybe I do," I said, holding her gaze. "Next time, though, I'm not going easy on you."

She rolled her eyes, giving me a playful shove. "Please. I don't need you to take it easy."

I couldn't help but grin. "I figured you'd say that."

We left the rink shortly after, still teasing each other as we walked to the locker rooms.

There was a lightness in the air, a sense of camaraderie that hadn't been there before. And as I watched her go, I realized something I hadn't noticed before: Delphine wasn't just some figure skater with skill and ambition.

She was a fire—a force I couldn't quite figure out.

And, as much as I hated to admit it, I was drawn to it.