You tug your skates tighter on the bench, letting the hum of the rink fill your ears. This was a new place. Your old rink had shut down last month—budget cuts, they said. You missed it. But now, it was time to make this ice feel like home.

As you stepped out onto the ice, a voice called out from behind.

“Hey—new girl.”

You turned your head, catching sight of a boy skating backward toward you. He had a mop of fluffy dark curls falling into his eyes, a cocky grin tugging at his lips. He wore a practice jersey, his hockey stick resting on his shoulder.

“Uh, hi?” you replied cautiously.

“You might have the wrong time. Hockey practice is at 5:30,” he said, giving you a look that toed the line between amused and skeptical.

You raised a brow. “Yeah. Me too.”

His eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise before his grin widened. “Well then, looks like we’re practicing together, new girl.”

He gave a quick spin on his skates and slid away effortlessly, leaving a trail of mist in his wake.

A few minutes later, you heard chatter behind you. A sudden swell of voices. You turned around.

A whole group of guys skated onto the ice in matching jerseys.

Fluffy Hair—who you’d now learned was named Delonta Relio—skated into the middle.

“This is the new girl,” he announced to his team, his voice echoing slightly in the rink. “Be nice. Or leave.”

A few snickers. A couple of nods. One guy mouthed respect before Delonta clapped his hands once.

“Alright—two lines!” he barked. Instantly, the team split, forming two neat rows for drills.

But at one point, you weren’t paying attention—you were too caught up in your routine, the glide, the pulse of the ice beneath your blades—and bam, you collided hard into someone’s chest.

You stumbled back, losing your balance, but before you could hit the ice, strong arms caught you.

“I’m so sorry, I—” you started, breathless.

It was him. Delonta.

Somehow, he hadn’t even budged. “It’s alright, love,” he said, his voice a little lower, a little softer now. “That one’s on me.”