Love on Thin Ice

Chapter 14 - Reina

"Weird, usually those hockey guys are already here and talking so loudly, but now they are not here, weird," I thought as I settled into my favorite seat in the lecture hall. I mean there's no way it's Max and his friends... Max seems so kind and does not look like one who would like to disturb a class...Right?

As I was lost in my thoughts thinking about Max and the annoying human beings that sat in front of me, I didn't notice how they came in. As I started to pay attention to people around me I saw them already sitting and laughing.

"Okay Rein, this is the time you finally tell them to shut up," I said to myself. Well, I tried to encourage myself.

Here goes nothing. I got myself together and poked the guy who sat in front of me.

"Can you all for once shut up, some people are trying to learn here," I said, my frustration boiling over but I was not ready to see the face of this guy.

"Jezus, just chill it's not like-" he began, but his words trailed off as he met my gaze. It was Max. The annoying hockey player that I always tried to ignore was Max.

"Reina," he said with confusion," what are you doing here?"

I couldn't help but let out a sigh, my eyes performing an involuntary roll. "Trying to learn, not like someone else," I retorted, the edge in my voice sharper than I intended.

Before I could muster another word, he rose to his feet, maneuvering over the seat with an ease that was almost irritating. He settled into the chair beside me like I would have invited him here.

"How come I have never seen you here?" he inquired, casually draping his arm behind my seat, a gesture that felt too familiar for comfort.

"Maybe because you're too busy chatting with your friends?" I shot back, my tone laced with sarcasm.

He seemed genuinely curious, or perhaps he was just good at faking interest. "For how long have you been in this class?" 

"Long enough to know that you three are annoying as fuck," I replied bluntly. To my surprise, he chuckled—a sound that rumbled with amusement and not a hint of offense.

"You need to lighten up a bit," he suggested, the smile evident in his voice.

I countered swiftly, "And you should go back to your seat, your friends are probably already missing you." The words were a clear dismissal, but he only seemed more amused by the challenge. Well, he's a hockey player, of course, he loves challenges.

"Oh, believe me, they can have fun without me too," he assured with a nonchalant shrug, his words were tinged with a playful flirtation as if the idea of being indispensable to his friends was a mere afterthought. "Besides," he continued, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes, "this is where I would rather sit."

I arched an eyebrow: "I don't remember inviting you to sit next to me." 

He leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips, unfazed by my standoffish demeanor. "Oh, believe me, I don't need an invitation," he retorted with a confidence that bordered on arrogance. "Besides, a few minutes ago in the library, you were about to kiss me, so I'm not gonna buy that you don't want me to sit next to you." 

Well, he's not wrong, we did almost kiss, but I wasn't the one who leaned in first to kiss him. "I think you forgot one thing, I wasn't the one who almost kissed you, you were the one who was leaning in for a kiss, remember?"

His grin widened, and he leaned closer to me to whisper in my ear. "Arguing about it seems pointless, doesn't it, Icy?" he murmured, his breath a warm whisper against my cheek. "I could just kiss you right now, right here, but then we'd be the center of attention, and we wouldn't want that... or would we?" The tease in his voice was palpable, and despite myself, I felt a smile tugging at my lips. It was a dangerous game we were playing, but I wasn't ready to back down just yet.

I raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge to his bold claim. "Oh, is that so?" I retorted, my voice laced with mock surprise and a hint of daring. "Well, if you're so confident, why don't you prove it?"

He leaned in closer, the space between us charged with unspoken tension. "Maybe I will," he whispered, his eyes locked onto mine, searching, questioning, daring me to back away.

But I didn't. Instead, I stood my ground, my heart racing with anticipation. "Then what are you waiting for?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. 

I don't know what I'm doing right now, but all of this feels so...exciting. God, this place is full of students, the class hasn't started yet, but I feel like it would be just the two of us here. I can see sparkle and excitement in his eyes. And of course, he has this arrogant smirk on his lips as if he's really satisfied with this situation. 

His smirk seemed to grow with every passing second. "Prove it?" he echoed, his voice a low rumble that seemed to vibrate through the air. "You know, Icy, actions speak louder than words."

I could feel the eyes of the classroom on us, the whispers barely contained behind hands and books. "Then act," I challenged, my own voice a daring whisper that matched his intensity.

For a moment, he looked as if he might just take the leap, his gaze intense and unwavering. But then, with a soft chuckle, he pulled away. "Not today," he said, his voice carrying a hint of promise. 

I couldn't help but tease him: "So you can't do it, huh?" The disbelief in my voice was palpable. "I never thought that such a good hockey player would back down from this kind of challenge."

His chuckle was low and rich, a sound that seemed to vibrate through the air. "If only you knew, Reina," he said, a playful edge to his voice. "I don't kiss girls just for fun."

I raised an eyebrow, my smile teasing. "That's something coming from a hockey player."

He offered no retort, just a soft, enigmatic smile that made me wonder what thoughts were dancing behind those eyes. We lapsed into silence, the kind that felt comfortable rather than awkward. After a few minutes, he broke it with a proposition that caught me off guard. "Let's go on a date."

I blinked, taken aback. "Excuse me? A date? Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't date hockey players," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

He seemed amused by my response. "A few minutes ago you were daring me to kiss you, and now you're saying that you don't want to go out?"

"I was just playing along. I knew you wouldn't do it," I countered, my words a mix of challenge and dismissal.

"Is that so?" He arched an eyebrow.

"Mhm," I hummed noncommittally. "Besides, I'm going to a work interview, so I won't have time to go on dates," I added, hoping to steer the conversation away from dangerous waters.

His curiosity was piqued. "Where did you send your application?" he inquired.

I hesitated, then sighed, knowing he wouldn't drop it. "I'm going to tell you this just because I know that you won't leave me alone. I applied for a marketing job," I admitted.

"Where?" he pressed.

I arched my eyebrow, mirroring his earlier gesture. "Why are you asking?"

He leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Well, there's only one place in this city where you could apply, and it's my hockey team. And it would be more a job with us hockey players," he explained.

I frowned, surprised. "How do you know that?"

He shrugged, a casual lift of his shoulders. "Our coach said that we need someone in the marketing team that would make stuff on social media platforms, y'know, videos, photos of us with our sponsors. So that's the free place in the marketing team. And they're going to pay a pretty good salary too. Besides," he added, his tone shifting to something softer, flirtier, "I wouldn't mind having you around all the time."

I gave him a playful smirk, my voice laced with a hint of sarcasm: "Oh, I don't even doubt that." 

The thought of hanging out with him daily made me a bit nervous but also excited. Deeply I wanted to be accepted for this job because it would be an amazing experience. Even though I have wanted to stay away from hockey players it's time to grow up and stop being so sceptical about them. Maybe my mom is right, maybe not all of them are the same. For example, Max seems different...much different from my ex...