1Rosie

Maya grabbed my arm after my shift ended and dragged me toward the parking lot with this determined look on her face that I knew meant trouble. “You’re coming to Jude’s hockey game tonight and I won’t take no for an answer,” she said while doing this wiggly eyebrow thing that made my face burn hot.

“Maya, I don’t think—”

“Nope, you’re going,” she interrupted me cheerfully while opening her truck door. “You need to see him play at least once and trust me, it’s worth it.”

I wanted to refuse because big crowds and public spaces still made my skin crawl but Maya looked so excited and I couldn’t disappoint her again so I reluctantly nodded and climbed into the truck.

The arena was packed when we arrived and my anxiety spiked immediately, all these people were crammed together, and what if someone recognized me? What if they knew? But Maya grabbed my hand and pulled me through the crowd to seats near the rink and I tried to focus on breathing instead of panicking.

“Best seats in the house,” Maya announced proudly while plopping down. “Perks of being the captain’s sister.”

I sat beside her and clutched my jacket tighter around myself while trying to make myself smaller, invisible, safe.

Then the teams skated out onto the ice and my breath caught in my throat because Jude was there, number seventeen on his jersey and he looked so different in his gear. Bigger somehow, more dangerous, like he belonged to the ice and the ice belonged to him.

The game started and I couldn’t look away. I was enchanted.

Jude was a different creature on the ice, fast and deadly precise with every movement like he knew exactly where everyone would be before they got there. He commanded the rink effortlessly, his teammates following his lead without question while he passed the puck and defended and attacked with this controlled violence that made my stomach flip.

The crowd screamed his name when he stole the puck from the other team and I found myself leaning forward in my seat without meaning to, my heart pounding as I watched him skate. His eyes kept darting toward the stands between plays, searching and I realized with a jolt that he was looking for me.

Every time I stood up to cheer without thinking, his entire body seemed to sharpen and focus like my presence gingered or boosted his morale and I didn’t understand what that meant but it made my chest feel tight.

“He keeps looking at you,” Maya whispered gleefully in my ear and I felt my face flame.

“No he doesn’t,” I mumbled while keeping my eyes glued to the ice where Jude was defending their goal with this intensity that made me shiver.

“Yes he does, look!” Maya pointed and sure enough, Jude glanced up at our section again and this time I could swear he was looking right at me even through his helmet and the distance between us.

The game got more aggressive and I watched Jude slam an opponent into the boards with this raw dominance that should have scared me but instead made my thighs clench involuntarily and heat pool low in my stomach. God, what was wrong with me? This was just hockey but watching him move like that, strong and powerful and completely in control made me feel things I didn’t want to examine too closely.

Maya noticed because of course she did and grinned at me like a demon. “Enjoying the view?” she teased and I wanted to die from embarrassment.

“Shut up,” I hissed while my face burned hot enough to melt the ice figuratively.

With two minutes left and the score tied, Jude got the puck and I watched him weave through defenders like they weren’t even there before shooting it straight into the goal. The buzzer went off and the crowd exploded around us, everyone screaming and jumping while the team mobbed Jude on the ice.

I found myself on my feet cheering without realizing it and my heart swelled with this overwhelming pride that he’d won, that he was amazing, that somehow I got to know him more.

Jude skated a victory lap with his team and I watched him search the crowd until his eyes found mine across all those people. He lifted his hand in this small almost shy wave that was meant only for me and my breath caught because how did he even see me in all this chaos?

My face burned red and I waved back shyly while Maya squealed loud enough to burst my eardrum. “Oh my god you two are so cute I’m going to die!” she announced to everyone around us and I wanted to sink through the floor.

After the game, Maya dragged me down to wait outside the locker rooms despite my protests that we should just go home. “Trust me,” she said with that knowing smile and I did trust her even though my nerves were going crazy.

The team started filtering out and then Jude appeared and my mouth went dry because he was still in his gear with his hair damp from sweat and his cheeks flushed from exertion. He looked different up close like this.

His eyes locked on me immediately and he smiled, that soft smile that was just for me. “You came,” he said and his voice sounded pleased and a little surprised.

“Maya dragged me,” I admitted while looking at my shoes because looking at him directly felt too intense right now.

“I’m glad she did,” Jude said gently and I could feel him watching me. “Did you like it?”

“You were amazing,” I blurted out before I could stop myself, and then I wanted to take it back because that sounded too enthusiastic, too obvious how much I’d enjoyed watching him.

But Jude’s smile grew wider and his eyes got this warm look that made my stomach flip. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I whispered while my face burned.

Maya cleared her throat loudly and we both looked at her. “I’m going to head home,” she announced with this obviously lying tone. “Jude, can you make sure Rosie gets back safe?”

“Maya—” I started to protest but she was already walking away while waggling her fingers at us.

“Traitor,” I muttered and Jude laughed, this low rumbling sound that went straight through me.

“Can I walk you home?” he asked and his voice was soft and hopeful and I found myself nodding before my brain could catch up with my mouth.

“Okay,” I said quietly.

We walked side by side through the quiet streets and neither of us said much but the silence felt charged with something electric that made my skin tingle. Our hands brushed several times while we walked and each time it happened I felt sparks shoot up my arm and my heart would skip but then I’d pull away shyly because it felt too intimate, too much, and too fast.

Jude noticed because of course he did and he smiled softly before slowing his pace to give me more space between us and the consideration made my chest ache.

When we reached my cottage I stopped at the door and turned to face him, my breath visible in the cold night air while my heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it. Jude looked down at me with those amber eyes that always seemed to see right through me and he leaned slightly closer without seeming to mean to, drawn toward me like a magnet.

My heart slammed against my ribs and our noses nearly brushed and I could feel the heat radiating off him and smell his scent surrounding me and it felt overwhelming and perfect and terrifying all at once. The pull between us was so loud and strong that I almost gave in, almost closing that last bit of distance but then panic seized my chest.

I stepped back quickly and the words tumbled out. “I’m not ready yet,” I whispered while wrapping my arms around myself protectively.

Jude’s expression softened instantly and there was no disappointment in his eyes, just understanding and patience. “I’ll wait,” he whispered back and his voice was so gentle it made my throat tight. “As long as you need, Rosie. I’ll wait.”

Then he leaned in slowly giving me time to pull away but I didn’t and he pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead, his lips warm against my skin for just a moment before he stepped back.

I fumbled with my keys and got the door open with trembling hands, then slipped inside and closed it while leaning against the wood. My heart was racing and my forehead still tingled where he’d kissed me and I touched the spot with shaking fingers.

Through the window I watched Jude walk away down the path and even from here I could see the reluctance in his movements like leaving me was physically difficult but he did it anyway because I’d asked him to wait.

I slid down the door until I was sitting on the floor with my knees pulled to my chest and I let myself smile in the dark while my heart did that stupid fluttering thing it always did when I thought about him.