Page 6 of Icebound Attraction

“All right, all right. I'll behave, I promise.”

As I leave the room and the door closes behind me, I hear a sigh and can't help but smile.

An interview with a snobbish journalist... Hm, it might turn out to be a lot of fun after all...

I spend the rest of the evening with my friends. We've organized a barbecue and are drinking beers while discussing hockey.

I should be studying for my exams, but before a game, I prefer to let off steam with my mates. Ice hockey is my life. Who needs a degree in business management, right? On my skates, I'm in my element. I forget all my worries and just concentrate on the game.

Sometimes I imagine my father in the audience, proudly exulting as I slam puck after puck into the opposing goal. But the bastard took off when I was only 4. He left his wife and three kids for his secretary. What a piece of shit...

I put the thought out of my mind, down my beer and set off in search of a pleasant distraction. Sitting in a corner, a beautiful redhead smiles at me.

That's exactly what I need!

I approach her. We chat for a while, and she seems attracted to me. That's not unusual. Women fall for the team captain, it's inherent in the role. That and my good looks always hit the jackpot.

When I ask her if she'd like to see my room, with as much finesse as if I'd asked her directly if she'd sleep with me, she nods excitedly. Sometimes it's so simple it's boring. But tonight, I don't want to sleep alone.

***

The final whistle sounds and the whole stadium erupts in joy. What a game! We've just won our first of the season, and I couldn't be prouder. Let's keep it up, and we'll have a great place in the qualifiers.

I'm on the ice with my teammates and we're hugging and screaming. The intensive training has definitely paid off.

Suddenly, I notice a pretty blonde standing at the edge of the stands, notepad and pen in hand.

What's she doing here? And why is she looking at us like she's waiting for something?

That's when it all clicks: someone from the student newspaper is coming to interview me today, that's right! I was expecting an annoying guy with thick glasses, not such an attractive girl... Immediately, any preconceptions I might have about her work go up in smoke. Intrigued, I approach her as the spectators gradually leave the rink and my team's jubilation subsides.

Her smile is warm and welcoming as I greet her.

“Hi, I'm Emily, sports journalist for the university newspaper,” she introduces herself, holding out her hand.

It's very formal. I like it. But I prefer the body attached to this hand...

“I'm Liam Scott,” I reply, shaking her hand in return, which is surprisingly soft and pleasantly warm. “You've come to interview the team captain, is that right?”

I smile and tap the ‘C’ on my shirt. She nods.

“Yes, that's it! Your team played a great game today. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you have the time.”

Despite myself, I frown.

Does she already have an idea of the scoop she's going to drop like a bomb in her rag? Let's face it, the university newspaper is a load of crap. It's like they're trying to create a buzz to get attention. What do they expect? To uncover the campus gossip of the century and win a Pulitzer? But either way, Coach told me to make an effort, and if it'll draw attention to us, then it's good.

“I've got all the time in the world for a journalist as pretty as you,” I announce.

She raises her eyes to the sky and steps back to sit on a bench. I can't help but smile as I follow her.

Oh, this is going to be fun...

As her questions progress, I realize that she has a pretty good grasp of the subject. Already, she's using the right vocabulary, which is usually pretty rare when we're asked about our performances, and she seems to have a pretty professional take on the game.

“How do you manage to reconcile top-level sport with your studies?” she asks.

I frown.

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