Page 35 of Expose on the Ice

I push my professional instincts aside, focusing instead on the man in front of me. For now, at least, I will be what Knox needs – a sympathetic ear, a friend. The rest… well, I’ll figure that out later, looming deadline or not.

We stop skating for a minute and face each other. The dim lights of the empty arena cast long shadows across his face, highlighting the pain etched into every line.

"I can’t believe I’m telling you all this," Knox says, shaking his head. "I haven’t talked about Sarah with anyone in… God, I don’t even know how long."

I bite my lip, fighting my desire to comfort him. "Sometimes it’s easier to open up to a stranger," I say.

Knox’s eyes meet mine. "You’re not exactly a stranger anymore, are you, Lily?"

The way he says my name sends a shiver down my spine that has nothing to do with the chill of the rink. I swallow hard, trying to ignore the warmth blooming in my chest.

"I guess not," I admit, feeling flushed. "Though I’m pretty sure you still hate my guts."

A ghost of a smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Hate’s a strong word. Let’s go with… annoyed."

I can’t help but laugh, the tension between us easing slightly. "I’ll take it."

We lapse into silence again, skating slowly around the rink, but this time it feels different. Comfortable, almost. Knox’s gaze drifts to the empty stands, lost in thought.

"You know," he says after a moment, his voice low, "I used to love this place. Now…"

"Now it’s full of ghosts?" I supply gently.

Knox’s eyes snap back to mine, widening slightly. "Yeah," he breathes. "Exactly."

Something shifts at that moment. The walls he’d so carefully constructed crumble, and I glimpse beneath the tough exterior – vulnerable, haunted, and achingly human.

"I’m sorry," I say. "For pushing so hard. For following you here."

"It’s okay," he says. "You’re probably under pressure yourself…"

I nod, feeling a lump form in my throat. "Yeah, I am. This assignment… it’s my big break, you know? I’ve been stuck covering minor league baseball and high school wrestling for years. When my editor gave me this opportunity, I thought I’d finally made it."

Knox raises an eyebrow. "And now?"

I let out a humorless laugh. "Now? I’m terrified I’m going to blow it." The words tumble out of me, fueled by exhaustion and the surreal intimacy of the moment, laced with the fear of failure. "That first story? It was fine. Good, even. But now…"

I skate in a slow circle as I try to gather my thoughts. Knox trails me, at a close but respectful distance, his eyes never leaving me. It’s clear he’s going to stay silent until I keep speaking, like I’d done to him a moment ago.

"Now I’m screwed," I admit, the words tasting bitter on my tongue. "My deadline for the second piece is coming up fast, and I’ve got nothing. I mean, what am I supposed to write? ‘Local hockey star continues to play well but otherwise be an enigma’?"

Knox snorts, but there’s no real heat behind it. "Sounds riveting."

"Right?" I shake my head. "God, I can just see my editor’s face now. ‘Sorry, Lily, but you should stick to covering little league soccer’ or maybe just an outright ‘you’re fired’ – but either way, not the result I was hoping for."

Knox is quiet for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Probably my fault," he says gruffly. "Look, I get it, okay? Thepressure to perform, to live up to everyone’s expectations… But you can’t let it paralyze you. You’ve got to push through it, or it’ll eat you alive."

"How?" I ask, hating how small my voice sounds.

"Hell if I know. I’m still figuring it out myself," he says, his voice low and husky, "You know, you’re not at all what I expected, Lily Grant."

My heart hammers in my chest. "Oh?" I breathe, suddenly feeling likesomethinghas changed between us, but unable to identify what exactly. "And what did you expect?"

He shrugs, a ghost of his usual smirk playing at his lips. "Some ruthless shark of a reporter, I guess. And you had me fooled for a moment, with the brash attitude, the confidence as you worked my teammates, the gall to follow me everywhere, the sexy outfits… but…"

"But what?" I press, suddenly desperate to know.

"But you give a damn." Knox’s gaze intensifies, pinning me in place. "And you’re as driven as I am, but also loaded down with as much self-doubt."

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