Page 14 of Fractured Faceoff

“Someone who isn’t insufferable,” she muttered.

“Ouch,” I clutched my chest dramatically. “You wound me.”

She rolled her eyes again but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips this time. “Seriously, Jared, just... leave it alone.”

“For now,” I agreed, knowing this wasn’t the end of our conversation.

I watched Isla as she glanced around the gym, her eyes scanning the room like she was searching for someone.

"Looking for anyone in particular, sugar?" I couldn't help the smirk that crept onto my face.

"Not you," she replied, her tone clipped.

"Maybe I can help," I offered, genuinely curious now. She was acting more on edge than usual.

She walked past me, and on an impulse, I reached out and grabbed her wrist. The moment our skin touched, a jolt shot through me, surprising us both. It wasn't just the shock of the contact—it was something more. Something electric. My fingers immediately released her wrist as if I'd been burned.

Isla's eyes widened slightly, mirroring my own surprise. For a heartbeat, we stood there, caught in an unspoken moment neither of us fully understood.

I cleared my throat and took a step back. "Sorry about that."

She rubbed her wrist absentmindedly but didn't pull away further. "What was that?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"No idea," I admitted, feeling just as bewildered as she looked.

She shook her head as if to clear it and took a deep breath. "I need to find Rowan. He has an appointment he's late for."

"Hey," I called out, breaking the silence that had settled between us. "Have you noticed anything going on with Ava?"

"Going on?" Isla looked at me sharply, her brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "She seems... off lately. Distant. Like she's hiding something."

Isla narrowed her eyes and stepped closer, her voice dropping to a low, urgent tone. "Look, Jared," she said, her words clipped and precise. "I know why you're asking and you need to stop. I know you've been mooning after her for years?—"

"I do not moon," I insisted, my jaw tightening.

"—but she and Kash are happy," she continued, ignoring my interruption. "Don't ruin it. It's selfish."

For once in my life, I found myself speechless. Isla's words cut deep because they were true, and the fact that she could see through me so easily stung more than I'd care to admit.

She turned away from me, resuming her search for Rowan with a determined set to her shoulders.

As I watched her move through the gym, a realization hit me like a punch to the gut. Maybe I was as transparent as Isla made me out to be. Maybe everyone saw what I had been trying so hard to keep hidden—my feelings for Ava.

And maybe, just maybe, Isla was right. I found myself clenching my fists to keep from lashing out. Of all the people in my life, she was the one who could always get under my skin. Her insight cut too close, too deep, and left me feeling raw.

I tried to shake it off as I walked away from her. Focus on practice, I told myself. Forget about Ava for now. But her words echoed in my mind, relentless and unforgiving.

Don't ruin it. It's selfish.

Maybe she was right. Maybe my pursuit of Ava was doomed from the start. The thought gnawed at me, but I couldn't let it consume me. Not here, not now.

I forced myself to focus on the task at hand as I entered the locker room. The familiar scent of sweat and liniment greeted me, grounding me in a way thatnothing else could. I changed into my gear with practiced efficiency, each movement mechanical and deliberate.

The ice rink stretched out before me like an old friend as I stepped onto it. The cold air hit my face, sharp and bracing. It was exactly what I needed.

I took a deep breath and pushed off, the blades of my skates cutting into the ice with a satisfying crunch. The rhythm of skating calmed my racing thoughts, each stride a reminder of who I was.

---