Page 12 of Fractured Faceoff

Her secret gnawed at me like an unsolved puzzle demanding attention.

The first rays of dawn began creeping in through the window blinds when I finally resigned myself to another sleepless night.

I had given up everything to come here, to be closer to her. My hockey career, my identity as the Southern Serpent—it all felt distant now, like a dream from another lifetime. Pain was temporary. Ava was forever.

I wanted a family, a life beyond the rink. And I wanted it with Ava.

But lately, uncertainty gnawed at me like an opponent who wouldn't let up. She seemed distant, her mind elsewhere even when we were together. I wasn't used to feeling this way. He wasn't the type to be worried. I faced down bruisers on the ice without flinching; I took hits and kept skating. But this—this was different.

I looked at my reflection in the kitchen window again, my own eyes staring back at me, searching for answers I didn't have. The city outside started to wake up, lights flickering on in apartments and buildings, the hum of early morning traffic starting to pick up.

What did she want? Did she still see a future with me? Or had Kash tightened his grip on her?

I couldn't shake the feeling that something deeper was going on, something Ava couldn't—or wouldn't—tell me. And that scared me more than any concussion or torn ligament ever could.

I finished my water and set the glass down with more force than I'd intended. The sound echoed through the quiet house, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I needed answers, and I needed them from Ava. If we were going to build a life together, we couldn't have secrets between us. She had to know that I was all in—that I'd given up everything because I believed in us.

But first, she needed to believe it too.

As dawn fully broke and sunlight poured into the room, illuminating every corner with its unforgiving clarity, I made a decision. Today would be different. Today, I'd get those answers from Ava. One way or another.

And for once in my life, I felt a knot of anxiety tighten in my gut—a feeling that I never allowedmyself to feel.

I headed into my bathroom and stepped into the shower. The cold water jolted me awake, my muscles tensing under the stream. I let it run over my face, trying to wash away the doubts clinging to my thoughts. I couldn't afford to be distracted. Not now. Not with everything on the line.

After the shower, I pulled on a pair of workout shorts and a worn-out t-shirt. The fabric clung to my damp skin, but I didn't care. Practice loomed just a few hours away, and I needed to get my head in the game.

I glanced at the clock on my way out of the bathroom—6:00 AM. The early morning light filled the room, casting long shadows across the floor. The world outside was starting to wake up, but for me, it felt like the day had already been dragging on for hours.

In the kitchen, I grabbed a protein bar and a bottle of water from the fridge.

I needed this workout like a lifeline. It was where I could forget about everything else—about Ava, about Kash, about all the uncertainty gnawing at me.

I drove to The Snake Pit, my mind a storm of thoughts that refused to settle. The early morning streets of Detroit were eerily quiet, the city still wrapped in the remnants of sleep. The familiar sight of the ice rink's looming structure brought a strange sense of comfort, its neon sign flickering like a beacon.

I parked and made my way inside, nodding to the lone security guard who gave me a knowing look. Inside, the team gym waited—sterile, cold, and unyielding. The scent of sweat and rubber greeted me as I walked in. Familiar, grounding.

I headed straight for the treadmill. The rhythmic pounding of my feet against the belt became a metronomefor my thoughts, drowning out everything else. Each stride brought clarity, each breath steadied my mind.

But even here, Ava lingered at the edges of my consciousness. Her face flashed before me—those guarded eyes that spoke volumes without saying a word.

I increased the speed, pushing myself harder. My heart raced, sweat dripping down my temples. Focus. Just focus.

By the time I finished my run, exhaustion had replaced anxiety. My muscles burned in that satisfying way that only came from pushing limits.

I grabbed a towel and wiped my face before heading to the weights section. I wasn't sure what today would bring with Ava or how things would unfold with Kash still in the picture. But for now, I'd lose myself in this routine because sometimes muscle memory was all you had left when everything else fell apart.

I grabbed my duffel bag and slung it over my shoulder, the familiar weight a small comfort. My muscles still hummed from the workout, and sweat clung to my skin. I needed to get out of the gym and clear my head before practice started.

Pushing open the door, I nearly collided with Isla. She stood there, eyes wide in surprise, her expression quickly shifting to something more guarded. The first thing I noticed were the bags under her eyes, dark and heavy like she'd been up all night too. Redness rimmed her eyes, hinting at tears or a sleepless night—maybe both.

"Jared," she snapped, crossing her arms defensively. "What do you want?"

"And there's the morning sunshine I've so desperately missed," I replied evenly, raising an eyebrow. "You look like hell."

She blew out a breath, her shouldersslumping as some of the tension drained away. "I'm sorry. It's been a rough night."

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