Page 21 of Off the Ice

Not the way my chest had tightened at the quiet sincerity in his voice.

I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face as I grabbed my laptop and flopped onto the couch. I opened my research folder, scrolling through stats and articles, trying to drown out the lingering warmth of the evening. Focus, Ava. You have two weeks to get this done. Frank’s words echoed in my mind, a harsh reminder of the stakes. I couldn’t afford to let feelings—whatever this weird pull toward Logan was—cloud my judgment.

My phone buzzed,

Logan:

Hope you’re not working too hard. You earned a night off.

I stared at the message, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.

Don’t push your luck, Bennett.

I hesitated for a second before adding

Thanks for tonight. Your grandad’s great.

The dots appeared almost immediately.

He liked you. Said you’ve got spunk. He called me after I dropped you off.

Told him I already knew that.

I couldn’t help it—a smile tugged at my lips. Damn him.

I set the phone down, letting out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. This wasn’t supposed to be complicated. It wasn’t supposed to feel... anything. And yet, here I was. Caught between the story I had to write and the person I was starting to see beneath it.

***

The next morning, I was sipping coffee and staring at my laptop, pretending to be productive when my phone buzzed on the table. Logan’s name flashed on the screen, and I hesitated for a moment before swiping to open the message.

Logan

Feel like sitting glass-side again tonight?

Are you trying to distract me from writing an exposé about you?

Maybe.

Come early this time. I’ll give you a tour of the locker room. Talk to the guys, get some quotes. You can actually use them in your article instead of whatever Frank’s probably pushing for.

My lips twitched despite myself. Of course, Logan knew exactly what kind of pressure I was under. It was annoying how perceptive he could be sometimes.

And what’s in it for you?

I look like a team player. You look like a reporter doing her job. Everybody wins.

And I get to see your pretty face again.

you said glass seats correct?

Thats what your hung up on? yes, glass seats baby. Just for you.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t stop the small smile tugging at my lips. Logan was impossible to say no to, and maybe, just maybe, I wanted to see him in his element again.

Fine, count me in

Be there by five.

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