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CHAPTER 15: Just Plain Irritated
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ:
2025-04-16 01:45:00
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Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 16: Out Of My Head
The gym bathroom smelled like cheap soap. I stepped into the tiled space, peeling off my sweat-drenched hoodie with a grunt. My shirt clung to me like a second skinâsticky and soakedâand honestly, stripping out of it felt like shedding another layer of frustration. I caught my reflection in the mirror for half a second. Hair damp with sweat, chest heaving, jaw tight. Damn, I thought, smirking faintly. Still got it though. I kicked off my sneakers, yanked down my shorts and boxers, and made my way to the open showers. The spray was lukewarm at best, but I didnât care. Water thundered against my skin, rinsing off the salt and the anger and the ache in my thighs. I just stood there for a minute, eyes closed, letting it all pour over me. Steam fogged up the mirrors and the edges of my brain. My thoughts were quiet for once. OrâĶ mostly quiet. Because even when I wasnât thinking about him on purpose, my brain had a way of dragging Andrew back in. The way his hand had fit against my sid
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-16Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 17: Let Go Of Me, Captain
Thereâs something about the sound of skates carving into fresh ice that always centers me. Cold, sharp air in my lungs, the hiss of movement, the dull roar of blades digging in. Itâs therapy. I tugged on my helmet and rolled my shoulders, staring out at the rink as my team warmed up. The morning chill still clung to everything, misting from our mouths with every exhale, but inside my chest, it was a furnace. Burning slow. Uncomfortable.I kept my expression blank. Didnât want to show it. Didnât want to admit that Iâd been looking forward to this practice for the worst reasonâbecause I knew heâd be there.Yeah. Andrew.Pretty boy. Fuckboy. Muse. Mistake. Whatever the hell you wanna label it.I spotted him immediately when I stepped on the ice. Like my brain had a built-in radar that beeped hot whenever he was within fifty feet. He was on the far side, helmet off, smiling at something one of the rookies said. That lazy smile. And then I noticed something else.He wasnât looking at me.
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-19Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 18: what Changed?
ANDREW PARKER ~âGushâ!â I stumbled back, clutching the wall behind me like it could explain what the hell just happened. âThat scared meâĶâThe words barely made it out of my mouth. My heart was racing like it wanted out of my chest, lungs dragging air in like Iâd been running for miles. My shoulder throbbed where heâd slammed meâhis hand like a damn vice, fingers bunching up the fabric of my hoodie before shoving me hard into the concrete hallway wall like he owned the whole damn building.Captain.That psycho.I rubbed my shoulder, grimacing. His grip had left a phantom imprint, like his touch still clung there. I could almost feel the exact shape of his fingers through the layers of hoodie and t-shirt underneath.âWhat the fuck is wrong with that psycho?â I hissed under my breath, voice shaking with a mix of fear and fury. My hoodie was all stretched and twisted from where he grabbed it, so I yanked it back into place and patted it down like that would erase what just happened. My
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-20Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 19: I Hit Record
CAPTAIN ~I didnât even feel the cold when I stormed out. Didnât register the voices around me. It was all a blur. White noise.My pulse was roaring too loud in my ears.Slamming Andrew against the wall? Yeah, probably not my proudest moment. But the way he looked at meâlike I was some strangerâset something off. My hand was still tingling from where Iâd grabbed him. My chest felt too tight, like I couldnât breathe properly. Each step I took was heavier than the last, like my feets were weighed down by the mess of emotions twisting in my gut.I rounded the corner and pushed open the side door, stepping into the biting afternoon air. It shouldâve cleared my head but it didnât.âCaptain!âA hand grabbed my shoulder.I stopped mid-step, jaw clenched, stomach already dropping because I knew that voice.James.He was always too observant for his own damn good.âYou alright?â he asked, voice low, cautious. Like I was some wild animal on the verge of snapping.And maybe I was.âNo,â I almo
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-22Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 20: That Sounds... Really Gay
The bar wasnât even that packed. Low lights, shitty country music humming from old wall speakers, and a few groups scattered around pretending their lives didnât suck for a few hours. I shouldâve been home. Shirt off, lights off, maybe filming something I would regret later for a quick confidence boost. But no. James, with his stupid grin and overly persuasive voice, somehow convinced me to get my ass out tonight.âYou need a change of scenery, Cap,â heâd said. âCome on. Just a few drinks. Might even meet someone hot.âRight. Because nothing screams "emotional stability" like trying to flirt with strangers while my brainâs still locked on someone else's hands on my skin. Someone else's voice in my ear. Someone else's goddamn face.And now here I was. Elbow against the sticky bar top, drink number... shit, Iâd lost count. Whiskey burned like a bitch going down, and I welcomed it.James had wandered off to talk to some girl earlier, but he came back eventually, dropping into the stool n
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-23Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 21: Shitstorm Life
The morning after drinking never hits me soft.I woke up with my mouth dry as the damn desert, tongue heavy, head pounding in a rhythmic thud that felt like someone was using my skull as a fucking drum. My sheets were twisted up around me like Iâd been in a fight with them. My arm was hanging off the bed, fingers barely grazing the empty bottle of water I mustâve dropped sometime in the middle of the night.I groaned, rolling over to bury my face into the pillow, hoping itâd just knock me out again. No such luck.I wasnât even fully conscious yet, and I already hated everything.For a good ten minutes, I just laid there, eyes closed, brain foggy as hell, letting the weight of last night sink in. Me, drunk off my ass. James sitting across from me looking like Iâd told him I was secretly a lizard person or some shit.The way his jaw dropped when I said the word OnlyFans still made me cringe. I hadn't meant to tell him. I hadnât meant to say anything, really.But liquor loosens lips, and
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-23Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 22: Dismantled Me
I woke up with my sheets twisted around my legs, one arm draped over my eyes like it could somehow block out the reality of the day ahead. But it was no use. I could feel it crawling under my skin the moment I blinked awake.Game day.Freshman team.Andrew.Fuck.I sat up slowly, groaning as my back cracked in three different places. My throat was dry as hell and my head throbbed with that low, dull ache that only came from too much alcohol. The air was chilly, but my skin was already prickling with leftover tension, like my body remembered something my brain hadnât even caught up to yet.I rubbed at my face and stumbled out of bed. The sun was slicing through the blinds in sharp little stripes, hitting the floor like prison bars. Not a great metaphor, considering I felt like a goddamn hostage in my own brain lately.I took a quick shower, half-assed my grooming, and yanked on my gear. The jersey felt heavy today, like it was carrying more than just the weight of my number.I didnât e
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-04-24Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 1: Andrew Fucking Parker
I lifted my beer to my lips, ready to take a slow sip, when James elbowed me in the ribs. Hard.I barely stopped myself from spilling the damn drink all over my lap. "What the hell, man?" I muttered, scowling at him."That's him," he muttered, nodding toward the far end of the bar. "The pretty boy everybody's been talking about."I paused, my beer hovering midway to my mouth. That got my attention.Everybody had been running their mouths about some new studentâwhispers about how he didnât talk to anyone, how he always sat alone, how he looked like he belonged on a damn magazine cover instead of walking these shitty college halls like the rest of us. I hadnât seen him yet, but curiosity had been gnawing at me. Now, I finally had the chance.Following Jamesâs gaze, I spotted him instantly.And Damn. The rumors werenât exaggerating. He was pretty. No, scratch thatâhe was fucking beautiful. The kind of good looks that made people stare without realizing they were staring. His dark hair
āļāļĢāļąāļāļāļĢāļļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ : 2025-03-26
āļāļāļĨāđāļēāļŠāļļāļ
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 22: Dismantled Me
I woke up with my sheets twisted around my legs, one arm draped over my eyes like it could somehow block out the reality of the day ahead. But it was no use. I could feel it crawling under my skin the moment I blinked awake.Game day.Freshman team.Andrew.Fuck.I sat up slowly, groaning as my back cracked in three different places. My throat was dry as hell and my head throbbed with that low, dull ache that only came from too much alcohol. The air was chilly, but my skin was already prickling with leftover tension, like my body remembered something my brain hadnât even caught up to yet.I rubbed at my face and stumbled out of bed. The sun was slicing through the blinds in sharp little stripes, hitting the floor like prison bars. Not a great metaphor, considering I felt like a goddamn hostage in my own brain lately.I took a quick shower, half-assed my grooming, and yanked on my gear. The jersey felt heavy today, like it was carrying more than just the weight of my number.I didnât e
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 21: Shitstorm Life
The morning after drinking never hits me soft.I woke up with my mouth dry as the damn desert, tongue heavy, head pounding in a rhythmic thud that felt like someone was using my skull as a fucking drum. My sheets were twisted up around me like Iâd been in a fight with them. My arm was hanging off the bed, fingers barely grazing the empty bottle of water I mustâve dropped sometime in the middle of the night.I groaned, rolling over to bury my face into the pillow, hoping itâd just knock me out again. No such luck.I wasnât even fully conscious yet, and I already hated everything.For a good ten minutes, I just laid there, eyes closed, brain foggy as hell, letting the weight of last night sink in. Me, drunk off my ass. James sitting across from me looking like Iâd told him I was secretly a lizard person or some shit.The way his jaw dropped when I said the word OnlyFans still made me cringe. I hadn't meant to tell him. I hadnât meant to say anything, really.But liquor loosens lips, and
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 20: That Sounds... Really Gay
The bar wasnât even that packed. Low lights, shitty country music humming from old wall speakers, and a few groups scattered around pretending their lives didnât suck for a few hours. I shouldâve been home. Shirt off, lights off, maybe filming something I would regret later for a quick confidence boost. But no. James, with his stupid grin and overly persuasive voice, somehow convinced me to get my ass out tonight.âYou need a change of scenery, Cap,â heâd said. âCome on. Just a few drinks. Might even meet someone hot.âRight. Because nothing screams "emotional stability" like trying to flirt with strangers while my brainâs still locked on someone else's hands on my skin. Someone else's voice in my ear. Someone else's goddamn face.And now here I was. Elbow against the sticky bar top, drink number... shit, Iâd lost count. Whiskey burned like a bitch going down, and I welcomed it.James had wandered off to talk to some girl earlier, but he came back eventually, dropping into the stool n
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 19: I Hit Record
CAPTAIN ~I didnât even feel the cold when I stormed out. Didnât register the voices around me. It was all a blur. White noise.My pulse was roaring too loud in my ears.Slamming Andrew against the wall? Yeah, probably not my proudest moment. But the way he looked at meâlike I was some strangerâset something off. My hand was still tingling from where Iâd grabbed him. My chest felt too tight, like I couldnât breathe properly. Each step I took was heavier than the last, like my feets were weighed down by the mess of emotions twisting in my gut.I rounded the corner and pushed open the side door, stepping into the biting afternoon air. It shouldâve cleared my head but it didnât.âCaptain!âA hand grabbed my shoulder.I stopped mid-step, jaw clenched, stomach already dropping because I knew that voice.James.He was always too observant for his own damn good.âYou alright?â he asked, voice low, cautious. Like I was some wild animal on the verge of snapping.And maybe I was.âNo,â I almo
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 18: what Changed?
ANDREW PARKER ~âGushâ!â I stumbled back, clutching the wall behind me like it could explain what the hell just happened. âThat scared meâĶâThe words barely made it out of my mouth. My heart was racing like it wanted out of my chest, lungs dragging air in like Iâd been running for miles. My shoulder throbbed where heâd slammed meâhis hand like a damn vice, fingers bunching up the fabric of my hoodie before shoving me hard into the concrete hallway wall like he owned the whole damn building.Captain.That psycho.I rubbed my shoulder, grimacing. His grip had left a phantom imprint, like his touch still clung there. I could almost feel the exact shape of his fingers through the layers of hoodie and t-shirt underneath.âWhat the fuck is wrong with that psycho?â I hissed under my breath, voice shaking with a mix of fear and fury. My hoodie was all stretched and twisted from where he grabbed it, so I yanked it back into place and patted it down like that would erase what just happened. My
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 17: Let Go Of Me, Captain
Thereâs something about the sound of skates carving into fresh ice that always centers me. Cold, sharp air in my lungs, the hiss of movement, the dull roar of blades digging in. Itâs therapy. I tugged on my helmet and rolled my shoulders, staring out at the rink as my team warmed up. The morning chill still clung to everything, misting from our mouths with every exhale, but inside my chest, it was a furnace. Burning slow. Uncomfortable.I kept my expression blank. Didnât want to show it. Didnât want to admit that Iâd been looking forward to this practice for the worst reasonâbecause I knew heâd be there.Yeah. Andrew.Pretty boy. Fuckboy. Muse. Mistake. Whatever the hell you wanna label it.I spotted him immediately when I stepped on the ice. Like my brain had a built-in radar that beeped hot whenever he was within fifty feet. He was on the far side, helmet off, smiling at something one of the rookies said. That lazy smile. And then I noticed something else.He wasnât looking at me.
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 16: Out Of My Head
The gym bathroom smelled like cheap soap. I stepped into the tiled space, peeling off my sweat-drenched hoodie with a grunt. My shirt clung to me like a second skinâsticky and soakedâand honestly, stripping out of it felt like shedding another layer of frustration. I caught my reflection in the mirror for half a second. Hair damp with sweat, chest heaving, jaw tight. Damn, I thought, smirking faintly. Still got it though. I kicked off my sneakers, yanked down my shorts and boxers, and made my way to the open showers. The spray was lukewarm at best, but I didnât care. Water thundered against my skin, rinsing off the salt and the anger and the ache in my thighs. I just stood there for a minute, eyes closed, letting it all pour over me. Steam fogged up the mirrors and the edges of my brain. My thoughts were quiet for once. OrâĶ mostly quiet. Because even when I wasnât thinking about him on purpose, my brain had a way of dragging Andrew back in. The way his hand had fit against my sid
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 15: Just Plain Irritated
I woke up annoyed.Not tired. Not groggy. Just plain irritated.I hadnât even opened both eyes and I already wanted to punch something. The memory of Jamesâ message sat in my chest like a rockâCoachâs thinking of benching you. Just a heads-up. Yeah, dude. thanks for the fucking heads-up. I lay there for a few seconds, eyes staring at the ceiling, muscles coiled tight under the blanket like a spring. The morning light was spilling through the half-closed blinds, striping my wall in pale gold. It looked peaceful. Calm.Too bad I wasnât either of those things.I dragged a hand down my face and exhaled sharply. Screw it. I wasnât gonna just lie here and stew. I needed to to burn it out of my system before it started eating holes in my head.Gym.That was the only plan.I tossed the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My body was still warm from sleep, muscles loose, skin slightly tacky with sweat. I stood up and rolled my neck, stretching both arms high until I hea
Breaking The Ice Between Us    CHAPTER 14: Officially Ruined
Thereâs just something about a hot bath at the end of a long-ass day that hits different. The kind of hot where your muscles stop screaming and start sighing instead. The kind of hot that makes it feel like all the bullshitâevery sharp word, every look you shouldnât have cared about, every ghost of a touchâis finally melting off your skin.I filled the tub damn near to the top, dumped in a ridiculous amount of eucalyptus salts I found shoved in the back of the cabinet, and didnât even care that the smell made me feel like I was about to be sacrificed in some new-age forest ceremony.Whatever. It was nice.I slid in slowly, hissing as the heat kissed up my legs, then my hips, then finally sank into my bones. I let my head fall back against the cool edge of the tub and shut my eyes.âHoly shit,â I muttered, already feeling half human again.Steam curled around my face, humid and heavy. The room blurred. My limbs floated. The tension Iâd been clinging to all dayâthe weight in my shoulder
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