Kayden
I woke up on the morning of the playoffs feeling like my entire body was hovering somewhere between dread and adrenaline. Even though Rhys and I lived under the same roof—same walls, same air—I hadn't actually seen him in person since I left him breathless and wrecked on the kitchen floor two nights ago.
He had mastered the art of slipping in late and disappearing early, and the only time we ever saw each other was during practice, and he wouldn't even look at me.
I had spent the last forty-eight hours replaying that night in my head like an idiot. I could still feel the phantom pressure of his hand around my neck and the way he moaned out my name when he finally broke.
I thought that moment would change everything. I thought the Ice Captain was finally done playing games, but instead, he had become a ghost. And the silence was starting to feel like a slap in the face.
I kept repeating it all morning as the team bus pulled out of the parking lot.
Rhys made sure he was seated far away from me, avoiding me like a plague, making me wonder why he had acted like he wanted it when he didn't.
Today, the Avalanche were clashing with our biggest rivals, the Iron Wolves. The rivalry was legendary, and I was well aware of it. Each time they face off, it always ends with the Avalanche winning, but in the past, before Rhys joined, the Iron Wolves had always won against them. That was years ago, but the rivalry remains.
When we reached the arena, I saw the fans outside screaming for blood. When we reached the building, the sound grew, and I saw hundreds of fans screaming, waving banners with my name and Rhys's, and crying for our attention.
"Kayden! Over here!"
"Rhys! Take down the Wolves!"
"Score for us today!"
It was overwhelming. There was a sea of faces, lights, cameras, and every few seconds, someone was yelling Rhys's name so loudly that the ground shook. He didn't react and just walked past them with his usual locked jaw and unreadable expression, his shoulders squared, and his gaze not daring to meet mine.
Inside the locker room, the team was buzzing, talking about the game. Theo Hartman was loud as usual, discussing with Jaxson Vane, while Miller Reid and Luca Rossi were busy checking their gears, and Rhys sat far at the end of the room, already wearing his jersey with the number #4, staring at the floor.
I felt the moment he noticed I had walked in. His shoulders stiffened immediately. I wanted to walk over there, grab him by the collar, and ask him why the hell he was acting like I didn't exist after what we'd done.
But I also sat quietly in my corner, pulled my blue jersey with the number #26 over my head, and tied my skates instead.
Coach Reddick then came in, clapping his hands and shouting. "Today matters so much because we have to show the Wolves that we are still the reigning champions. Rhys, Kayden, eyes on me. You two will lead the offense today. The Wolves always play dirty, so no egos on the ice today. Both of you should play as one body and one mind. Do you understand?"
I nodded while Rhys gave one stiff, almost imperceptible nod, but still wouldn't look at me.
After getting ready, we stood at the tunnel before introductions, and I could hear the roars of the crowd growing with every passing second.
Rhys was by my side, standing like a stone, and goodness, I hate the proximity because it felt like torture, and each time my body reacted instinctively, and I hated how much he was affecting me.
Then the announcer's voice boomed across the rink breaking off the tension. It was time for Avalanche's team introduction. "Now welcoming number 4, the captain of the Northern Avalanche, Rhys Calder! Fans are expecting him to show his skills once again this season!"
Rhys skated out, the crowd exploding while he waved at them. Then it was my turn. "Now, making his playoff debut as Northern Avalanche's newest team member is number 26, Kayden Vale! Everyone is seated to see if Vale would score his first goal tonight."
I heaved a deep sigh as I skated towards the ice. I waved at the fans who were chanting my name and then looked across at the Iron Wolves; they were massive, proper Alphas, and just staring at them made me wish I had never become a hockey player.
And then the game began; the first period appeared so fast, like a blur. We skated hard, fast, and relentlessly.
Despite the wall Rhys built between us at home, he was different on the ice. Rhys was terrifying, and every time he passed to me, it was perfect.
When I scored our first goal, the arena went insane. It was Rhys who had passed to me quickly, and without wasting time, I hit the net.
The arena went insane, chanting the team's name. I was breathless, the adrenaline surging through me as I watched, and for a second, it felt like I had achieved something greater than this.
My teammates skated towards me, hugging me while some patted me on the back—all except Luca Rossi. Even Rhys, who was avoiding me, skated up behind me. He didn't hug me or pat me on the back like the others; he just tapped my helmet once with his glove like a captain.
But then he leaned in and muttered, his voice so low only I could hear it over the roar of the crowd.
"Don't get cocky, Vale. The game hasn't finished."
"Not even a well done, Ice Captain?" I whispered back, but he skated away, pretending he didn't hear me.
What a jerk, I thought as I skated back to my position. The game continued, and everyone played harder in the second period.
Theo moved on the ice like he was hungry for a goal, while Rhys and I worked like we were not arguing a moment ago, and finally, when the game ended, it was 4-1, a massive victory against the Wolves with Rhys winning twice and Theo winning the fourth goal.
The whole team gathered around shouting and screaming as we were announced winners, but Rhys already skated away, disappearing before the final buzzer had even stopped echoing.
After we left the ice, I hurried to the lockers in search of him, but he was gone.
He honestly didn't want to speak with me, I thought.
Theo found me looking for him and chuckled. "The captain always disappears when something's on his mind. That guy acts like the ice is his therapist."
I swallowed hard, forcing a smile as I sat on one of the benches to remove my gear, but deep down I knew the reason why Rhys wasn't there. He was avoiding me because of what happened between us.
Was I bothering him that much, or was he just terrified that the chemistry the world was praising was becoming all too real?
He could run all he wanted, but we still had to go back to the same house.
And tonight I was done playing the games of hide and seek. I wasn't going to let him hide.