Page 37

KATERINA

The atmosphere in the arena is out of this world. The crowd roars, the boards rattle, and the energy is so thick it feels like it could crack the ice. The boys are

seconds away from qualifying for the Frozen Four, and if the last three periods have proven anything—it’s that Aiden Knight is unstoppable.

He’s everywhere on the ice, driving plays, cutting through the defense like they’re nothing. His skates carve deep, his shots are lethal, and the way he commands the game is almost terrifying. He plays with the kind of fire that makes it impossible to look away.

And me?

I’m gripping the edge of my seat, heart pounding, watching as Aiden dangles past a defense man, fakes out the goalie, and buries the puck top shelf.

The crowd erupts.

I shoot to my feet as the boys pile on top of him, screaming in victory. The final buzzer sounds, and just like that—

They’ve won. They’re going to the Frozen Four.

Alina and Maddie are screaming next to me, jumping up and down, and even Alexei is cheering like he’s the one who just scored. I feel my heart swell as I watch Aiden skate to the boards, tilting his helmet up to scan the crowd. The second his eyes find me, my stomach flips. He smirks, tapping his stick against the glass before skating away.

Cocky asshole.

The post-game celebration is chaos. The entire hockey house is packed, music blaring, drinks flowing, and people celebrating like the boys already won the championship. But the real celebration? That’s outside.

The bonfire is already roaring, casting flickering shadows across the backyard as players, friends, and fans gather around. I’m standing near the fire, bundled in Aiden’s hoodie—because, let’s be honest, at this point, half my wardrobe is his—when he finally emerges from the house, fresh from a shower, looking

infuriatingly good.

His hair is still damp, curling slightly at the ends, and his sweatshirt hangs loosely off his frame. His sharp gaze locks onto me immediately. “You’re stealing my clothes again.”

I smirk, tugging the sleeves over my hands.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Aiden stops in front of me, arms crossing. “That’s my hoodie, Angel Face.”

I blink innocently.

“Oh? Weird. Must’ve gotten lost in my drawer.”

Aiden huffs, but there’s a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. He reaches out, tugging at the hem of the sweatshirt, pulling me slightly closer. “One of these days, I’m going to start stealing your clothes.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“I’d pay to see you in one of my crop tops.”

I say with a giggle.

He smirks at me, bitting his bottom lip. “Careful, Hart. I never back down from a challenge.”

Before I can respond, Roman’s voice booms across the yard. “ALL RIGHT, WHO WANTS TO DO STUPID SHIT?”

The crowd cheers. Aiden sighs, rubbing his temple. “I already regret this.”

I grin. “Come on, Captain, live a little.”

His eyes flick to mine, something undeniable burning there. “Oh, I am, Angel Face. Trust me.”

The bonfire burns high, casting flickering shadows across the backyard as the celebration reaches full swing. Laughter echoes, beer bottles clink together, and the smell of smoke lingers in the crisp night air. The boys are still hyped from their win, the energy so contagious that even I can’t stop smiling. But Aiden?

Aiden is watching me.

I can feel his gaze like a physical touch, searing across my skin, making my heart race. He’s leaning against the porch railing, arms crossed, eyes dark and unreadable. He’s been watching me all night, ever since I stole his hoodie and refused to give it back.

And I love it.

“So,”

Roman claps his hands together, stumbling slightly as he steps forward. “Let’s play a game.”

A chorus of cheers erupts around us, and I can’t help but laugh. Roman is three drinks in, which means whatever idea he’s about to propose is either genius or insane.

Alina smirks, arms crossed. “Is this the kind of game that gets

people arrested?”

Roman gasps, hand to his chest. “Baby, I am offended. I would never—”

“Last time we played one of your games, Will had to bribe campus security to let us go,”

Aiden drawls, finally pushing off the railing and making his way over.

Roman waves him off. “That was a misunderstanding.”

Will sighs. “You tried to convince them we were part of an undercover mission.”

“I almost had them fooled,”

Roman argues.

I shake my head, grinning. “Okay, so what’s the game?”

Roman’s face lights up. “Truth or Dare.”

Aiden groans. “Absolutely not. We have played this game too many times, these last couple of months.”

But it’s too late. The group is already cheering in agreement, and before I know it, everyone is settling into a makeshift circle near the fire.

Alina nudges me as we sit down. “This is going to be a disaster.”

I smirk. “I know.”

The game starts off mild. A few easy truths, a dare that forces

one of the guys to shotgun two beers back-to-back, another that makes Maddie run a lap around the yard in nothing but Roman’s jersey. But then—

Roman turns to me.

“Hart,”

he drawls, smirking. “Truth or dare?”

I roll my eyes. “Dare.”

The group oohs, and Roman grins. “I love that answer. I dare you to kiss someone in this circle.”

I pause, my pulse spiking.

My gaze flickers—without thinking—to Aiden. And he knows.

His smirk fades, his jaw tightening, his entire body going still as he watches me. Daring me to do it.

The tension is thick.

I stand and make my way to Aiden. I lean when i reach him and smile. “Hi baby.”

I whisper. Aiden grins and smashes his lips with mine, giving me a consuming kiss. My brain shuts down, as i bring my arms around his neck. Aiden pulls me into his lap, as his tongue dances with mine.

Someone clears their throat and I pull away, my cheeks redder than a tomato. Roman smirks at us, so I do the only reasonable thing, I can think of. I flip him off.

Soon it’s Aidens turn, and he doesn’t even hesitate. He chooses dare. Roman grins, looking way too pleased with himself. “I dare you to pick someone in this circle and carry them into the lake.”

The group erupts, cheering and laughing, and before I can even move—

Aiden grabs me.

I let out a yelp as he hauls me over his shoulder, his grip tight

around my legs as he stalks toward the dock. “Aiden, don’t you dare—”

“Oh, I definitely dare.”

The cold wind bites at my skin as we reach the edge of the dock, the dark water stretching out below.

“Aiden, I swear to God—” He jumps.

The water hits like a shock to my system, stealing my breath as we go under. The chill wraps around me, and for a split second, all I can feel is him—his arms around me, the press of his body against mine as we sink before breaking the surface.

I gasp, shoving my wet hair out of my face. “You asshole!”

Aiden is laughing, the deep, rich sound rolling through the night as he shakes the water from his hair.

I glare at him, shoving at his chest. “You are the worst.”

He smirks. “You’re still wearing my hoodie.”

I growl, yanking it over my head and throwing it at him. “Not anymore.”

Aiden catches it easily, his eyes dark with something else now, something dangerous. He steps forward, water rippling around us, his voice lower when he murmurs—

“You love stealing my clothes.”

My breath catches, my body burning despite the cold. “Shut up, Knight.”

His smirk deepens. “Make me, Hart.”

I giggle, swimming away from him. I’m freezing but the icy cold water feels good, numbing me.

I’m still freezing. Even after Aiden and I dragged ourselves out of the lake, even after I wrung out my hair and wrapped myself in a towel someone shoved at me, even after I stole another one of Aiden’s hoodies to replace the one, I tossed at him—I cannot shake the chill that has settled into my bones.

Which is why I’m currently curled up on the couch, cocooned in the thickest blanket I could find, glaring at Aiden while he sits beside me, completely unbothered.

“You did that on purpose,”

I grumble, tucking my freezing feet beneath me.

Aiden, who has the audacity to look pleased with himself, smirks. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re such an asshole.”

He stretches his arms over the back of the couch, his long legs sprawled out in front of him. “And yet, here you are, stealing my hoodie again.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “You owe me this hoodie.”

Aiden chuckles, his eyes flicking over me like he’s committing this moment to memory. “Fair enough, Angel Face.”

Before I can fire back, Alina plops down beside me, shaking her head dramatically. “That was the best thing I’ve ever witnessed. The tension? The dramatics? The shameless flirting?”

I groan. “We were not flirting.”

Alina and Maddie both burst out laughing.

“Oh my God, you are so in denial,”

Maddie cackles, nudging me. “I give it two weeks before you cave.”

I scoff, tightening the blanket around me. “I am not caving.”

Roman flops onto the armrest, sipping his beer with a lazy grin. “That’s what they all say, Hart.”

Aiden smirks, clearly enjoying this way too much. “She’s stubborn.”

I scowl at him. “And you’re infuriating.”

He leans in slightly, voice dropping just enough for only me to hear. “You love it.”

My breath catches in my throat because he’s not wrong. I do love it—the push and pull, the tension that’s always simmering between us, the way he challenges me, the way he sees me.

Instead of responding, I steal his beer right out of his hand

and take a long, slow sip as Aiden watches me, his lips curving into something dangerous.