Page 27
Story: Scoring with My Dirty Dare (Ice Chronicles Hockey #3)
27
Piper
I shuffle along the sidelines of the makeshift kids’ hockey rink, my stomach knotted so tight it’s hard to breathe. Families mill around, sipping hot chocolate and cheering on their little ones as they slip and slide across the ice. Usually, I’d be snapping photos or live-tweeting the action.
Today, I’m too distracted by my own swirling thoughts—about Jake, about last night, about the nagging doubt that keeps creeping up on me.
Jake is reffing the game, wearing striped gear and a whistle, looking every inch the calm authority figure. I catch sight of him crouching down to help a little girl readjust her helmet. She must be six, maybe seven, and her tiny chin wobbles with frustration.
Jake’s voice is gentle, barely audible over the crowd, and within seconds, she smiles, nodding as if he’s just told her the secret to hockey greatness. A pang strikes my chest. He’s so good with kids—so good with her .
Unwanted guilt pushes to the surface. I started this fake relationship to fix his public image and for a dare—never expecting the lines to blur. Now, after what happened last night, the idea that this is just for show feels deeply wrong. And yet… you’re still in this mess , I remind myself, hugging my camera bag tighter against my side.
“Piper!” a voice calls. Maddie hustles over, her breath coming out in white puffs in the cold air. She’s clutching two cups of cider from a vendor stand, and she hands me one. “Hey, you okay? You look ready to bolt.”
I force a smile. “Just nerves. We’re volunteering here—Jake’s reffing, I’m snapping pictures for the festival’s social media… feels like a lot.”
Maddie cocks an eyebrow. “Sure it’s just the hustle? Or are we talking about Jake ?” She says his name in a sing-song voice that makes me want to hide. “Because I’ve noticed you basically turn to goo whenever you spot him.”
I bristle. “I do not.”
She smirks. “Come on, Piper. I’ve never seen you let a guy get under your skin like this.” Then her face grows serious. “After last night…did something happen?”
Heat floods my cheeks. I haven’t told Maddie the full truth, but she’s my best friend—she can sense these things. “Yeah,” I admit in a hushed tone. “We… slept together. And before you say anything—yes, I know how big that is for me.” I swallow. “I’ve never done that before.”
Maddie’s eyes widen in surprise, but she corrals her reaction quickly, grasping my arm. “Wow. Piper, that’s… huge. Are you okay?”
My stomach twists. “I don’t know. I’ve been so guarded for so long, and now I’m… not. And it’s terrifying. Worse, I think Jake might actually be a good guy.” I exhale sharply, scanning the ice where he’s now helping a fallen kid to his feet. “But I’m not sure I can let myself trust that.”
Maddie’s expression softens. “That bet you made… that’s still messing with you, isn’t it?”
I grimace. “Yeah, plus everything else. I started all this for clicks. For a story . Now I’ve gone and… compromised my entire stance on him. And it doesn’t help that my sponsors are dropping like flies.”
Her forehead crinkles. “Sponsors?”
I twist the cider cup in my hands. “I got an email last night—my biggest one is ‘pausing’ the partnership. Probably a fancy way of saying they don’t want to be associated with me if I’m not delivering big, juicy content. My numbers have plateaued, and they want drama, not sappy romance.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Maddie scoffs. “You’re a serious writer, not some clickbait machine.”
“Right,” I agree hollowly. “But I need the money. Blogging doesn’t pay well if I’m not stirring the pot. And Penelope Darling’s brand is scandal, controversy… picking apart guys like Jake.”
Maddie’s gaze flicks to Jake, who’s now guiding a timid boy into position for the faceoff. My chest tightens at the sight. He’s not just some jerk jock. He’s a father, a caring brother, a good man. The realization stings, because I used to see him as the perfect target.
I force my attention back to Maddie. “What should I do? Keep churning out negative posts to keep sponsors happy? That feels so… wrong.”
She hesitates. “I can’t tell you what to do. But I’d say you need to talk to Jake before you publish anything sketchy.”
A knot of shame forms in my gut, because I already know I won’t heed that advice. The desperate part of me is screaming to preserve my financial stability, and the Penelope Darling persona is my biggest money-maker. I open my mouth to respond, but before I can, a man’s voice drifts over.
“ Piper on the Ice , in the flesh?”
I turn to find Davidson—one of the festival’s major donors—approaching with a pleasant smile. He’s an older man, maybe mid-sixties, in a tailored coat. Vince, the festival organizer, stands behind him, fiddling with a clipboard. Davidson dismisses Vince with a nod and steps up to us.
“Sir,” I say politely, forcing a cool smile. Why is he here?
He chuckles, shaking my hand. “I’ve read your work. Sharp, insightful… perhaps a bit controversial.”
Something in his gaze makes me uneasy, but I paste on my professional face. “Thank you. I try to keep things interesting.”
Davidson leans in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial level. “Interesting, indeed. So is your involvement with Jake Ice.”
Maddie shifts beside me, tension radiating off her. “We’re… acquaintances,” I say carefully.
He gives a mild chuckle, glancing over at Jake on the rink. “Is that so? I’ve heard otherwise.” His tone suggests he knows more than he’s letting on. “I admire a good scandal as much as the next man, but sometimes it pays to dig deeper.” He adjusts the lapel of his coat. “Jake Ice, for instance, has quite a story behind him. One the public might be very interested in.”
Unease prickles my skin. Is he fishing for gossip? “I’m aware of his backstory,” I hedge.
Davidson nods sagely, folding his arms. “You’re aware he took custody of his daughter under… unusual circumstances?”
My stomach drops. Jake and Violet? The mention of their custody arrangement hits me like a punch. “What do you mean?”
He sighs, shaking his head in mock regret. “I shouldn’t speak out of turn. But I know the mother wasn’t exactly… supportive of his career. There were fights. She claimed he manipulated the courts. Her word, not mine,” he adds quickly, raising his palms in a show of innocence.
Maddie looks appalled. “That’s— that can’t be right.”
My mind reels. Jake never talked about Violet’s mom. He only said it was complicated. “Are you saying he took Violet away from her mother?”
Davidson frowns, feigning concern. “I’m not saying anything for certain, dear. Just that there’s a lot you might not know. Let’s hope he isn’t using you, too.” He offers a fatherly pat on my shoulder. “Take care.” Then he drifts away, leaving me rooted in place.
“Okay, that was weird,” Maddie mutters. “He’s clearly stirring up trouble.”
I want to dismiss it. But the seeds of doubt are planted. Why wouldn’t Jake mention a custody battle? The more I think about it, the more uncertain I feel. He’s so protective of Violet—did he strong-arm her mother?
Maddie must see the turmoil on my face. “Piper, don’t let Davidson’s rumors get to you. Talk to Jake.”
“I—maybe.” My heart hammers. I want to believe Jake wouldn’t do something so awful, but there’s a part of me that remembers I barely know him.
Maddie sighs, looking around. “I’ll go grab us some water, yeah?”
I nod numbly, and she jogs off.
***
Jake’s whistle blows as he calls an offside, oblivious to my internal meltdown. The crowd cheers politely; a few parents snap photos from the bleachers. I notice Sadie perched among them, wearing a smug expression. She catches my eye and beckons me over.
I weave through the throng of families, forcing a neutral smile. “Hey, Sadie. You enjoying the game?”
She shrugs. “It’s adorable. Jake’s so good with kids, right?” There’s a sly edge to her voice.
“Yeah,” I say warily. “He is.”
Sadie leans closer, lowering her voice. “He’s good at winning people over, too. Don’t get me wrong—I’m sure you think you know him. But I’ve been hearing some… rumors.”
My stomach tightens. “From Davidson?”
She lifts a brow as if impressed I caught on. “Yeah, I might’ve heard a thing or two. Look, I like you, Piper. I don’t want you blindsided.”
“Tell me,” I press, dread creeping up my spine.
She hesitates, then sighs dramatically. “Word is, Jake fought dirty to get custody of Violet. Twisted some facts about her mom, made it impossible for her to fight back.”
My heart stutters. “So it’s true?”
Sadie frowns, playing at reluctance. “I can’t prove it. But Davidson is well-connected, you know? People talk.” She sets a hand on my arm, her voice softening. “I hate to see you get burned, especially if you let him… get close.”
My mind churns, replaying Jake’s gentle interactions with Violet. Could that be an act? “He always seemed so protective,” I murmur, half to myself.
Sadie squeezes my arm. “Manipulators are good at wearing masks. Just be careful.”
She lets go, leaving me shaky. I glance at the ice, spotting Jake helping another child up from a fall, his mouth curved in a reassuring smile. My heart twists. He can’t be that man, right? The kind who tears a kid away from her mother for his own benefit?
But then I think about Penelope Darling —my blog persona, the brand built on exposing celebrity secrets, stirring the pot for clicks. My largest sponsor just pulled out. If there’s a scandal… No. Don’t think like that.
Except I can’t afford not to think like that. My livelihood is on the line. And the dark part of me knows a juicy piece on a custody battle could be the story that revives my metrics.
I slump onto a folding chair near the concession stand, guilt and desperation warring. “This is insane,” I mutter. “He can’t be that person.”
But doubt lingers. My phone buzzes—a news alert about local festival sponsors. My gaze flicks to the email app. No new sponsor messages. My finances remain precarious, and I’m starting to feel like I’m gasping for air.
***
Emma and Carter stride past with arms full of gear from the donation booth—stacked T-shirts, stuffed mascots. Emma beams at me. “Hey, Piper! Could you help us with these boxes? They’re for the kids who can’t afford equipment.”
I nod, trying to appear normal. “Sure.”
We haul the boxes behind the bleachers, a relative quiet settling in the supply area. As we stack them, Carter and Emma exchange teasing remarks, something about a shift schedule for the next event. Then, when Emma sets down her load, Carter pulls her aside.
I pretend to busy myself with re-labeling one of the boxes, but I catch the way Emma looks up at him—a charged moment. He murmurs something, cupping her chin, and she leans in, eyes half-lidded. The kiss that follows is brief but intense. Then Carter pulls away, glancing around as if he’s worried someone might see. Emma looks flushed and disappointed.
I clear my throat, and Emma jumps, shooting me a guilty smile. “Uh, sorry. We’re… we’re just—”
Carter rubs the back of his neck. “We’re trying to keep it quiet.”
I manage a wry grin, though my own turmoil simmers. “Your secret’s safe.”
They slip out soon after, Carter muttering something about organizing the next shift. Emma casts me one last glance—part bashful, part excited. I swallow back envy. I’ve got enough secrets of my own without worrying about theirs.
***
The game wraps up to cheers as the little players slide off the ice. Jake meanders toward me, pulling off his ref helmet, face flushed from exertion. My chest does that stupid flip again. Act normal.
“Hey,” he says, breath catching. “How’d it look from the sidelines? The kids have fun?”
I open my mouth, but the thought of Davidson’s lies chokes me up. “Yeah,” I manage thinly. “You’re good with them. They adore you.”
He looks momentarily pleased, then his brow furrows. “You okay?”
I force a smile. “Tired. I need to post some festival updates.” I step back, letting the distance speak for me. “Catch you later?”
A flicker of hurt crosses his eyes, but he nods. “Sure. I’ll see you around.”
He moves off to collect the gear, and I stand there, feeling sick. I slip behind a vendor booth, my phone clutched in my hand, and type in the login for Penelope Darling’s site. My heart pounds, stomach twisting.
Against my better judgment, I draft a short, cutting piece—questioning Jake’s custody situation. I keep it vague, peppering in rumors about his past conflicts with Violet’s mother. It’s enough to spark controversy, enough to get my sponsors sniffing around again.
I hit Publish with shaking fingers. I’m sorry, Jake.
But the truth is, I’m desperate—desperate for money, for control, for anything that keeps me afloat. If these rumors are false, I can always retract or spin them later, right?
My throat burns. I ignore the sting of tears as I dash off an innocuous “Piper on the Ice” post praising Jake’s volunteer work. Then I slump against the back of the booth, feeling like the biggest fraud on earth.
From the corner of my eye, I spot Jake lifting a grinning child onto his shoulders, the kid’s arms flailing in excitement. The crowd laughs, cameras clicking. An image of the perfect hockey hero.
But my mind echoes Davidson’s words, Sadie’s faux concern. Maybe you don’t know him as well as you think.
I grip my phone until my knuckles whiten, hollow dread sinking in. I’ve just drawn battle lines, and I’m not sure I’ll emerge unscathed.
Table of Contents
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