The Hockey Prince's Secret Ice Queen

Kaleigh POV:

I held Julian's arm, guiding him slowly across the ice. I felt like I was teaching a toddler-sized giant how to walk.

"Stop leaning forward like you're about to body-check someone," I explained patiently, letting him rest his heavy forearm on mine for balance. "In figure skates, your posture has to be upright. Keep your weight centered over the blade, or the teeth will catch every single time." I couldn't help but tease. "Is your brain your entire body, and your limbs are just for show?"

Julian gave a wry laugh, his breath tickling my ear. "My athletic talents are all focused elsewhere."

Beckham and Landon, always ready for a show, skated over and circled us. "Whoa, Julian, looks like you found yourself a free private coach," Landon called out dramatically.

Beckham winked at me. "Be careful, Kaleigh. Our captain is 'heavy,' in every sense of the word."

I ignored their jokes, my full attention on preventing Julian from falling again and figuring out how to bring up the data model.

Just then, a few more girls joined us on the ice. I recognized the blonde leading the pack immediately—Brooke Sterling, the exact girl Analia had warned me about. And right on cue, she skated directly toward Julian.

"Julian, what a coincidence! You're skating too?" Brooke's voice was sickly sweet. She ignored me completely, linking her arm familiarly through Julian's other one.

Julian subtly pulled his arm away, leaning his body slightly closer to mine to maintain distance. "Yeah. Club activity."

Brooke's gaze fell on me, filled with obvious hostility and appraisal. "And this is?"

"My coach, Kaleigh." Julian introduced us, his tone clipped.

"Coach?" Brooke let out a small laugh, glancing between us. "Julian, you need a coach? You run this ice during Friday night games. What are you even doing in figure skates?"

Julian shrugged, keeping his weight balanced. "Off-season cross-training. Working on my edges."

Sensing the tension, Landon immediately jumped in to play peacemaker. "Hey, since everyone's so into it, why don't we play a game?"

Beckham was instantly on board. "Great idea! What should we play?"

Landon's eyes scanned between me, Brooke, and the other girls, then landed on Julian with a mischievous grin.

"Let's have a competition... for who's the best skater among the girls here," Landon announced. "As for the prize..."

He paused for dramatic effect, then pointed a finger at Julian. "The prize is—a date with our captain!"

The rink erupted. Brooke and her friends' eyes lit up, and they let out excited squeals.

Analia nudged me with her elbow, whispering excitedly, "Kaleigh! This is your chance! A legitimate date!"

I was completely stunned. A date? All I wanted was a project discussion. How did things escalate to this?

Julian frowned, looking like he was about to refuse, but Beckham had already thrown an arm around him. "Don't be a buzzkill, Captain. This will be fun!"

I looked at Julian, the center of attention, then at the group of eager girls. I felt like a research scientist who had accidentally wandered into a beauty pageant.

"I... I'm not participating," I said immediately. That wasn't why I was here.

Brooke seized the opportunity, shooting me a contemptuous look. "Right. You're the 'coach,' not a competitor. It's good to know your limits."

The comment was a clear provocation. Even Analia was about to retort, but I held her back.

I didn't want trouble. I just wanted to find a corner, wait for this farce to end, and then grab Julian to ask about my data model.

Julian's gaze shifted to me, his expression complicated, as if asking for my opinion.

I shook my head at him, signaling that he didn't need to worry about me.

Julian was silent for a moment, then said to Landon and Beckham, "Fine. I agree."

The second the words left his mouth, Brooke was the first to respond, like a proud peacock. "I'll go first, then!"

Music started playing, and all eyes focused on the center of the rink. A ridiculous competition for Julian's affection had officially begun.

I pulled Analia to the side of the rink and sat down on a bench, feeling incredibly anxious.

My mind was a split screen: on one side, the contour map of Havenwood Creek; on the other, the preening girls in front of me. I didn't belong here.

Julian leaned against the boards, the official "prize" of the day. But his gaze kept drifting over to the corner where I sat, making me feel a strange sense of irritation.