His Dangerous Love On Ice (Olivia and Zane) novel Chapter 12

Olive’s POV

OLIVE

The arena was massive.

I mean, I’d seen sports stadiums before, but this was different. This felt bigger. Louder. More alive.

The seats were packed almost to the brim. The rink stretched out below us-white ice gleaming under bright lights, green and red circles painted across the surface, goal posts at either end Ads flashed on screens circling the upper walls. Team logos. Energy drinks. Cars.

The smell hit me first. Cold. Sharp. Like winter trapped inside a building.

Ice and sweat and something else I couldn’t name.

My eyes scanned the crowd, searching.

Looking for him.

“I’m so proud of Hunter.” My mother clutched my arm, voice tight with emotion. “He really deserves this. Playing his first big game. I know they’re going to win.”

I nodded. Barely listening.

We were sitting in the VIP section-front row, exclusive access, courtesy of Grayson pulling strings. Snacks and drinks were already laid out on the table in front of us.

My stepfather was in full coach mode. Leaning forward. Elbows on his knees. Eyes locked on the rink.

The announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s matchup between the Chicago Wolves and the Detroit Tigers!”

The crowd erupted.

I watched as players from both teams skated onto the ice. Six from each side-five players and one goalie, all dressed in their team colors.

The Wolves in black and silver.

The Tigers in orange and white.

I spotted Hunter immediately. Number 18. Skating beside Cole.

And that’s when my heart stopped.

Because standing at the edge of the rink, just outside the player entrance, was Cole.

With a woman.

Blonde hair. Red lips. Hands on his chest.

Sophia.

They were kissing. Passionately. Like they were the only two people in the building.

I forced myself to look away.

Back to the ice. Back to the game.

Looking for one person.

But he wasn’t there.

My heart skipped Different questions spinning through my mind

Wasn’t Zane supposed to play? Wasn’t he part of the team?

I glanced back toward Cole and Sophia.

Cole was looking in my direction now.

I couldn’t see his expression clearly from this distance, but I felt his eyes on me.

I didn’t care.

Not anymore.

The game started without Zane.

Players glided across the ice, sticks clacking against the puck, bodies slamming into boards. It was fast. Chaotic. Hard to follow if you didn’t know what you were watching.

Cheerleaders lined the sides in tight leather shorts and cropped tops, ponytails swinging as they screamed and jumped.

The crowd roared with every movement.

And then-

A loud buzzer ripped through the arena.

GOAL! Scored by the Detroit Tigers!”

The entire stadium exploded. Half cheering. Half groaning.

“Oh, come on!” Grayson shot to his feet, hands on his hips. “The Wolves need to take the first goal. Fuck.”

For a split second, he looked like a coach again. Angry. Enraged that his team was losing.

My mother grabbed his arm, trying to calm him down.

The game restarted.

This time I watched closer.

Hunter had the puck, skating fast, weaving between two Tigers players. He was trying to pass it to a teammate, but they were too far Spread out.

I almost groaned. Internally screaming at them to get closer.

Just as Hunter pulled his stick back to shoot-

A Tigers player stole the puck. Slid it across the ice to another teammate, who caught it and slammed it into the goal.

Another buzzer.

“GOAL! Detroit Tigers lead 2-0!”

The stadium turned into chaos.

Announcers shouting. Cheerleaders screaming. My step father cursing under his breath. My mother looking like she was about to cry.

It was overwhelming.

And I understood, suddenly, why people cared so much about this. Why it mattered.

Because this game-this sport-made your heart race. Made you hate and hope and curse all at once.

But I wasn’t just watching for the game.

I was waiting.

Waiting for someone who should’ve been out there but wasn’t.

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