Chapter 1
The First Glance
The cold air of the rink was biting, but for Jana, it was home. She had spent years perfecting her skating, pushing herself harder than ever before. The sharp sound of skates carving into ice, the faint scent of frozen air mixed with sweat and determination—it was all second nature to her.
That night, her focus was singular: practice. She needed to land her combination jumps flawlessly. With the upcoming competition, there was no room for error. But as she twirled, balancing on the edge of precision, her eyes locked onto a figure at the far end of the rink.
Henry.
She knew who he was. Everyone did. Captain of the rival hockey team, known for his aggressive play and even more notorious reputation off the ice. His presence was magnetic, drawing attention without even trying. As he skated, weaving through his drills effortlessly, she caught him glancing at her. Their gazes met—his intense, filled with a quiet challenge. Her breath hitched, and for a moment, the world around them blurred.
She quickly snapped her head away, landing her jump with a slight wobble. “Focus, Jana,” she muttered to herself, but the damage was done. He had entered her thoughts, and it was impossible to shake the thrilling yet dangerous sensation that something had just changed.
