Chapter 2 Paired With the Enemy

Imani's POV

I pushed open the door to my small apartment

withshoulders aching from the weight of my hockey bag.

The hallway light buzzed softly as I stepped inside andkicked the door shut with my foot.

My legs were heavy and skin sticky with dried sweat.

That winning goal seemed like it happened days ago instead of hours because now, only emptiness sat in my chest.

I dropped the bag by the couch with a loud thud. My phone felt hot in my pocket from all the buzzing on the drive home. I pulled it out and stared at the screen, it was Gideon. He had called three times and sent texts too.

Imani, call when you can.

This is important.

My thumb hovered over his name. Part of me wanted to yell at him and the other part just needed to hear his voice.

I hit call and pressed the phone to my ear. It rang and rang then went straight to voicemail.

"Gideon, it's me," I said after the beep.

"What the hell is going on? The whole arena turned on me tonight. Call me back now."

I hung up and immediately sent a text.

Pick up, I need answers.

There came no reply, the message just sat there unread.

I tossed the phone onto the couch and walked to the kitchen. My hands shook a little as I filled a glass with water

"Why won't you answer?" I muttered the empty room.

Gideon had always been there even after Dad's accident, he became my protector on and off the ice. Now he felt like a stranger.

A soft knock came from the door and I wiped my face quickly and opened it.

Alex from next door stood there, holding a cold sports drink. He was a tall guy from the campus gym, always friendly, with a smile that lingered a bit too long whenever we ran into each other in the hall.

"Hey Imani," he said, voice warm.

"Saw the game highlights online. That goal was killer and you looked really amazing out there."

His eyes flicked over me for a second, appreciative before he caught himself.

"I brought you this. Figured you'd be sore."

I took the drink, feeling a small flush.

"Thanks Alex, that's sweet. Yeah, the game was intense but then the news about my brother hit. It's been a rough night."

He leaned against the doorframe, not pushing inside but clearly wanting to stay.

"I heard about Gideon…Sorry. If you need anything... company, food, someone to vent to... I'm right next door."

His gaze softened, that crush showing in the way he shifted his weight.

"You always seem so strong on the ice and it makes me want to cheer louder for you."

I smiled a little, touched but tired.

"Appreciate it. Really. I tried calling Gideon but no answer, just voicemail. Feels like he's avoiding me completely."

Alex nodded. "Guys can be idiots sometimes, especially with family stuff. If he doesn't call back, don't let it eat you up. You've got your own season to crush."

He gave a small wave. "Text me if you want to talk later or... anything."

"I will," I said softly, closing the door after he left.

His attention felt nice in a simple way, a tiny spark of warmth on a cold night but my mind stayed heavy.

I tried Gideon one more time and straight to voicemail again.

"Fine," I whispered. "Ignore me then."

Hurt mixed with anger in my stomach. I needed something else to focus on before I drove myself crazy.

I grabbed my laptop and opened my university email. A few messages from professors and then one from the athletics department, marked urgent. I clicked on it curious.

"Congratulations, Imani Cole. You have been selected for the Cross-University Sports Innovation Fellowship."

My eyes widened as I read. Full semester project, extra funding that would secure my scholarship, work on a platform to track skating impacts and concussions and better access for youth in places like Harbor Ice.

"This could be huge," I said softly, a spark of excitement cutting through the pain.

I scrolled down, reading about the opportunities, joint work between Crestmont and Lakehurst, full access to both campuses and community outreach.

It sounded perfect for what I cared about.

I stretched my arms above my head and my tank top rode up, exposing a strip of skin.

The movement reminded me how my body had moved on the ice earlier. Fast, powerful, and alive but the good feeling didn't last.

My eyes caught the next line. The project was mandatory to keep full scholarship support, no backing out and my assigned partner...

Mika Renner.

Lakehurst's hockey captain.

I stared at the name until the letters blurred.

"No, no way."

I read it again. Paired with Mika? The guy everyone blamed for pulling Gideon away? The calm, charming rival who never seemed to lose his cool.

I stood up fast "This has to be a mistake."

My voice echoed off the walls. Mika of all people. I remembered him too clearly from that last game against Lakehurst. He had controlled the ice like it belonged to him.

Strong shoulders under his jersey, sharp jaw and eyes that locked on mine during a face-off and held just a second too long.

The brief brush of our bodies had sent an unwanted spark through me.

I paced the living room, bare feet slapping the floor.

"Why him? Why now?"

The fellowship had seemed like a lifeline but now it felt like a trap. Working side by side with the rival captain?

Late meetings, shared rinks, his influence everywhere.

His presence, tall and confident, filling the same space as me.

I called Sarah, needing to tell someone. She answered quickly.

"Hey Imani, what's up?"

"You won't believe this," I said, still pacing.

"I got selected for this big fellowship, sounds amazing at first. Extra money, real help for the team but it's mandatory and my partner is Mika Renner.

"Mika?" Sarah's voice rose.

"The Lakehurst guy? The one they say convinced Gideon to transfer?"

"Exactly him." I stopped by the window and leaned my forehead against the glass.

"I tried calling Gideon again. There was no answer just voicemail every time. Now this? It's like the universe is messing with me."

Sarah sighed. "That's tough but the project sounds important. You care about safety stuff, right? Concussions and fair access?"

"Yeah, I do," I admitted.

"Harbor Ice needs better support, kids there deserve it. Gideon and I learned everything on that worn-out rink but working with Mika? I don't know if I can handle it. He's... intense on the ice. The way he moves, so controlled but full of power."

"You can," she replied.

You're tough. Remember when that big defenseman from another school tried to intimidate you? You scored right past her and hey, working close with a guy like Mika might not be all bad. I've seen him and that charm is real."

"Don't start," I warned but heat rose in my cheeks as I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

"I need to wash this night off. Talk later?"

"Sure. Call if Gideon answers or if you need me to come over. Or if you want to complain more about your newpartner."

I hung up and stripped out of my clothes. The mirror showed my body, still marked from the game and a faint bruise on my hip. Strong legs from years of skating curves shaped by power and speed.

I stepped under the hot spray and let it run over my skin as the water seems to ease the knots in my shoulders. My hands moved slowly over my arms and down my sides.

Warmth spread through me, soothing and sensual after the long night.

Thoughts of Mika slipped in unwanted. How he looked after tough shifts, jersey clinging to his chest. The low toneof his voice when he spoke on the ice and that reckless charm mixed with real skill.

I turned the water cooler, trying to push it away.

"He's the reason everything's messed up," I whispered to myself.

Yet the spark lingered, mixing rivalry with something hotter.

After the shower, I pulled on soft shorts and a loose t-shirt.

No word from Gideon as I checked my phone again.

The worry grew. Where was he and why disappear now?

I tried one more call but went straight to voicemail."Gideon, this isn't fair. Answer me."

I hung up feeling frustrated.

Back on the couch, I reread the email as my relief from getting picked had completely vanished and now only disbelief remained.

I curled up under a blanket, mind spinning. What was going on? My brother disappears without real explanation and the arena hates me.

Alex's kind eyes and quiet crush feel like a small bright spot but then this. The university pairs me with the rival captain everyone blames.

The one player who could make this semester hell or something more complicated that I wasn't ready to name.

The questions kept coming with no answers.

Gideon gone silent, Mika now tied to my future and everything felt connected in a way that scared me……