Burning Ice - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

I wasn't expecting much when I pulled into the gas station that night, just a quick pit stop for some snacks and to fill up the tank. The air was thick with the usual buzz of fluorescent lights overhead, and the place was practically deserted. I didn't mind the quiet after a long day at work it made the late-night routine feel easier, less chaotic.
The kiss I had shared three days ago kept circling my mind, like a loop I couldn't get out of. I hadn't seen him since then, but his presence lingered, especially after the way he'd pulled me into that hallway, the way his lips had demanded mine. Even now, the memory of the kiss with the heat, the intensity had my heart pounding a little faster. The way his hands had gripped me, like he was trying to hold onto something he wasn't sure he could.
I shook my head as I parked, trying to push the thought out. It was stupid, right? That kiss didn't mean anything. It was just... a kiss. But still, I couldn't help the way my chest tightened every time I thought about it. And now, standing here at the pump, I couldn't help but wonder if I'd see him again.
Before I could dwell on it too much, I grabbed my wallet, determined to not let my mind wander again.
I had intended to grab my usuals, some salt and vinegar chips, a drink, and a candy bar, and then ready to get back on the road when I heard an agitating voice behind me.
"Hey there, beautiful."
I turned, surprised to find a guy leaning against an old truck, smirking like he'd just won a prize. Lanky, probably a few years older than me, with a sleazy grin that screamed 'I get what I want.' The kind of guy who thought every woman would fall at his feet.
I didn't feel like entertaining anyone tonight. I wasn't in the mood for a conversation with some stranger, especially not a guy who looked like he was full of himself.
"Hey, you. Can I buy you a drink? Or maybe take you out for a real meal? Something better than that gas station food, yeah?" He said, pushing off the truck to take a step closer.
I tried to keep my expression neutral, not wanting to be rude but also not interested. I had enough of this kind of thing.
"No thanks, I'm good" I said with a tight smile.
But he didn't take the hint. Men like him never do. The audacity.
"C'mon, don't be shy. I'm just trying to be friendly. You look like you could use some company." His eyes roamed my body that sent a cold freeze through my body.
I stepped back a little, moving closer to the door. I wasn't trying to be rude, but I wasn't here to flirt with anyone. I just wanted to get my stuff and leave.
Before I could open the door, he stepped right into my path.
"Hey, where you going? Don't be like that." He smelled like old grease.
I sighed, frustrated, when suddenly I heard a low, sharp voice cut through the air.
"You heard her. Leave her alone."
I froze, recognizing the voice instantly. Nate.
I turned toward him, not sure how long he'd been standing there, but the tension in the air was instant. He was menacing with his body leaning in just enough to make it clear that he wasn't backing down. The guy who had been hitting on me looked up at Nate, sizing him up.
The guy hesitated for a moment before muttering, "Yeah, whatever, man." He held up his hands, but the challenge in his eyes was still there. "Just trying to have a little fun."
But Nate wasn't having any of it. "Fun's over," he said, his voice colder than I expected, his eyes narrowing. The guy shot a quick look at Nate before turning around and leaving in a huff, obviously not willing to push it any further.
I stood there, still processing what had just happened. Nate had just... stepped in. Part of me was surprised. Surprised to see him here at a random ass gas station, but I wasn't sure if I was thankful or confused. It wasn't like we had any kind of connection, not really.
He turned to me then, his face softening just a little as he asked, "You alright?" His eyes scanning my face for any signs of distress.
I blinked, caught off guard.
"Uh, yeah. Thanks." I looked at him, trying to read him.
"You didn't have to do that." I pressed my lips together.
Nate shrugged, but there was something in the way he held himself that made me wonder if he was feeling something more intense than he was letting on.
"Didn't like the way he was looking at you. You don't deserve that." His gaze lingered on me for a moment, his jaw tightening.
There was a fire to the way he said it, a protectiveness I wasn't expecting. But I couldn't decide if it was unsettling.
Sure! Here's a more relaxed and humorous take on the scene:
I walked into the gas station store. I grabbed a basket and started wandering down the aisles, eyeing the chips and candy like I hadn't eaten in days.
Nate followed behind me.
"I don't need security" I raised an eyebrow
His smirk widened as he pushed himself off the doorframe and strolled in behind me, hands shoved in his pockets. "You sure? You were looking pretty vulnerable out there."
"Oh, please. If I needed security for a snack run, I'd be in the wrong line of work." I rolled my eyes, half-smiling despite myself.
"I don't know. I've seen some pretty intense stuff go down over a bag of Doritos." He chuckled, following me down the aisle.
I snorted at that. "Yeah, well, this place is pretty tame compared to some of the stuff I've dealt with." I grabbed a bag of chips and tossed it in my basket. "But thanks for the offer."
Nate came up beside me, eyeing the snacks. "I've got you covered. Let me pay for it."
I shot him a look, raising a hand to stop him before he could grab anything. "Nah, I've got it. I'm good."
He raised an eyebrow. "What, you're too proud to let me buy you some snacks now?"
"Something like that," I said, keeping my voice light, though I was a little surprised by how easy it was to joke with him. "I don't need your charity, Griffith."
"Is that what you think it is? Charity?" He laughed softly, leaning in a bit closer, a teasing glint in his eyes.
"Yup," I said, grabbing a soda from the fridge. "I'm fine, really."
He didn't seem too bothered by it, though. He just gave me a little grin and followed me as I made my way toward the counter. As we stood there, I found myself wondering just how many times I'd end up bumping into him like this. Randomly, unexpectedly. And whether or not it would always be this... weirdly comfortable.
After I paid for my snacks, Nate trailed behind me as I headed for my car. I could feel his presence. Something about the silence felt... different. Almost like the air was charged with something I wasn't ready to name.
"Hey," he said, his voice lower now, almost hesitant. "I'm gonna walk you to your car. Make sure you're good."
"I'm fine. It's just a gas station." I rolled my eyes but didn't protest.
His lips twitched in that smirk that I was starting to get way too familiar with. "I know. Just... can't help it."
I shot him a glance as I unlocked the car. "You really can't help it, huh?"
"Guess not." His voice held a trace of amusement, but there was something else there too—something like he wasn't quite ready to let me go just yet.
I threw my bag of snacks into the passenger seat and turned to face him, crossing my arms.
"So, what? You just follow me around everywhere now?" I was half serious.
He chuckled, running a hand through his hair, the motion making his shirt stretch across his torso.
"Only if you let me." He looked intensely down at me as he stood by my door.
"And why would I let you do that?" I raised an eyebrow, the challenge hanging between us.
He leaned in slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Because I'm asking you out."
I blinked, caught off guard by the directness.
"You don't even know my name." I protested.
His smile turned into a dark grin. "Sure I do."
"No, you don't." I frowned, slightly confused.
He gave me a look, one that seemed almost amused by the playful tension I was throwing at him. "Billie. It's Billie, right?"
I stared at him for a second. "What the hell? How did you—"
"I pay attention." He shrugged, not even a little apologetic.
I opened my mouth to argue, but the words caught in my throat. Of course, he'd been paying attention. Still, it caught me off guard in a way I wasn't expecting.
"Okay, fine," I said, exhaling a breath I didn't know I was holding. "So, you know my name. What now?"
His grin softened, and for the first time, I saw a little vulnerability in his eyes. "Now you tell me if you'll go out with me sometime."
I felt my stomach do a little flip, but I fought it down. He was pushing me, and I didn't know if I was ready for that. Not yet.
"I'll have to think about it." I leaned against my open car window, meeting his gaze.
Nate looked like he was about to say something else, but I held up a hand. "And don't get any ideas. I'm not agreeing to anything yet."
His lips twitched again, and he took a step back, hands in his pockets. "Fair enough. I'll let you think about it, Billie."
I enjoyed the way my name sounded on his lips.
I gave him one last look before sliding into my car. "See you around, Griffith."
He stood there for a moment, watching me as I started the engine. I couldn't help but wonder if he was actually hoping I'd say yes, or if he was just enjoying the game of getting me to say it. Either way, I wasn't ready to make up my mind yet.
As I drove home, the hum of the car and the low buzz of the radio were the only sounds filling the space. My fingers drummed lightly on the steering wheel, lost in thought.
Nate Griffith.
I hadn't expected to see him tonight. Hell, I hadn't expected anything to come of our last, ridiculously heated encounter, but there I was. And yet... there was something about him. The way he looked at me. The way he moved like he was just waiting for the next move, like he was already a step ahead.
But it was impossible. I knew that.
Nate and I were from different worlds. Completely different. He was from this big-money, high-pressure hockey world where everything was fast, flashy, and competitive. A world where I didn't even belong, not even for a second. And then there was me, working double shifts, scraping by, living in my modest apartment. I wasn't the type of woman he'd have around. The kind of woman who fit in his world. I'm sure I wasn't even his type. His track record was probably bleach blonde girls with blue eyes and fair skin.
We came from different backgrounds, different cultures, different values.
I could already see the roadblocks before we even tried. He'd get bored of me eventually. Probably wouldn't know how to handle me. Humbly, I wasn't like the women he usually hung around. those perfectly polished, high-maintenance types who fit his "image." And I couldn't keep up with the chaos of his life, no matter how much he might want to charm me into thinking otherwise.
The world we lived in didn't mix.
I shook my head as I turned down my street, trying to push the thoughts away. It was stupid, really. I barely knew the guy, and I was already overthinking it. But when I thought about the kiss and how his lips had felt against mine, the way his hands had pulled me closer and the way my body reacted in ways that didn't match the logic running through my head.
We just wouldn't work.
I parked in front of my apartment and turned off the engine, the silence of the night settling around me. I knew what I needed to do: stop thinking about him. Let it go. It was one kiss, one night. He didn't want anything serious. He just wanted a challenge.
And I was not about to be anyone's challenge. Not his, not anyone's.
I stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind me, trying to shake off the images of his smile and that kiss, forcing myself to leave him behind.
For now, at least.