Burning Ice - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

I stared at the notification on my screen, my thumb hovering over the little red icon like it might bite me. Nate Griffith sent you a message.
How did he even find me so quickly? My username wasn't exactly easy to guess, and I didn't follow him or anything hockey-related. Curiosity won out, and I clicked on his profile.
Just over 100k followers. His posts were what I expected from him, clean, polished, and impersonal. A mix of hockey game highlights, sponsored ads, and photoshoots for whatever brands he was endorsing. No candids. No glimpses into his real life. It was all carefully curated, the kind of account meant to say, Look, but don't get too close.
I scrolled through a few photos before clicking back to his message. Gas station was fun. If you ever want to pay me back for saving your life, I'm free whenever you are.
I almost rolled my eyes at how casual it was, like he hadn't just barged into my night and left my thoughts in chaos ever since.
I set my phone down on the table. I wasn't going to respond. I couldn't. Letting him into my life and opening that door would only end one way: badly. And I'd be the one picking up the pieces.
But even as I told myself to forget about it, my gaze flicked back to the screen. His message stared at me like it was daring me to prove him wrong.
As I sat there, still staring at Nate's message, my phone buzzed again, breaking through my spiraling thoughts.
Anaya. My cousin.
"Hey, girl" I picked up without hesitation, grateful for the distraction.
"Billie! It's been way too long. What's going on with you? You've been so quiet lately." Anaya's voice was warm and full of energy, like always.
I sighed, trying to shake off the heaviness I felt. "Oh, you know. Same old stuff. Just trying to keep my head above water."
Anaya paused, sensing something was off. "Uh-huh. Sure. That's not what your texts have been saying, though. Something's up. Spill."
I bit my lip, my gaze falling back on the message from Nate that was still sitting there, unread. I could almost feel it mocking me. I wasn't ready to get into this. "Nothing crazy. Just... dealing with some stuff."
"Come on, Billie. I know you're being vague, but you can't leave me hanging. Is it a guy?" Anaya wasn't letting me off the hook that easily.
I hesitated, my heart rate picking up slightly. I hadn't even thought of telling Anaya about Nate—not yet. I didn't even know what this was, if it was anything. "Maybe."
"Ohhh, okay. Spill. What's he like?" Anaya's voice turned playful.
I shifted in my seat, feeling the weight of the conversation. "I'm not sure," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "He's just... been around. We've bumped into each other a few times. And, uh, he reached out to me."
Anaya was practically bouncing on the other end of the phone. "Reached out? Like, texted or slid into your DMs? Ooh, girl, you got me hooked now!"
I paused, not sure how much I wanted to reveal. "Yeah, he found me on Instagram. It's no big deal. Just... I don't know, something about it feels off."
Anaya was silent for a moment. "What do you mean, 'off'? Is he a jerk or something?"
"No, he's not a jerk. Just... I don't know, Anaya. I'm not sure what to think about it."I bit my lip again, conflicted.
She sighed dramatically, making me laugh a little. "Billie, you have to message him back. I mean, what's the worst that could happen? You're not exactly a stranger to crazy situations. Plus, it's not like you've got anything to lose."
I felt the tension in my chest ease a little, but I still hesitated. "I don't know... I just don't want to open any doors I'm not ready for."
"Girl, don't play it safe all the time. You've gotta take a few risks. And this guy? He's not gonna chase you if you keep ignoring him. Let him know you're interested, at least a little."
I couldn't help but smile at her encouragement. "You really think I should message him back?"
"Yeah, I do. Just keep it light. If he's worth your time, he'll prove it. But you won't know unless you give him a shot." Anaya's voice softened.
I let out a small sigh, still uncertain. But after a moment, I couldn't deny that I was curious. "Okay. Fine. I'll think about it."
Anaya seemed pleased with herself. "That's what I like to hear. You're welcome, by the way."
I laughed, shaking my head even though she couldn't see it. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks, Anaya."
We ended up talking for a while longer, about random things like old memories, what was happening with mutual friends, and how crazy work had been for her lately. The conversation flowed easily, making me forget about the message for a little while.
By the time we hung up, it was late, and I felt both relaxed and exhausted. I glanced at my phone once more, then closed my eyes for a moment. What if Anaya was right? Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to see where this went. I still wasn't sure what I was doing, but I knew one thing for sure. I couldn't ignore Nate forever.
I grabbed my phone, typed a quick response, and hit send before I could talk myself out of it. I set my phone down, my mind already racing with the possibilities.
Nate didn't take long to respond.
Nate: "So what I'm hearing is that I have a chance?"
Billie: "Well what I'm saying is that I'll think about it"
Nate: "How long will that take? :("
I rolled my eyes but laughed under my breath.
Billie: "I'm not sure, can't predict the future but I promise you'll probably be the first to know"
Nate: "Probably? Why not the first??"
Billie: "Because I may make a decision and have to run it by my girls first. You know the drill"
Nate: "I can't say that I do. Explain it to be beautiful"
I felt my heart skip a beat at his compliment.
Billie: "In girl world, there's rules you have to follow. I can't elaborate anymore or I may be hung"
Nate: "I wouldn't let you get hung"
Billie: "You would have no say, sorry!"
Nate: "Do I have a say in that I would like to take you out soon? And that I promise you won't regret it?"
Billie: "Hardly. But you can keep trying. I like to see you beg"
I felt like maybe I was being too hard on him. I knew that I was really making him work for it and maybe he would get tired of it eventually and leave me alone. That thought made me a little nervous.
Nate: "I'll beg all day for you. I'll do whatever you want"
Billie: "Mm, now you're talking my language ;)"
Nate: "WoofWoof?"
Okay, he was kind of funny. I had to admit.
Billie: "Lol. Goodnight Nate. Don't let the puck bunnies bite"
Nate: "Don't leave, we just started"
Billie: "As much as I would love to keep chatting, I've had a long night. Maybe we will talk in the AM"
Nate: "Only if you promise we can talk more"
Billie: "Fine, I promise"
I felt a pit in my stomach at that promise.
Nate: "Good. Goodnight Billie"
I powered my phone off after that. I leaned back against my pillow, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts swirling. This wasn't like me. I was cautious. I'd been burned before. But something about him, about the way he'd looked at me, the way he made me feel like he was both a mystery and a challenge, was pulling me in.
Maybe it was the way he'd smiled at me at that gas station, or how his voice had softened just enough to make me question everything I thought I knew about him. Either way, I couldn't deny that it felt good to have someone like that pay attention to me, even if it was just for a few moments.
I sighed, pulling the covers up tighter around me. There was still so much uncertainty. I wasn't sure where this was going, or if it was even worth exploring. But there was one thing I knew for sure, I wasn't going to let my guard down too easily. Not again.
Still, as I closed my eyes, my lips curled into a smile. It was the first time in a while that I'd felt this... alive.
Tomorrow was a new day, and who knew where this could go?