Burning Ice - Chapter 14: Chapter 14

I pace the small living room, glancing at the clock for the tenth time in as many minutes. It's past midnight. What was I thinking? Inviting Nate over this late? After the kind of day he's had, no less. He must be exhausted, and yet here he is, on his way to my place.
I tug at the hem of my sweatshirt, biting the inside of my cheek. A part of me regrets asking him to come. This isn't the kind of place someone like him should see. Peeling wallpaper, mismatched furniture, and the hum of my neighbor's TV coming through the paper-thin walls. It's nothing like his world. Nothing polished or clean.
Maybe that's why I asked him. I don't know. Maybe I wanted to show him that I'm not perfect, that this is the life I've lived, and if he wants to stick around, he has to take it or leave it. I couldn't keep up the façade forever, not that I ever really tried.
Still, I can't help the knot in my stomach. What if this is the moment he realizes we're from two completely different worlds? That no matter how good the chemistry feels between us, this—I—will never be enough?
I see his black shiny truck pull up and park outside, and my heart stumbles. I wasn't expecting him to actually come, not after everything he's had to deal with today. But he's here. He showed up.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself. I don't know what he'll think when he sees this place, but one thing I know for sure is that I'm not going to apologize for my life. Not tonight.
The knock comes a few seconds after I see his car pull into the lot. My pulse quickens, and I force myself to stay still, pretending I haven't been pacing the living room for the last ten minutes. He doesn't need to know I've been waiting by the door like a nervous wreck.
I count to five, take a deep breath, and finally open it.
And just like that, I forget how to breathe.
Nate stands there, his brown eyes warm and familiar, his dark hair a little messy like he's been running his hands through it. He's wearing a plain white T-shirt and black joggers, the simplest outfit possible, but somehow, on him, it looks... incredible. He's all broad shoulders and casual confidence, and for a moment, I just stare.
"Hey," he says, his voice low and soft, with the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Hey," I manage, stepping aside to let him in.
He walks in slowly, his eyes sweeping over the space. I can't read his expression right away, and my stomach twists. He's taking it all in, the tiny living room, the outdated furniture, the worn carpet. This is it. My world.
But then he turns back to me, and the way he looks at me makes everything else disappear. His smile is easy, like none of it matters, like the only thing he's paying attention to is me.
"Thanks for letting me come over," he says, his voice warm.
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod, unsure what to say. He doesn't look uncomfortable or judgmental. He looks... happy. Happy to be here. Happy to see me.
And for the first time tonight, I feel myself relax. Maybe this wasn't such a terrible idea after all.
"Come on," I say, motioning for Nate to follow me into my room. As I walk ahead, I glance back over my shoulder and grin. "But don't get any dirty ideas, alright? I'm just being nice."
Nate raises an eyebrow, smirking. "Noted. I'll behave."
When we step inside, I barely have a chance to say anything before Ted hops onto the bed, his wrinkled body stretching lazily as he eyes Nate. I don't miss the way Nate freezes for a second, his expression caught between surprise and mild horror.
"What the—" he blurts out, taking a step back. "What is that? Is that even a cat? It looks like an alien."
"That's Ted, thank you very much. And he's beautiful." I cross my arms and give him a mock glare.
Nate stares at Ted, who stares back, completely unbothered. "Beautiful? He's... uh... unique. I mean, I've never seen anything like him. He looks like a gremlin."
I roll my eyes and walk over to scoop Ted up, cradling him like a baby. "He's a Sphynx, okay? And just because he doesn't have fur doesn't mean he's not adorable. You're just intimidated by his charm."
"Charm? He's plotting something. Look at him." Nate chuckles, still keeping a wary distance.
Ted meows softly, like he's insulted, and I press a kiss to his warm head. "You're just jealous because he's cuter than you."
Nate smirks, finally stepping closer, though his eyes stay locked on Ted. "I don't know about that. But... I'll give him this, he's got confidence."
"Exactly" I say, setting Ted back on the bed, where he curls up like royalty. "You could learn a thing or two from him."
"Right," Nate says, still watching Ted like he might suddenly sprout wings. "Lesson one: don't trust a cat that looks like it's been to space and back."
"You're impossible." I laugh despite myself, shaking my head.
"Maybe," he replies, his smile softening as he looks back at me. "But you're lucky I like you enough to put up with your alien roommate."
Nate leans casually against the doorframe, his arms crossed as he glances back at Ted, who's now lounging on my pillow like he owns the place.
"So, are there any other extraterrestrial secrets about you that I should know? Or is Ted the only alien I'm dealing with here?" he says, his tone teasing
I raise an eyebrow, fighting back a grin as I sit on the edge of the bed. "Oh, there are plenty of secrets," I say, tilting my head slightly. "But if I told you, I'd have to abduct you. You know, keep the truth under wraps."
His laugh is low and warm, and it sends a little thrill through me. "Abduct me, huh? That's bold."
I smirk, leaning back on my hands as I meet his gaze. "What can I say? You walked into my orbit. Consider yourself warned."
"Noted. So I should be prepared for anything with you, is that it?" His eyes narrow slightly, but there's a playful glint in them.
"Absolutely," I reply, trying to sound casual even as my heart picks up. "I'm full of surprises."
"Clearly," he says, his smile softening as his gaze lingers on me.
I feel my cheeks heat under his attention, but I refuse to look away. If he wants to play this game, I'm not backing down. Ted lets out a loud yawn from the bed, breaking the moment, and I laugh softly. "Looks like someone's unimpressed with our banter."
"Yeah, well, not all of us can live up to Ted's standards," Nate says, shaking his head with mock seriousness. "I'll just have to settle for impressing you instead."
The flirty edge in his voice sends a shiver down my spine, but I manage to keep my tone light. "Good luck with that."
I glance over at Nate, still standing in the doorway like he's waiting for permission to enter. He's so tall, his broad shoulders nearly brushing the frame, and there's something almost tentative about the way he lingers there. It's... kind of cute.
"You know," I say, tilting my head, "you're allowed to come in. My room's not that sacred."
He smirks a little, pushing off the doorframe. "Just being polite."
As he steps inside, the space feels instantly smaller. I can't help but laugh softly, shaking my head. "Wow. You really know how to take up a room, don't you?"
He looks around, his gaze landing on everything from the books stacked on my nightstand to the little string of fairy lights draped across the wall. Then he glances back at me, one eyebrow raised. "Not my fault your room's the size of a closet."
"It's cozy, okay? Don't judge." I roll my eyes, still smiling.
"I'm not judging," he says, his tone softening. "It's nice. Feels like... you."
The way he says it makes my chest tighten a little, and I quickly look away, pretending to fuss with the blanket on my bed.
"Well, glad you approve," I mumble, suddenly aware of how close he is.
When I glance back at him, he's watching me with that familiar warmth in his brown eyes, and for a moment, I forget about how cramped the space feels. With Nate standing here, it feels full in the best way. Like maybe it's not so small after all.
I lean back on my bed, pulling my legs up beneath me as I watch Nate settle into my room.
"So, how was your game?" I say, tilting my head,
At first, his expression doesn't change much, but the moment he starts talking, I see how his eyes light up, and there's this quiet energy in his voice that wasn't there before. He's explaining something about plays and strategies, his hands moving as he talks, and even though I'm nodding like I'm following along, I have to admit I'm not really paying attention to the details.
Instead, I'm watching him.
There's this boyish excitement in the way he talks about hockey, this passion that makes him seem a little less guarded, a little more... himself. It's kind of funny, honestly, how animated he gets, like he doesn't even realize how into it he sounds.
I bite back a smile as he mentions something about a defensive play that didn't go as planned. I couldn't care less about the specifics, but the way his brows furrow when he's explaining, like it really matters to him, is oddly endearing.
"Am I boring you yet?" he asks suddenly, his voice teasing as he catches the amused look on my face.
I laugh, shaking my head. "No, not at all. You're very... passionate."
"Passionate, huh?" he says, smirking a little as he leans against my desk.
"Yeah," I reply, still smiling. "It's cute."
For a moment, he looks at me like he's trying to figure out if I'm teasing or being serious. I don't give him the chance to decide, though I just shrug and glance down, pretending to adjust the blanket on my lap. But the truth is, I like seeing this side of him, the way his face softens and his guard drops when he's talking about something he loves.
Even if I don't understand a word of it, I don't mind. It's worth it just to see him like this.
I watch him for a moment, leaning against my desk like he's still trying to figure out how to fit into this space. It's like he's too big for my tiny room, and yet, it feels oddly natural having him here.
"You know" I start, the words leaving my mouth before I can think twice, "you must be exhausted after your game. If you want... you can lay down for a bit."
Nate's eyes flick to mine, and I see a flicker of surprise, maybe even hesitation.
"Lay down?" he repeats, like he's not sure he heard me right.
I shrug, trying to sound casual even though my heart is suddenly racing. "Yeah. I mean, it's late, and you've been running around on the ice all day. You look like you could use it." I flash him a teasing smile, hoping to ease the tension. "Don't worry, I won't take up too much space."
For a moment, he just looks at me, and I'm almost certain he's going to laugh it off. But then he nods, a small, reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "Alright. If you're sure."
I move over to give him room, and he hesitates again before finally sitting down on the edge of the bed. When he stretches out, it's almost comical how much space he takes up. His feet dangle off the end, and his shoulders practically span the width of the mattress.
"Okay," I say, laughing softly, "this is ridiculous. You're like a human furnace. You're gonna heat the whole room."
"Guess you'll have to deal with it." He smirks, settling in and turning his head to look at me.
The warmth radiates off him, and for a while, we just lie there, the quiet settling over us. I glance over, meeting his eyes, and my breath catches. There's something in the way he's looking at me, something unspoken that makes my chest tighten.
Before I can second-guess myself, I lean in.
It's light, barely a brush of my lips against his, but it sends a spark through me. His lips are warm and soft, and for a second, I forget to breathe.
When I pull back, my heart's racing, and I can't bring myself to look away. I don't know why I did it, what came over me but in that moment, it just felt... right.
Nate blinks, his expression unreadable at first, and I feel a pang of nerves until his lips curve into the faintest smile.
"What was that for?" he murmurs, his voice low.
I shrug, trying to play it cool even though my cheeks are burning. "I don't know. Just felt like it."
His smile deepens, and he reaches out, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "You should feel like that more often"
And just like that, the space between us feels a little smaller, a little warmer, like maybe this was exactly what we both needed.