9. Everly

9

Everly

S tepping out of the lecture hall, I felt the weight lift off my shoulders. The final exam had been grueling, but now it was over. A beautiful day greeted me, with the sun casting warm rays that danced across the campus lawns. I couldn't help but smile as I made my way down the path.

The familiar route to Pandora's Box seemed more vibrant today. Trees swayed gently in the breeze, and students lounged on the grass, their laughter echoing in the air. It felt like everything was celebrating with me.

I passed a group of friends tossing a frisbee. One of them waved, and I returned it with a grin. My upbringing hadn't afforded me many opportunities for such carefree interactions, but moments like these were becoming more frequent.

I practically skipped into the rink. The chill of the air kissed my cheeks. Everything felt electric; finals were over, and I was free. I spotted Cooper by the skate counter, his scarred face brooding as always.

"You have no goddamn right being this happy," he muttered as I approached.

I beamed at him. "Not even you can drag me down to your level of misery, Coop. I'm done with finals."

"Coop?" His eyebrow arched, irritation flickering in his eyes. "I thought I told you only my friends call me that."

"Sorry," I replied, trying to suppress my grin. "Mr. Cooper."

He rolled his eyes but didn't put much effort into it. Without asking, he handed me a pair of skates.

"Thanks," I said, taking them from him and finding a nearby bench.

I sat down and began to lace them up, humming softly to myself.

"You're doing it wrong," Cooper said, his voice cutting through my contentment like a knife.

I glanced up at him, frowning. "What do you mean?"

"The laces." He pointed at my skates with a grunt of frustration. "You're going to trip yourself if you keep doing it that way."

"I did it exactly how you showed me to yesterday." I looked down at my skates, confused. "What's wrong with the way I'm doing it?"

Cooper sighed, his exasperation clear. "Here, let me show you."

He knelt down in front of me and took the laces in his hands. His fingers moved deftly, undoing my clumsy knots and retying them with practiced precision.

"I swear, you're doing this on purpose," he groused.

"Or maybe you just like helping me on your knees," I replied.

My breath caught in my throat as Cooper's gaze locked with mine. His lips curved into a smirk that sent shivers down my spine.

"You know," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "if I didn't know how innocent you were, I'd warn you to be careful with what comes out of your mouth just as much as I'd warn you about what you put in it."

I furrowed my brows, confusion etched on my face. "What are you talking about?"

His smirk deepened, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "But you really are that innocent, aren't you?"

He set my skate down and placed both hands on either side of my hips, boxing me in. The heat of his body radiated through me, and I found myself unable to move, trapped by his intense gaze.

"Your mama ever teach you about the birds and bees?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

I swallowed hard, trying to find my voice. "If you're talking about procreation?—"

"I'm talking about sex," he interrupted, his words cutting through the air like a knife. "Sex for the pleasure of it."

My eyes widened, and I felt a flush creep up my neck. I had never been this close to a man before, let alone one as rugged and intimidating as Cooper. His scars seemed to dance in the light, but instead of warning me away from him, they seemed to propel me even closer to him.

I tried to speak, but no words came out. My mind raced with a thousand thoughts, but none of them seemed appropriate for the situation I found myself in.

Cooper leaned in closer, his breath hot against my ear. "Maybe it's time someone taught you a thing or two," he whispered, his words sending a shiver down my spine.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could utter a word, a voice called out from across the rink.

"Cooper!"

We both turned to see John Walker standing at the edge of the ice, his arms crossed over his chest and a stern expression on his face.

I watched him, fascinated by the way his hands moved. It was like watching a master at work.

When he finished, he stood up and stepped back. "There. Try that."

I hesitated for a moment before standing up. To my surprise, the skates felt different. More secure, more stable. What had I done wrong?

"Goddammit, why the hell —" Cooper's voice trailed off behind me, but I ignored him.

I stood up, my cheeks burning from the intensity of the moment that had just transpired between Cooper and me. I tried to ignore the way my heart raced as I made my way towards the ice, but it was impossible to shake the feeling of his hands on my skates, his breath hot against my ear.

I stepped onto the ice, feeling the familiar glide of the blades beneath my feet. The cold air whipped around me as I began to skate, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Cooper.

What had just happened? I had never been that close to a man before. The way he had looked at me, the way his hands had moved so deftly over my skates… it was all too much to process.

I tried to focus on my skating, on the rhythm of my blades cutting through the ice, but my thoughts kept drifting back to Cooper. The way his scars danced in the light, the way his voice had dropped to a low rumble when he talked about sex...

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I couldn't let myself get distracted by thoughts of Cooper. I had come here to skate, to celebrate the end of finals and the beginning of summer. I couldn't let one encounter with a brooding hockey player derail all of that.

But even as I tried to push thoughts of Cooper from my mind, I couldn't help but wonder what he had meant when he said that maybe it was time someone taught me a thing or two. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, and I found myself skating faster, as if I could outrun the feelings that were beginning to stir within me.

The sensation was incredible. The cold air rushed past my face as I moved, and I could feel the power in my legs propelling me forward.

I wobbled a bit, my inexperience still evident, but I didn't care. This was freedom. Pure, unadulterated freedom.

I let out a laugh; the sound echoing across the empty rink. For a moment, I forgot about everything else—the exams, the stress, the expectations. It was just me and the ice.

I glanced over my shoulder at Cooper, who was watching me with an unreadable expression. Was that a hint of a smile on his lips? No, it couldn't be.

I turned my attention back to the ice, determined to make the most of this moment. I pushed myself harder, faster, reveling in the rush of adrenaline that coursed through my veins.

I skated around the rink, enjoying the sensation of the cold air against my skin. The freedom of the ice was intoxicating, and I couldn't help but smile as I glided across the smooth surface.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of other students entering the rink. They looked tentative, as if they weren't quite sure what to expect. I watched as Cooper went to grab them skates, his brow furrowed in concentration.

As I made another lap around the rink, I spotted John Walker heading towards the exit. I waved at him, and he gave me a nod in return before disappearing through the doors. I wondered what he had been doing here, but my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sound of Cooper's voice.

"You gotta be kidding me," he grumbled as he handed the skates to the other students. "You're gonna fall on your asses out there."

The students looked at each other nervously, but Cooper just shook his head and gestured towards the ice.

"Well, go on then," he said. "I ain't got all day."

The students stepped onto the ice, their movements hesitant and unsure. I watched as they wobbled and stumbled, their arms flailing as they tried to keep their balance.

Cooper followed them onto the ice, his hands shoved into his pockets. "Jesus Christ," he muttered. "It's like watching a bunch of newborn deer trying to walk."

I couldn't help but giggle at his comment, earning me a glare from Cooper.

"What's so funny?" he snapped.

"Nothing," I said, trying to keep a straight face. "Just enjoying the show."

Cooper rolled his eyes and skated over to the students, his movements smooth and effortless. "All right, listen up," he said. "You gotta bend your knees and keep your weight centered. And for the love of God, don't lean back."

The students nodded, their faces etched with concentration as they tried to follow Cooper's instructions. I watched as they slowly began to gain their footing, their movements becoming more fluid with each passing moment.

As I skated past them, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. It was amazing to see how far they had come in such a short amount of time, and I knew it was all thanks to Cooper's guidance.

I glanced over at him, expecting to see a look of satisfaction on his face. But instead, I was met with a scowl.

"Don't go getting any ideas," he said, his voice low. "I'm not here to make friends."

I glided over to one of the students, a girl who looked like she was barely staying upright. Her knees were locked, and her arms were flailing wildly as she tried to maintain her balance.

"Hey there," I said, skating up beside her. "You're doing great, but try bending your knees a little more. It'll help you stay stable."

The girl looked at me with wide, panicked eyes. "I'm trying," she said, her voice shaking. "But I feel like I'm going to fall any second."

I held out my hand to her. "Here, let me help you."

She hesitated for a moment before reaching out and grasping my hand tightly. I could feel her trembling as I began to guide her across the ice.

"That's it," I said, my voice calm and reassuring. "Just take it slow and steady."

We skated together for a few moments, the girl's grip on my hand never loosening. I could feel the tension in her body as she tried to stay upright, but gradually, I felt her begin to relax.

"You're doing amazing," I said, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "Just keep breathing and focusing on your balance."

But just as the words left my mouth, the girl's skate caught on a rough patch of ice. She let out a yelp of surprise and instinctively clung tighter to my hand, pulling me off balance.

I tried to steady myself, but it was too late. We both went tumbling down onto the hard, unforgiving ice. Pain shot through my hip as I hit the ground, and I heard the girl cry out beside me.

For a moment, we both lay there, stunned and breathless. I could feel the cold seeping through my clothes, and my hip throbbed with a dull ache.

I heard the sound of skates scraping against the ice, and then Cooper's voice cut through the air.

"What the hell happened?" he demanded, his tone sharp with irritation.

I pushed myself up onto my elbows, wincing at the pain in my hip. "We fell," I said, stating the obvious.

Cooper rolled his eyes. "Yeah, no shit. This is why you don't help. Good intentions have consequences."

He held out a hand to me, and I took it gratefully, allowing him to pull me to my feet. I stumbled a bit, my hip protesting the sudden movement, but Cooper's grip on my arm kept me steady.

"There's never anything wrong with good intentions. And I'm fine," I said, brushing off my clothes. "Just a little bruised."

I turned to the girl, who was still lying on the ice, her face pale and her eyes wide with shock.

"Are you okay?" I asked, reaching out to help her up.

She nodded, taking my hand and allowing me to pull her to her feet. "I'm so sorry," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean to pull you down like that."

"What the hell was that?" Cooper barked at the girl, his eyes flashing with anger. "You can't just flail around like a damn fish out of water and expect not to fall."

The girl's lower lip trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the other skaters.

"Sorry doesn't cut it," Cooper snapped. "You gotta learn to control your body on the ice. It's not just about staying upright, it's about being aware of your surroundings and the people around you."

The girl nodded, her head hanging low as she tried to hold back her tears.

"Now get off the ice and practice on your own until you can at least stand up straight," Cooper said, his voice cold and unforgiving.

The girl let out a choked sob and rushed off the ice, her skates clacking against the rubber mats as she fled.

I turned to Cooper, my own anger rising. "Why do you have to be so mean?" I asked, my voice shaking with emotion. "It was an accident. She's just learning."

Cooper's eyes narrowed as he looked at me. "And accidents get you hurt," he said, his hand reaching out to grip my hip tightly where a bruise was already forming.

I winced at his touch, pain shooting through my body. "That doesn't give you the right to berate her like that," I argued, trying to pull away from his grip.

"It's my job to make sure everyone on this ice is safe," Cooper said, his voice low and dangerous. "And if that means being a hardass, then that's what I'll be."

"There's a difference between being tough and being cruel," I said, my eyes locked on his. "You could have handled that with a little more compassion."

"Compassion doesn't keep people from getting injured," Cooper said, his grip on my hip tightening. "Discipline does."

I let out a hiss of pain and finally managed to wrench myself away from his grasp. "Well, maybe if you showed a little more compassion, people would actually want to learn from you instead of running away in tears."

Cooper's jaw clenched, and for a moment, I thought he might lash out at me. But instead, he took a step back and shook his head.

"You don't know what you're talking about," he said, his voice low and bitter. "You're just a sheltered little girl who's never had to face the real world."

His words stung, but I refused to back down. "And you're just a bitter, angry man who's too afraid to let anyone in," I shot back.

We stood there for a moment, glaring at each other, the tension between us palpable. Finally, Cooper turned away, his shoulders hunched as he skated off towards the other end of the rink.

I watched him go, my heart racing and my mind reeling from our confrontation. I knew that there was more to Cooper than just his gruff exterior, but I was starting to wonder if I would ever be able to break through his walls and see the man beneath.