The Aurora Blades - Book #3 - Crossing the Line

Melody James

I shouldn’t still be watching Cole Beckett Swift play hockey.

Yet here I was, stretched out on my couch, eyes glued to the screen as his team skated through another preseason game.

It didn’t even matter that I barely understood what was happening.

I was hockey illiterate.

Completely.

Hopelessly.

And somehow...

It had still become my life.

I huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking my head.

It all started with a stupid cup of coffee.

One clumsy moment.

One spill straight down the front of Cole Beckett Swift’s chest.

Fate really looked at me that day and said, Let’s make this messy.

From then on, he was just...

There.

Always in my orbit.

Easy.

Constant.

Impossible to ignore.

I told myself I didn’t mind.

Told myself being his friend was enough.

But then I made the mistake of telling my sister, Lauren.

And suddenly, she was everywhere.

Every hangout.

Every conversation.

Every glance that I used to think might mean something.

She flirted.

He noticed.

And eventually?

He gave in.

So I stepped back.

I had to.

Or at least I tried to.

Because no matter how much distance I put between us, Cole always pulled me back in like it was nothing.

Like I was just part of his world.

And maybe I was.

The problem?

The closer I stayed...

The harder I fell.

I didn’t even realize I’d been zoning out until the front door swung open.

“God, it’s dead in here.”

Lauren’s voice cut through the quiet as she walked in like she owned the place.

I mean, she lived here part-time.

I barely glanced away from the TV.

“You’re watching hockey?” she added, like it personally offended her.

Which always pissed me off because her boyfriend was a professional hockey player.

“Don’t start,” I muttered, shifting on the couch.

A second later, I looked over.

And yeah.

She was dressed up.

Not casual.

Not I’m running out for five minutes.

No.

This was full effort.

Hair done.

Outfit planned.

The kind of look that made my stomach twist before my brain could even catch up.

“Where are you going?” I asked, keeping my tone light.

Lauren shrugged, grabbing her bag.

“Out.”

I let out a dry laugh.

“Obviously. With who?”

She glanced at me for just a second.

Too quick.

“With people.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Lauren.”

She sighed like I was the problem, checking herself in the mirror.

“Cole’s in town. A few of them are going out.”

My gaze snapped back to the TV.

Cole was on the ice.

Right there.

Skating.

Live.

I frowned, sitting up a little.

“He’s literally playing right now.”

Lauren didn’t even miss a beat.

“Yeah. The game ends, Melody.”

Something about the way she said it was too easy.

Too casual.

My chest tightened.

Because he was away.

He wouldn’t be home until late.

So her going out now was a little fucking odd.

I looked back at her slowly.

“And you already have plans with him?”

She shrugged again, but there was something smug tucked into the corner of her mouth now.

“We’ve been texting.”

That twist in my stomach?

Yeah.

There it was.

Worse this time.

I pressed my lips together, forcing a nod like it didn’t bother me.

Like it didn’t feel like something had just shifted beneath my feet.

“Cool,” I said, my eyes flicking back to the screen. “Have fun.”

She watched me for a second.

Like she was waiting for something more.

A reaction.

A crack.

I didn’t give her one.

“Don’t wait up,” she said finally, heading for the door.

The lock clicked behind her, leaving the apartment quiet again.

Too quiet.

I stared at the screen, watching Cole glide across the ice like nothing had changed.

I tried to focus on the game.

I really did.

But my mind kept circling back to Lauren.

The way she avoided my questions.

The way she wouldn’t say exactly who she was going out with.

I pushed off the couch and headed into the kitchen.

That was when I saw it.

Her laptop.

Still open on the counter.

The screen lit up just as I walked past, a notification flashing across it.

TD: Meet at our usual place.

I stopped cold.

My stomach dropped.

TD.

It took half a second for it to click.

Trevor Donovan.

I’d heard the name before.

Too many times.

In passing.

In stories Lauren brushed off like they didn’t matter.

My chest tightened.

I grabbed my phone anyway, snapping a quick picture of the screen before it locked.

Just in case.

Just in case I hadn’t imagined it.

I looked down at the photo, my stomach twisting.

This didn’t feel like nothing.

Our usual place.

I stared at the laptop, but the message was already gone.

Like it had never been there.

My heart started pounding.

No.

There was no way.

She was with Cole.

Why would she ruin that?

I tried to sit still.

Tried to tell myself it didn’t matter.

It didn’t work.

My palms started to itch, the restless feeling crawling beneath my skin until I couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I grabbed my phone and pulled up his name.

Cole.

My thumb hovered over the screen.

Did I text him?

If I did, it would look like I was interfering.

Like I was trying to break them up.

And I wasn’t.

I wasn’t that girl.

But at the same time...

I didn’t want him to get hurt.

And the thought of him hurting?

It didn’t sit right with me.

I exhaled sharply and typed before I could overthink it anymore.

Melody: Hey.

It was simple.

Safe.

I glanced up at the TV.

Intermission.

Maybe he would answer.

My phone buzzed almost immediately.

Cole: Hey. You watching?

A soft laugh escaped my lips.

Of course that would be his first question.

Melody: Wait there is a game?

The three dots popped up instantly.

Cole: Fuck you Mel. 😒

Cole: Seriously are you?

I shook my head, typing quickly.

Melody: Yes dummy. I always watch. I may not get it, but I’m watching.

A second later...

Cole: You know more than you realize. I love watching hockey with you. 😂

My chest tightened a little at that.

Stupid.

I shouldn’t let that affect me.

But it did.

I glanced back at the TV.

Players were starting to move.

Refs skating into position.

He wouldn’t have long.

I typed quickly.

Melody: You think so. lol.

Melody: Can we chat after you get home? Call me?

The message sent.

No reply.

I looked back up at the screen as the game started again.

Yeah.

He was back on the ice.

I set my phone down beside me, trying to focus.

But my mind wouldn’t settle.

I shifted on the couch, crossing my arms.

Then uncrossing them.

This was a bad idea.

Or maybe not telling him would’ve been worse.

I didn’t know anymore.

I had my reasons.

Not all of them were selfish.

The game ended, but I didn’t really register how.

One minute I was watching.

The next, the final buzzer sounded, and I was still sitting there staring at the screen like I’d missed something important.

Maybe I had.

My phone buzzed sometime later beside me.

I grabbed it too quickly.

Cole.

Cole: We won.

I huffed out a quiet laugh.

Melody: Wow. I had no idea. Truly shocking.

The reply took a little longer this time.

Long enough that I pictured him on the bus.

Gear off.

Surrounded by the team.

Noise everywhere.

Cole: You’re hilarious. 🙄

I smiled, curling slightly into the couch.

Melody: I try. You still like me.

Another pause.

Short.

Then...

Cole: Yeah, yeah. On the bus. I’m exhausted.

My chest softened a little at that.

I could see it too clearly.

His head tipped back.

Eyes heavy.

Still coming down from the game.

Melody: Long day then?

A few seconds passed.

Cole: Yeah. And night.

Something about that stuck with me.

I glanced down at my phone, my thumb hovering.

This was where I said it.

Or where I didn’t.

Melody: You still calling me when you get home?

The typing bubble appeared.

Disappeared.

Then came back.

My stomach tightened slightly.

Cole: Yeah. I will.

Simple.

But not as quick as before.

Not as easy.

I pressed my lips together.

Melody: Okay.

I set my phone down for a second.

Then picked it right back up.

Because I couldn’t not.

Melody: Get some rest on the ride if you can.

This time, the reply came faster.

Cole: Trying. Guys won’t shut up.

A faint smile tugged at my lips.

That sounded more like him.

Normal.

Familiar.

Melody: Sounds about right.

A beat.

Then...

Cole: Talk soon, Mel.

My chest tightened again.

Not in a bad way.

Just...

In a way I was starting to recognize more than I should.

Melody: Yeah. Talk soon.

The conversation ended there.

But the feeling didn’t.

It sat heavy in my chest, refusing to settle no matter how many times I told myself I was overthinking this.

By the time my phone rang, my nerves were shot.

I let it ring once.

Twice.

Trying to steady my breathing before I answered.

“Hey.”

“Hey, Mel.”

His voice was rough.

Tired.

Like the night had finally caught up with him.

I sat up a little straighter.

“You make it off the bus?”

A yawn came through the line.

“Just walked off. Heading to my car.”

I nodded to myself, even though he couldn’t see it.

“Are you going home?”

There was a small beat.

Then he huffed out a quiet laugh.

“Yes. Bed.”

Relief hit me faster than I expected.

Too fast.

I let out a small laugh of my own.

“Okay.”

I hesitated.

“So you’re not meeting Lauren?”

The words came out softer than I meant them to.

Careful.

Like if I said the wrong thing, everything would shift.

On the other end, I heard him stop moving.

“Uh... no.”

There was confusion in his voice now.

Real confusion.

“Why?”

My grip tightened around my phone.

“Because she told me she was going out tonight with you,” I said, keeping my tone even. “And she was acting weird before she left.”

A solid, heavy pause.

Then I heard his footsteps start again.

“What are you playing at?”

His voice was sharper now.

My stomach dropped.

“I’m not... I’m not saying anything. I just thought you should know.”

“Mel.”

The way he said my name made my chest tighten.

Frustration.

Warning.

“You’re my friend,” I added, quieter now. “I wasn’t trying to start anything. I just... it felt off.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Then...

“I don’t believe it.”

The words hit harder now.

Sharper.

I blinked, thrown.

“Cole...”

But he didn’t let me finish.

“Just leave it the fuck alone.”

It cut straight through me.

Final.

Cold.

The line went dead before I could say anything else.