Cole’s POV

My body reacted on pure, hard-wired survival instinct before my brain could process the absolute panic exploding in my chest.

I bent my elbows, absorbing Aria’s momentum smoothly as I brought her down, guiding her blades back onto the ice in a single, silent motion that took less than a second. I stepped directly in front of her, using my shoulder to block her body from the blinding yellow flashlight beam cutting across the dark sheet.

“Who’s on my ice?!” Coach Harrow’s voice boomed off the iron girders above, his heavy snow boots stomping down the concrete bleacher stairs toward the home bench glass.

“It’s me, Coach!” I...