CHAPTER 15

BLADES & BREAKAWAYS

Chapter 15: Public & Personal

Ryker Hayes' POV

I had never been afraid of a fight.

On the ice, I knew exactly how to handle myself. I knew when to throw a punch, when to take a hit, when to get back up and keep skating.

But this?

This was different.

The locker room was dead silent. My teammates sat on the benches, some watching me, some deliberately looking away. Coach stood in front of me, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"You know what you're risking," Coach said, his voice even but heavy with meaning.

I clenched my jaw. I knew. I had spent the last twenty-four hours thinking about nothing else. The media storm, the sponsorships, the league's reaction-every consequence played out in my head.

And for the first time in my life, I didn't care.

"Yeah," I said, my voice steady. "I know."

Coach exhaled through his nose, studying me. "And?"

My heart pounded, but my decision had already been made.

"I'm not gonna lie," I said. "Yeah, I'm with him. And if that's a problem, I'll find another team."

The weight of my words settled over the room.

A few of my teammates shifted uncomfortably. Some exchanged glances. Cole, sitting near the back, gave me a slow nod, but others weren't so supportive.

"You serious, man?" Mason spoke up, his tone sharp. "You're really willing to throw your whole career away for this?"

My stomach twisted, but I didn't let it show. "If being honest about who I am means losing my career, then maybe I was never really playing for the right people."

Mason scoffed, shaking his head. A few others muttered under their breath.

Coach didn't react immediately. He just studied me, unreadable.

"For now," he finally said, "focus on hockey. We have a game this weekend, and I need you on your game."

It wasn't approval.

But it wasn't outright rejection either.

I nodded. "Got it."

Still, as I looked around the room, I knew things wouldn't be the same after this.

The media response was brutal.

By the time I left practice, my phone was flooded with missed calls, texts, and notifications. News outlets had already picked up the story. My name was trending.

And Blake-

Shit.

I tightened my grip on my phone, scrolling through the headlines.

"Hockey Star Ryker Hayes Confirms Relationship with Figure Skater Blake Sinclair"

"Scandal or Progress? The NHL Faces New Territory"

"Blake Sinclair's Practice Disrupted by Reporters-Demands for a Statement"

My jaw clenched. Blake hated this kind of attention.

Without wasting another second, I called him.

Blake picked up on the second ring. "You saw."

"Yeah," I said, already heading for my car. "Where are you?"

"Practice," he muttered. "Or at least, I was supposed to be. But apparently, I can't step onto the ice without a camera in my face."

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. "I'm coming to get you."

Blake sighed. "Ryker-"

"Just wait for me."

A pause. Then, softer, "Okay."

By the time I arrived at Blake's rink, a small crowd of reporters had gathered near the entrance.

My blood boiled.

Blake stood near the doors, arms crossed, jaw tight. He looked calm, but I knew better.

The second he saw me, relief flickered in his eyes.

I didn't hesitate. I walked straight up, ignoring the cameras, the flashing lights, the questions being thrown at us.

"Blake," I said, my voice low. "You okay?"

He exhaled, shaking his head. "Not really."

I reached out, gripping his wrist. "Come with me."

Blake didn't even hesitate.

We pushed through the crowd, ignoring the shouts behind us.

Ignoring everything except each other.

An hour later, we were far from the city, parked near a quiet lake, the kind of place no one would think to look for us.

Blake sat on the hood of my car, looking up at the sky. The air was cold, but he didn't seem to mind.

I leaned beside him, hands stuffed into my pockets.

For the first time all day, there was silence.

No cameras. No pressure. No pretending.

Just us.

Blake let out a slow breath. "You didn't have to do all this."

I glanced at him. "Yeah, I did."

He gave me a sideways look. "You sure about that?"

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

His gaze flickered downward. "You're risking everything, Ryker."

I shifted closer. "So are you."

Blake was quiet for a moment. Then, finally, he looked up, his expression unreadable.

"Do you regret it?" he asked.

I didn't even have to think.

"No," I said, voice firm. "Not for a second."

Blake's shoulders relaxed slightly. "Good."

We sat there for a while, the cold air wrapping around us, our breaths visible in the night.

Then, slowly, Blake reached for my hand.

And for once, I didn't pull away.