Page 50 of Icebound Hearts

“We need to get you checked out.” I nod stiffly, refusing to look at Aiden and acknowledge that he’s still standing there, still watching me, like he wants to fix something he has no business fixing. This is my battle. My career. My life. And if I lost everything I’ve been working for, the last thing I need is Aiden Knight acting like he cares.

I don’t even remember the drive to the hospital. Alina and Alexei came with me, but their voices blurred into the background the second we arrived. The doctor confirmed what I already knew deep down. Rotator cuff tear. Not a large one. But small enough to need surgery long enough to keep me off the ice for at least three months. The moment they tell me, I refuse to believe it. I don’t cry. I don’t break down in front of everyone. I just sit there, fists clenched, nails digging into my palm as reality crushes me. I have four months until the next qualifier. And I won’t even be able to skate for the next three.

I feel like I can’t breathe. Alina tries to talk to me, but I barely hear her. She and Alexei eventually leave to grab food, giving me space, and for the first time, I’m entirely alone. Until I’m not. A shadow shifts outside the doorway. My stomach twists painfully as I look at him.

Aiden.

I should have known he’d show up. He doesn’t step inside. Doesn’t say a word. He just stands there, watching me, hands shoved in his pockets, expression unreadable. For a moment, neither of us moves. Then Alina’s voice rings from down the hall. “What are you doing here?” Aiden doesn’t look at her. His eyes stay on me. Alina approaches him and says something I can’t hear while he nods. I should tell him to leave. I should tell him he has no reason to be here. But I don’t. I don’t speak. I feel too weak. I just look outside of the hospital window.

Aiden looks at me again and walks out the door without saying anything. And for the first time since I fell, I felt something other than pain.

Something worse that I don’t want to name. Because the truth is, I don’t know what hurts more—my shoulder or ignoring Aiden.

Chapter twenty - four

KATERINA

Pain is the first thing I register when I wake up. A deep, pulsing ache radiates from my shoulder, the kind that even the heavy doses of painkillers can’t

completely erase. My body feels sluggish, my mind foggy from the anesthesia, and for a few blissful seconds, I forget why I feel like this. Then reality slams into me. I had surgery because I fell. Because I tore my rotator cuff. Because I was reckless and distracted, and now- Now, I might have just lost everything.

A choked sob lodges itself in my throat, but I swallow it down, blinking hard at the ceiling. I can’t cry. I won’t cry. Not in this sterile hospital room where everything smells like antiseptic and pity. The door creaks open, and I brace myself, expecting another nurse, another doctor, coming in with more reminders of what I already know.

Instead, it’s Alina and Alexei—my best friends. Alina rushes to my side immediately; her expression twisted in worry.

“Oh, Malyshka,” she whispers, carefully avoiding my shoulder as she perches on the edge of the bed. “How are you feeling?” I force a weak smile. “Like I got hit by a Zamboni.” Alexei snorts, standing behind her with his arms crossed.

“Well, at least your sense of humor is intact.” I roll my eyes but wince when the movement tugs at my shoulder. Alina glares at Alexei.

“Don’t make her laugh, idiot.” He raises his hands in surrender.

“She started it.” I shake my head, exhaustion settling deep in my bones.

“You guys don’t have to stay.” Alina glares at me.

“ We absolutely do. And we will. So shut up.” I sigh, knowing it’s pointless to argue.

Alexei gives me a knowing smirk before his expression softens slightly.

“Your dad was here to check on you, but you were still under the anesthesia. I called your mom and filled her in. She is currently looking for flights.” I nodded at the information. My estranged father stopped by to see me. The realization that my father cared enough to check on me made me feel lighter.

“Coach says she’ll come by later. She’s waiting on the official recovery timeline.”

My stomach knots.

“Right.” Neither says anything, but the unspoken words are loud enough—the Olympics. I try not to think about it, to let the possibility of missing everything consume me. But it does—it already does. So I do the only thing I can do. I shut down.

It’s been two weeks since my surgery, and I feel like a shell of the old me. I can’t skate, I can’t practice, I can’t do anything. I have barely spoken to the boys, mostly spending my days in class or inbed. At class, I take the farthest seat from them to be alone with my thoughts. The only people who still have access to me are Alina and Alexei. Who are now trying to get me to eat something so I don’t starve myself.

“Come on, Kat, you have to eat something. Please.” Alina’s voice is tired, full of worry. I sit at the kitchen table, poking at my food, dragging my fork back and forth across the plate, but never actually lifting it to my mouth. I should just eat, but I can’t– because every bite reminds me of how I’ve lost control of everything. One more week, I can start physical therapy. But I still have two more months before I can skate again. There’s no way I’ll be ready for our next qualifiers on time. My dream is over. It’s over. Alina sighs, pushing her plate away.

“You can’t keep starving yourself. I understand you’re going through it, but we cannot help you if you don’t let us.” I don’t respond. I walk out of the kitchen and head upstairs to my room. When I shut the door, my tears came fast, hot, and heavy. I lay down, curling into myself, silent sobs wracking my body. I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know who I am without skating. The door creaks open, but I don’t turn to look.

“Roomie, can i come in?” I nod at Will, who moves closer, sitting beside me on the bed. I wait for him to say something, but he doesn’t. He just wraps his arms around me, carefully, gently, like I might break, giving me a big hug. “Please bring back our sassy roommate. I’d take her over Depressed Kat any day.” A sob escapes before I can stop it. And I just cry. Will lets me. He doesn’t say a word. Just rubs my back, letting me fall apart.

“I’m sorry, Will,” I choke out. “I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me. I can’t stop crying.” He presses a hand to my back.

“We’d be more worried if you didn’t cry.” I try to laugh, but it comes out strangled. Will places a kiss on top of my head and leaves the room without another word.

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