the wrong girl

Nora stayed late to finish her weekly reports. By the time she packed her things, the building was almost empty.

Madison stood near the glass doors.

“You’re still here,” Madison remarked.

“So are you,” Nora replied.

Madison’s smile turned cold. “People are going to get the wrong idea about you, Nora.”

Nora raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t realize strangers’ opinions were part of my clinical requirements.”

“This program runs on reputation,” Madison replied.

“I’m here for clinical hours, not a social club.”

Madison studied her. “You really did move in with him without knowing anything about him, didn’t you?”

“I signed a lease because I needed affordable rent.”

“Be careful,” Madison warned.

“Of what?” Nora asked.

Madison pushed open the door. “Be careful of assuming this is only a job.”

She walked out, leaving Nora wondering what she meant.

Liam was on the living room couch when Nora returned, his injured wrist propped on a pillow and his laptop balanced on his knees.

He looked up. “Hey.”

“Hey.”

His eyes narrowed. “What happened?”

“Nothing. I’m tired,” Nora replied, setting down her backpack.

“Nora.” He closed his laptop. “Did something happen today?”

For a moment, she considered telling him about Madison. But Liam had secrets of his own, and she wasn't sure she wanted to get involved.

“No. Everything’s fine.”

He didn't look convinced, but he let it go.

“Okay.”

She glanced at his laptop. “Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere tonight?”

“I canceled.”

“Why?”

He reopened his laptop. “You looked like you needed someone home.”

Her chest tightened, but she didn't know how to respond.

“Goodnight, Liam.”

“Goodnight, Nora.”

In her bedroom, Nora sat on the edge of her bed, trying to ignore how much that simple statement had affected her.

She had known Liam Carter for four days. They had argued over apartment rules, he'd cooked her breakfast, and she'd borrowed his hoodie.

That was all it was supposed to be.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand.

An unknown number had sent her a photo.

She opened it, and her blood ran cold.

The picture showed her standing beside Liam outside the diner the previous night, laughing at something he'd said. She was wearing his hoodie, and he was looking at her with an expression she hadn't noticed at the time.

Someone had taken the picture from across the street.

Beneath it was a single message.

Be careful who you let walk you home.

Nora stared at the screen until it went dark.

Saturday morning, Nora woke to the sound of someone moving around in the kitchen.

Madison's warning and the anonymous message from the previous night were still on her mind. She had no idea what either meant, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was going on around Liam.

She pulled on a thick sweatshirt and stepped into the hallway.

Liam stood by the kitchen counter, his phone pressed to his ear.

“No,” he said, his voice low and hard. “I said I'm doing what you asked.”

Nora stopped before he noticed her.

“I know what you said,” he continued after a pause. “No. I'm not going back. You wanted six months, and I'm giving you six months.”

His jaw tightened as he listened.

“I have practice.”

He ended the call abruptly.

Nora entered the kitchen.

“Morning.”

Liam spun around, momentarily startled before his expression settled.

“Morning.”

She walked toward the coffee pot.

“Bad call?” she asked.

“You heard that?”

“Only the part where you sounded like you were arguing with someone.”

“I wasn't arguing.”

“You definitely sounded like you were.”

He picked up his coffee. “It's nothing.”

Nora recognized the guarded expression on his face. It meant he wasn't going to explain.

“Okay,” she said, deciding not to push.

Liam looked at her, surprised. “You're not going to interrogate me?”

“You already told me it was nothing.”

A small smile touched his lips. “That's new.”

“What is?”

“You actually letting things go.”

“I can be mature when I want to be.”

“Can you really?”

She gave him a flat look, making him laugh.

His phone buzzed against the counter. The moment he saw the caller ID, his smile disappeared. He picked it up and returned to his bedroom without answering.

Nora watched him leave, then finished her coffee and headed to campus.

By the time Nora reached the university rink, the training facility was already busy.

She checked the daily injury list, prepared the ice baths, and organized the tape in the treatment room. She was stacking clean towels when someone appeared in the doorway.

Madison.

Nora straightened, surprised to see her.

“Hi, Nora,” Madison greeted her with a polite smile.

“Hi.”

Madison stepped inside, carrying a paper coffee cup.

“I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

Nora blinked. “For what?”

“For the way I spoke to you outside the building. I was having a stressful day, and I took it out on you. It wasn't fair.”

She placed the coffee on the treatment table.

Nora looked at the cup, then back at Madison.

“You didn't have to apologize.”

“I did. I know starting a new placement can be overwhelming, especially with this team.” Madison nudged the cup toward her. “I brought you a hazelnut latte. Jake mentioned that it's what you usually order.”

“You remembered that?”

“I pay attention,” Madison replied with a light laugh. “I hope that's okay.”

“Of course. Thank you.”

Nora took a sip. The coffee was warm and sweet, exactly how she liked it.

After a moment, Madison glanced toward the rink.

“Liam can be difficult to deal with.”

Nora laughed. “That's one way to describe him.”

“He's even worse when he thinks someone is trying to figure him out. He hates personal questions.”

“I've noticed.”

“People see the confident captain on the ice and assume everything is easy for him,” Madison continued. “He just doesn't like admitting when something's bothering him.”

Nora thought about the phone call she'd overheard that morning.

You wanted six months, and I'm giving you six months.

“He does seem to keep a lot to himself,” she admitted.

“That's classic Liam.” Madison checked her watch and stood. “I should let you get back to work.”

“Madison?”

She turned.

“Thanks for the coffee and the apology.”

“Of course. See you around, Nora.”

Madison left, and Nora returned to her work.

Perhaps she'd misjudged Madison. Whatever their history, the girl seemed to care about Liam.

Still, Nora wasn't entirely sure what to make of yesterday's warning.

An hour later, the players began filing into the training room.

Liam walked in, wiping sweat from his forehead with his jersey sleeve. His gaze landed on Nora before shifting to the coffee beside her clipboard.

“Where did you get that?” he asked, pulling off his gloves.

“Madison brought it.”

His expression changed. “She brought you coffee?”

“She came to apologize for yesterday.”

Liam glanced toward the hallway. “What else did she say?”

Nora frowned. “Why are you acting like she did something wrong? She said she was having a bad day.”

“And you believed her?”

“I don't know, Liam. Shouldn't I give her a chance?”

He flexed his jaw before looking away.

“Sure.”

“You really don't like her being around, do you?” Nora asked.

“That's not what I said.”

“Your face says otherwise.”

He leaned against the treatment table. “Madison is complicated, Nora.”

“So am I.”

His mouth twitched. “Yeah, I've noticed.”

“She also told me you hate being asked questions and pretend you're fine even when you're not,” Nora added, picking up a roll of athletic tape.

Liam held her gaze for a moment before looking down at his injured wrist.

“She talks way too much.”

“Maybe. Now sit down so I can check that wrist.”

He sat without arguing.

Nora unwound the tape and examined the injury. The bruising had begun to fade, but the joint was still stiff.

“You need to keep icing this and sit out the contact drills until the supervising trainer clears you,” she told him.

“We have a game tomorrow.”

“And making this worse today could keep you out of it.”

Liam studied her for a moment before sighing.

“Fine. I'll sit out the contact drills.”

Jake happened to pass the open doorway and stopped.

“Did you just agree to sit out?” he asked, staring at Liam in disbelief.

“Keep walking,” Liam warned.

Jake grinned at Nora before continuing down the hall.

Nora shook her head and returned to Liam's wrist.

“Try not to make my job harder than it needs to be.”

“No promises, Shaw.”

Later that evening, Nora sat at her bedroom desk, working on an assignment when Liam's voice drifted through the wall.

“No,” he said sharply. “I told you I'm not coming home this weekend.”

Nora's fingers slowed over the keyboard.

A moment later, she heard him pacing across the living room.

“You set the terms,” Liam snapped. “Just don't call me again. I don't care what you think.”