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rachid2023

Jun 27, 2023

sweetestdesire-deactivated20250

THE ICE BREAKER — P.3

WARNINGS: mentions of heavy angst content, degrading speech, mentions of anxiety, etc. 18+ readers only

PAIRING(S): NHL hockey player!Rafe Cameron x Fem!Reader

SUMMARY: in which Rafe Cameron and Fem!Reader’s first date doesn't exactly go as planned.

AUTHOR’S NOTE: I hope you angels enjoy part 3 for The Ice Breaker series! You can find the series masterlist here.

Rafe should’ve known he'd have to face all sorts of questions and teasing from his teammates when he arrived at practice a little while later. Last night when he'd pulled Y/N away from the group, it hadn't occurred to him that four of his fellow Hurricanes had been watching him do it. By the time Rafe reached the locker room, the entire team knew about it and he was subjected to all manner of good-natured ribbing.

"I'd have never pegged you as that type of guy.” Jordan commented with a sly smile as they geared up for practice.

"What type?" Rafe gave him a patient smile.

"The guy who takes a girl home after he's just met her."

Rafe looked over at the other man with raised eyebrows. Jordan had that same knowing expression on his face and Rafe sighed. "Maybe not, but I like Y/N. We got along."

"I think it's great.” Brent chimed in from Rafe’s other side. "You haven't dated anyone since you first started playing here."

Rafe nodded, recalling the relationship that had ended not long after he'd started playing for the Hurricanes. She'd tried living with him in North Carolina, but found she missed her hometown too much. They'd parted on friendly terms and the last he'd heard, she'd married the previous summer.

"Dated?" Jordan repeated. "Who said anything about dating? You took her home for the one night, didn't you?"

Rafe laughed and shook his head. "If that's what you want to believe, Staal."

"Cameron, I was talking to her friend, Maria last night and she was telling me about Y/N.” Jordan said, turning to face Rafe as he spoke.

"So?" Rafe asked with a frown. He liked Jordan, as he was constantly reminding himself, but sometimes his teammate could be as subtle as a raging bull.

Jordan shrugged carelessly, as if he wasn't interfering where it wasn't wanted. "Maria said Y/N does this a lot."

"Does what?" Now Rafe was starting to get ticked off. He was vaguely aware that Brent was moving closer on his other side, as if he was going to be needed to break up a fight.

"She's had a few one-night stands.” Jordan told him.

Rafe stared at him, trying to process his words. Should he care? He hadn't exactly been an innocent before meeting Y/N and taking her home last night. He glared at Jordan. "So what? So have I."

Brent snorted and Rafe whipped his head around to glare at him. "What? I have!"

"This isn't a competition, man.” Brent replied, holding his hands up in placation.

"No, it isn't. Thanks for your concern, but you don't need to worry."

It was ridiculous to worry anyway, since Y/N had willingly given him her number. She wouldn't have done that if she'd intended on it being just a one time deal. It occurred to him then that she hadn't asked for his, or even offered her own, but he tried to push the thought away.

We like each other, he reminded himself. They had connected last night, in more ways than one. In between enjoying each other's bodies, they'd talked and laughed and eventually slept. He wasn't so jaded that he couldn't see the potential for something more there.

Practice started in a few more minutes and Rafe pushed it out of his mind. He skated out for warm-ups and focused on everything the coaches went over. He smiled and nodded at more teasing from his teammates and all but ignored Jordan, who seemed put out by Rafe’s attitude.

Rafe would call Y/N later when he was home and they'd go out on a proper date. There was no reason to give another thought to Jordan’s warnings. He was a grown man. He could deal with Y/N in his own way, even if it meant she didn't want to see him again.

Later, after he'd showered and done his best to forget about what Jordan had said, and what he'd implied, Rafe picked up his phone. He dialed Y/N’s phone number and waited patiently until she picked up.

"Hello?" She sounded breathless.

"Y/N?"

"Yeah? Who's this?"

"Rafe."

There was a pause before she responded and Rafe felt his palms begin to sweat, which was ridiculous since there'd been no nervousness last night.

"Rafe. I didn't think you'd call me today."

He laughed at her surprised tone. "I said that I would."

"Yeah, but not many guys do.” She replied with a laugh.

"I don't know about other guys, but I wanted to talk to you. So, I called."

"I'm glad you called."

There, he thought triumphantly. Would she say that if she'd only wanted him for one night? "What have you been doing today?"

"Well, after Lindsay grilled me about last night, I had a nap.” Y/N said with another laugh.

"Lindsay is your roommate?" Rafe remembered meeting both girls, but other than feeling Y/N’s warmth at his side, he hadn't paid much attention to anything else.

"That’s the one."

"I remember. She grilled you?"

Again, Y/N laughed, a light-hearted sound that slid through Rafe and made his groin tingle. "Yeah, she wouldn't let me sleep until I'd told her everything."

"Everything?"

"Well, not everything.” Y/N conceded. "Enough to get her to leave me alone."

"That's good." Rafe wasn't shy, but the idea of Y/N bragging to her friends about last night didn't exactly fill him with happiness.

"You didn't tell your teammates about us, did you?"

"Hell, no!" Rafe exclaimed with a laugh. "They teased me because I wouldn't tell them anything."

"Oh. That's good."

Rafe agreed. He didn't want to share anything about Y/N with the guys on his team, not until he knew more about her himself. "Are you busy right now?"

"Uh, no, not really. I was just trying to get to the library before it closed for the day. I need a book that I didn't have time to pick up yesterday."

"Are you busy tonight?"

"Tonight? No, why?”

Rafe chuckled. She sounded truly confused about why he was asking. "I want to take you out to dinner."

There was another pause before she responded and Rafe felt his nerves kick in again. There'd been no hesitation last night. Jordan’s doubting words crept into his mind and he tried to push them away.

"Really? You want to see me again?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"I don't know.” She mumbled and blew out her breath. "I just thought..." Y/N’s voice trailed off and he thought he heard someone speaking in the background. "Never mind."

"So, can I take you to dinner?"

"Uh, yeah, I guess that'd be alright."

Rafe sighed. Her answer was entirely lacking in enthusiasm. This was doing nothing for his ego. Again, he heard Jordan’s voice in his head: "Y/N does this a lot."

"If you're busy tonight, that's alright."

"No, I'm not busy.” She replied and paused. "Do you not want to? Tonight, I mean? I... we can go out some other time, if you want."

No! Rafe almost shouted the immediate response at her, but didn't want to sound too desperate, especially when she was so underwhelmed to be hearing from him. His doubt was growing with each passing second and he hated himself for it.

"I'd like to go out tonight."

"Well, okay then."

Rafe nodded. Once he saw her again, had her in his arms, he'd make her sound less uncertain. They arranged to meet at a restaurant not too far from the University, to make it easier for her to get there. When they hung up, he stared at his phone for a long moment. Jordan’s few words ran through his mind, along with Y/N’s flat voice over the phone. He told himself not to worry, that they were just getting to know each other and there were bound to be awkward moments.

Rafe tossed his phone on the kitchen counter and strode away, determined to forget about it and focus on the thought of seeing Y/N again that night.

In her dorm room, Y/N closed her cell phone and raised apprehensive eyes to her two friends sitting with her. Lindsay was on her own bed and Maria was sitting at the head of Y/N’s bed, her feet stretched out.

"I can't believe you agreed to see him again.” Maria said and shook her head.

"Why shouldn't she?" Lindsay replied before Y/N could formulate a response. "He asked for her number."

"Only because that's what guys are supposed to do.” Maria scoffed and flicked her hair over her shoulder.

Y/N rolled her eyes at that and Lindsay replied for her again. "Then why would he call her? Today, even?"

Maria frowned and opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. It was almost the same argument they'd been having since Y/N had woken from her midmorning nap. It had been a short nap and she covered her mouth as another yawn escaped her. After she'd crept back to her room that morning, Lindsay had pelted her with questions until she was satisfied Y/N hadn't been hurt.

For her part, every time Y/N thought about Rafe, pictured his blue eyes and wide grin, she had to force her body to calm the hell down. Even with Maria and Lindsay chattering back and forth about the possibilities, she'd only had to think of one of his kisses and she'd disappear into her memories.

Before Rafe’s call, Maria had been emphatically supporting the idea of never seeing him again. Lindsay couldn't understand why and Y/N was torn between both points of view. On the one hand, she'd given Rafe her number because it hadn't seemed like he was going to let her go without it.

Of course, she'd been pleased that he'd even asked, no matter how much she doubted that he'd call. She hadn't gone home with him expecting anything other than sex. Mind blowing, life changing, physically satisfying sex. It was her phone ringing that had startled her out of that particular fantasy. Now, her friends were debating whether she should even see him.

"I've already agreed to go out.” Y/N broke into their rather heated debate. "So, why don't we stop arguing about it and you can help me find something to wear.”

Maria stared at her, her chin set at a stubborn angle while Lindsay jumped up to scour both their closets. Y/N met Maria’s gaze and frowned.

"Why are you so worked up over this?" She asked, no longer able to keep her frustration in check. She loved her friends dearly, loved the way they argued and laughed together. Sometimes Maria could be snobby and aloof and today was one of those times.

"I'm not worked up.” Maria tried to protest, but Y/N crossed her arms over her chest and arched an eyebrow at her. "Alright, I guess I'm a little worked up. It's just that you don't know anything about this guy, Y/N."

"Of course not.” Lindsay spoke from where she was hidden behind the closet door. "They just met last night. That's why they're going out again; to get to know each other."

Y/N nodded and smiled in agreement. That made more sense, even though she was wondering if they'd have the same chemistry in bed a second night. Maria didn't look convinced.

"Come on, Maria.” Y/N probed with a light laugh. "Are you jealous or something?"

Maria’s frown deepened and she stood up. "I'm leaving."

"What? Why?"

"You guys have obviously made up your mind about this and I don't want to stay.” She said as she stalked to the door.

"Maria, come on. Don't be like that. I don't want you to go."

Maria paused at the door and looked back at her friend. "I just don't want you to get hurt, Y/N."

"Why would I be hurt?" Y/N couldn't help but ask. Something about Maria’s expression and tone tugged at her and she felt her doubts about Rafe rising up. She frowned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Did Jordan say something to you about Rafe last night?"

To her surprise, Maria blushed, something she rarely did.

"Maria, what's going on?" Lindsay demanded.

Maria looked down at her feet and sighed. "It wasn't something Jordan said."

"Then what?" Y/N was torn between concern for her friend and hurt that she wasn't opening up.

Maria lifted her head and offered a weak smile. "I went home with Jordan last night."

Y/N’s eyes widened and she gaped. "Why didn't you say anything? I've been going on and on about Rafe. You should’ve stopped me."

With a shrug, Maria crossed back to the bed and sat down. "I didn't want to say anything, especially when Rafe called you."

Y/N sat down beside her and reached out to touch her hand. "Why?"

"Jordan didn't ask for my number. He didn't even seem to care when I left."

"Oh, sweetheart.” Lindsay said as she walked over to join them on the bed. "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I was embarrassed. I couldn't bring myself to say anything." Maria lifted glassy eyes to Y/N and laughed. "I guess I was trying to make you feel the same so I wouldn't feel so alone in this."

"You're never alone, Maria.” Y/N assured her as she put her arms around her for a firm squeeze. "Maybe I should stay in tonight. We can all hang out, eat junk food and talk about how stupid guys are."

Maria laughed as Lindsay gasped in shock. “No freaking way, Y/N.” Lindsay said and wagged a finger at her. "You're going on this date."

"But Maria needs us.” Y/N protested.

This time, Maria supported Lindsay. "I was just being stupid, Y/N. You should go out with Rafe. He wouldn't have called if he didn't want to see you."

Y/N studied her for a second. "Alright. If you're sure you're alright."

"I'm fine.” Maria said and hugged her back. "Besides, Lindsay can stay with me and we'll stay up late eating junk food no matter what."

Lindsay nodded. "You have to go out. We'll live vicariously through you, Y/N."

Y/N laughed, but relented. She wanted to go out with Rafe and find out where this attraction might take them.

Several hours later, Y/N was nervously walking along the sidewalk towards the restaurant. Da Andrea was an Italian restaurant that Y/N had eaten at once before. It was a few blocks from the University, but she'd splurged on an Uber ride.

The moment she walked into the restaurant and spotted Rafe, standing several inches taller than those around him, she felt nervous. He looked amazing and Y/N had never felt so frumpy in her life.

Rafe turned and saw her, a wide grin splitting his handsome face. He brushed a strand of his hair off his forehead as he walked towards her. Y/N took in his appearance and felt her knees weaken as he approached. He looked like he'd stepped right off the pages of GQ and she was a young, inexperienced university student wearing borrowed clothes.

"Hey, Y/N.” Rafe greeted her warmly and bent to kiss her cheek.

"Hi.” She replied, her face warming under his touch. "I hope you haven't been waiting long."

"Not at all. They're just getting our table ready."

"Excuse me, sir?" The hostess spoke up from just behind him. "Your table is ready. If you'll follow me."

Rafe smiled and nodded. As he turned, he slipped an arm behind Y/N and pressed his hand to the small of her back, urging her ahead of him.

"Ladies first.” He murmured, his low voice sending a frisson of desire up her spine.

Somehow Y/N managed to follow the waitress to a secluded corner of the restaurant. She smiled as Rafe gallantly pulled her chair out for her and the hostess left them with an assurance that their server would be around soon. Left alone together, she smiled shyly at him across the table.

"I'm so glad you came." Rafe was the first to speak and his words surprised her.

"You thought I might not?"

He shrugged, fiddling with his utensils. "I wasn't sure." He stopped and shook his head. "I'm sorry. Just ignore me."

A laugh slipped out before Y/N could stop it. "I couldn't ignore you if I tried."

That grin spread across his face and she was transfixed. "I'm so glad to hear you say that."

Y/N cocked her head to one side. Had she not been the only one with doubts? "You really were afraid I might not show up? Why?"

He shrugged, looking self conscious for the first time since she'd met him. "It's stupid. One of the guys said something to me at practice and I should’ve just ignored him."

Y/N’s thoughts turned to Maria and she recalled Jordan, the player who had apparently seduced her friend with ease last night. "I'm almost afraid to ask what he said."

Rafe eyed her silently for a long moment. "Do you want to know?"

Y/N hesitated before she nodded.

"He said I should be careful with you.” Rafe confessed after another moment's hesitation.

She laughed. "With me? Why?"

"He said Maria talked about you a bit last night."

Y/N’s smile froze in place and she felt her mouth go dry. A million thoughts raced through her head, making her feel dizzy. There were any number of things Maria could’ve said. Given how Maria had describe her night with Jordan, she might’ve been feeling spiteful when she said it.

"Did they?" Y/N managed to say out loud.

"Yeah. He said that I should be careful because you'd done this before."

Y/N’s eyebrows shot up and she smiled nervously. "What? Dated a hockey player?"

Rafe’s chuckle relaxed her somewhat, but then his next words left her feeling like he'd just sucker punched her. "No, slept with men you'd just met."

Y/N stared at him, feeling tears prick the backs of her eyelids. Her mouth opened and closed a couple times, but she couldn't get any words out past the thickness in her throat. Rafe watched her, his smile fading and a frown knitting his forehead.

She shook her head, trying to clear it but all she kept hearing his words echoing in her head. Here she was, all dressed up and she'd been practically giddy at the prospect of a real date with a man she found undeniably attractive. And all along, he'd thought she was just a girl who slept around.

Their server took that moment to appear at their table and he introduced himself. He rattled off the specials before he'd noticed anything was amiss and curiously looked back and forth between Rafe and Y/N.

"Uh, I could come back if you need a minute to decide on drinks?" The server offered.

"Could you, please?" Rafe replied.

The waiter nodded and hurried away. Y/N watched him go before looking down at her hands folded tensely in her lap.

"Y/N, I'm so sorry."

She shrugged. "It's fine."

"No, it's not. I shouldn't have said that."

"It's fine.” She repeated, but she wasn't even convincing herself.

Y/N wasn't sure what bothered her more, that Maria had said something even close to that about her, or that Rafe might’ve believed it. Maybe Y/N had been mistaken about his reasons for wanting to see her tonight.

"I think I should go."

Rafe gaped and jumped to his feet as she pushed her chair back. "Please, Y/N. I'm so sorry. Don't go."

"This..." Y/N started and shook her head, blinking away more tears of frustration. "It was very nice meeting you, Rafe, but this just isn't going to work between us."

"No, please don't go, Y/N.” He pleaded, looking truly chagrined.

"I have to.” She replied and smiled at him before leaving him alone in the restaurant.

Shaking his head, Rafe burst out of the restaurant, looking back and forth to either end of the street. He spotted Y/N not too far away to his right. He ran after her, unsure of what he was going to say, but he imagined groveling on his knees might be involved.

"Y/N!"

She stopped and turned to face him, her entire body tense. "Rafe? What are you doing?"

"I couldn't just let you leave." He took a few deep breaths to calm himself. "I'm so sorry for what I said. It was stupid."

She shrugged and turned to keep walking. "It was true. It's fine."

Rafe put out a hand to stop her. "Please, I'm sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?"

Y/N looked at him. She wasn't pulling out of his grasp, but she wasn't coming any closer either. Rafe hated that he'd put that wounded look on her face and he couldn't believe he'd let Jordan’s words bother him. He couldn't believe he'd repeated them to her. What man does that? He mentally smacked himself around. He knew better and he felt like such a jerk for upsetting Y/N and possibly ruining any relationship they might’ve been able to develop.

She lowered her eyes. "You don't have to make it up to me, Rafe."

"Yes, I do. I was so stupid.” He insisted and shook his head as an uncomfortable warmth spread over his face. He wouldn't blame her if she never spoke to him again.

"It was stupid." Y/N lifted her eyes to his. She was frowning at him and Rafe almost went limp with relief. If she was willing to talk to him, even to call him on his idiocy, then maybe he could still figure this out.

"Yes!"

The corner of her mouth twitched and Rafe grinned when he saw a dimple appear in her cheek. He thought she might be trying to hold back a smile.

"I was stupid and you're amazing.” He went on when she said nothing.

She did smile then and looked down, a pretty blush creeping up her neck. "I don't know about that."

"I do. Y/N, please. Let me buy you dinner. We can talk and I promise not to say anything stupid, ever again."

Looking back up at him, he was rewarded with her full smile. It made his spine straighten and sent a tingle through his body that was not unpleasant.

"I don't know if any man could keep that promise.” She said.

"I can damn sure try."

For a long moment, Y/N just stared at him. Rafe waited patiently when all he wanted to do was unzip her jacket and slide his hands inside so he could feel her delicious curves again.

She sighed and shifted on her feet. "Honestly, I'm tired. Do you mind if we do this another night?"

Rafe felt his heart squeeze and his smile faded, but he nodded. She wasn't saying she never wanted to see him again. Maybe they had been moving too fast. "Of course."

Y/N offered him a shy smile and Rafe took the opportunity to step closer. He put his arms around her and she stiffened before relaxing and hugging him back. As much as he wanted to keep her there in his arms, he stepped back and held her at arm's length.

"Can I call you tomorrow?"

"Sure." Then, she cocked her head to one side. "Don't you have a game?"

"Yeah, but I'll call you after. It's an afternoon game and we should be done around four."

Y/N laughed and touched his arm. "Don't worry about calling me right away. I'm not going anywhere."

"No?" It was on the tip of his tongue to extract a promise from her, but he wasn't going to embarrass himself further.

"No. Call me when you can. Or Monday night, if you end up going into overtime."

Rafe groaned and shook his head. "Don't jinx me!"

She laughed. "I'll talk to you later, Rafe."

"Yeah, you will."

Y/N gave him one more sweet smile before walking away. Rafe watched her go until she'd crossed the street and disappeared into the evening crowd. With a heavy sigh, he shoved his hands in his pockets and walked the other way.

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