Page 42

I nod, glancing over at the two men, still deep in conversation. “Not everything, but I know enough.”

“Grayson?” Remy says pointing at the name on my jersey.

I nod.

Maya says she does not know Grayson, and I watch as Remy raves about how Eli is a great player on the ice.

Maya turns to me and smiles. “You must be proud.”

“I am.”

She nods. “I guess he joined after Zane left, but maybe we can all hang out after the game. I am here to surprise my boyfriend, but I don’t think he will mind it.”

I smile at that wondering what that would like. Then my mind races about being judged for showing up with two boyfriends.

I feel my skin begin to heat up. My new friend is staring at me intently.

She raises an eyebrow, a playful grin tugging at her lips.

Before Maya can dig deeper, the buzzer sounds, and the crowd around us erupts in cheers. Everyone’s on their feet, and suddenly, the moment shifts — everyone’s eyes on the ice.

The energy’s electric. It’s not just a game anymore. It’s everything. It’s the chance for these players to make something of themselves, to prove they belong in the big leagues. I can practically taste the adrenaline.

I glance at Maya and Remy, but they’re both staring ahead, eyes fixed on the game. Zane, too, finally looks up, as if realizing he might’ve missed something important.

There’s no time for small talk now. It’s just the players, the crowd, and the game. And me, caught in the rush of it all.

The energy in the arena is unreal. The crowd is on their feet, screaming, chanting, hands slamming against the plexiglass. I can barely hear myself think over the deafening roar.

Caleb skates down the ice, weaving through defenders like they’re fucking traffic cones. Eli is right behind him, cutting sharp, his stick ready. The puck flies between them—one, two—so fast I can barely track it.

“Jesus Christ,” Remy mutters beside me. “That was sick.”

I grip the railing tighter, my breath caught in my throat.

The opposing goalie is ready, crouched low, but Caleb flicks his wrist at the last second, sending the puck straight to Eli, who slaps it into the net.

The goal horn blares. The crowd erupts.

“Holy shit!” I yell, jumping as Remy grabs my arm and shakes me.

“That was fucking insane,” she shouts, eyes wide. “They are on fire tonight.”

I nod, unable to tear my eyes away from the ice. The scoreboard flickers. Final seconds. The other team rushes forward, desperation clear in their movements.

Caleb intercepts a pass, slams a guy into the boards so hard the whole rink shakes, and clears the puck. The buzzer sounds.

Game over.

We win.

The arena explodes into chaos. People are hugging, screaming. My dad is actually smiling. He throws a fist into the air, something I rarely see, and my chest tightens at the sight.

The players huddle together, arms slinging around each other’s shoulders. Helmets are yanked off. There’s a blur of movement as fans push toward the ice, and I watch them flood the lower levels.

Beside me, Maya exhales a long breath. “God, I missed this,” she says. “London’s got nothing on this kind of energy. I’m so fucking glad I’m moving back.”

Remy smirks. “Caleb’s gonna lose his shit.”

Maya laughs. “He’s been moping, hasn’t he?”

Remy opens her mouth to answer, then suddenly tilts her head. “Actually…here he is.”

I turn my head just as Caleb appears, skating toward us with that ridiculous, boyish grin.

His hair is damp with sweat, his jersey clinging to him, and his whole face is lit up like a kid on Christmas.

I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s not the evil shithead I once knew.

Right now he’s a hot college hockey player who just won his game.

“Baby, did you see—” he starts, but his voice cuts off abruptly. His eyes shift, locking onto Maya.

The grin slips. His entire body goes still.

Maya takes a step forward, smiling. “Hey,” she says, clearly not hearing how he just called me baby .

The tension in the air changes so fast my skin prickles.

And then, before I can even process what’s happening, Maya throws her arms around Caleb, pressing her mouth to his like she’s claiming him right in front of everyone.

“I’m back,” she murmurs against his lips. “Surprise!”

The entire world tilts.

Caleb doesn’t push her away.

His hands grip her waist. His fucking hands are on her. He’s holding her in place.

My stomach drops straight to the floor.

What the actual fuck?

Eli steps up beside me, his presence burning hot, and then his voice cuts through the haze.

“What the fuck?”

Before I can blink, Eli’s got Caleb by the collar and yanks him backward. The punch comes fast, brutal. Caleb stumbles, his head snapping back.

Zane lunges into the fight. Bodies crash together. People are shouting. Someone’s grabbing Eli, trying to pull him off, but he’s a fucking tank, unmovable.

I can’t move.

I can’t fucking breathe.

Maya.

This is his ex?

Caleb’s ex who moved out of the country?

The one I thought was an ex but claims he’s still her boyfriend?

Memories slam into me so hard I feel sick. Caleb’s hands on me. His mouth, his body. Eli pushing me against the wall, against the bed. The way we’ve all tangled together, the way Caleb whispered things into my ear like I was the only one.

Like I was his.

It’s a fucking lie.

I don’t know when my feet start moving, but suddenly I’m stumbling back, turning, shoving through the bodies around me. My chest is caving in, my mind spinning too fast to keep up.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

I don’t know how I make it out of the arena. One second, I’m watching Caleb with his hands on her — on her — and the next, I’m in the corridor, my breath jagged, my hands shaking like I just walked out of a wreckage.

Then I slam into my dad.

“Sienna?” His hands come up, steadying me before I can collapse right there on the damn floor. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head. “Take me home.” My voice is barely there. I sound like a mess.

Dad’s eyes sharpen. He looks behind me, back toward the chaos I just ran from, and his entire body stiffens.

“Sienna,” he says again, lower this time, firmer. “What the hell is happening out there?”

I just shake my head again. “Please.”

Something in my face must get to him because he doesn’t argue. He just nods, tucks me under his arm, and steers me out.

The ride home is silent. I keep my gaze on the window, watching the city blur past. My hands won’t stop shaking. My pulse is erratic, my skin burning, freezing, everything at once.

Dad doesn’t ask again until we’re inside. The second the door shuts behind us, he turns to me, arms crossed. “Alright, what the hell is going on?”

“I’ll explain later.” My voice is raw.

His jaw twitches. He doesn’t like that answer, but for once, he lets it go. Just nods toward the stairs.

I bolt up them like my life depends on it.

The second I hit my room, I collapse onto my bed, my face pressing into the pillows. And then I fucking lose it.

It’s not quiet. It’s not pretty. It’s wrecked and ugly and gasping. My chest aches from it, my stomach clenches, my hands fist in the sheets like they can hold me together when everything else is fucking falling apart.

Caleb. Caleb and Maya.

The way he held her.

Like she still belongs to him.

Like I never did.

He wasn’t an asshole to her.

I cry harder. I cry until my throat hurts, until my whole body is shaking, until I can’t fucking breathe anymore.

I don’t even hear the window.

Not until the bed dips behind me.

Warm arms wrap around me, pulling me against a solid chest. A familiar scent, familiar strength.

Eli.

I don’t turn. I don’t move at all.

He doesn’t say anything at first. Just holds me. One arm locked around my waist, the other rubbing slow, steady circles on my back. His warmth seeps into me, grounding me, but it’s not enough to stop the wreckage inside me.

After a while, his lips brush against my temple. “It’s okay,” he murmurs. “You have me.”

I squeeze my eyes shut.

His hand keeps moving, slow and sure. “You’ll always have me,” he says again, softer this time, like it’s a fucking promise.

I have him.