Page 47 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

OWEN

The arena was packed more than usual tonight.

Fans from both Eden Falls University and Yale had turned out in full force, filling every row of the stadium.

The air practically pulsed with anticipation, the hum of conversation swelling beneath the vaulted ceiling, cheers ricocheting off concrete and steel.

I sat beside Theo and Charlotte, trying to act like this was just another Sunday meet.

Like I wasn’t secretly counting every heartbeat until Lucy’s turn on beam.

Charlotte, who’d been sitting quietly with her headphones and a coloring book, tugged on Theo’s sleeve. “Daddy, I have to go potty.”

Theo looked at the rotation list on his phone, then glanced up at the scoreboard. Lucy’s name was next.

He sighed like it physically pained him to miss her routine. “All right, bug. Let’s go fast, okay?” He turned to me. “Would you mind filming Lucy’s routine for me?”

I swallowed the knot forming in my throat and gave Theo a nod that I hoped looked casual. “Yeah, of course.” I pulled my phone from my back pocket, trying not to look like a guy about to commit professional suicide. “I’ll get a good angle.”

Because what was I supposed to say? Sorry, man, but filming your little sister feels like toeing every professional line I’m already trying not to cross ?

The announcer’s voice cut through the low hum of the arena. “Up next on beam…Lucy Archibald, competing for Eden Falls University.”

A round of cheers rose from our section. I angled my phone toward the balance beam and hit Record .

Lucy stepped into view, all focus and calm fire, her hair slicked back into a tight braided bun that didn’t move an inch.

She raised one arm to signal the judges, then turned her attention to the beam, her expression steady and composed.

A breath. A beat. Then, before I even had time to register what was happening, she launched off the springboard, twisting midair and landing in a crouch on the beam like it was second nature.

No wobble. No hesitation. Just…total command.

She rose to her feet with that quiet confidence that always knocked the breath out of me, arms lifting in a smooth arc, drawing more cheers from the crowd.

But she wasn’t even close to being done.

She moved along the beam like it was just an extension of herself. Each movement strong, clean, deliberate. It was that signature mix of grace and grit that was so uniquely her.

I was always impressed by her, but this? This was next level.

She paused at the end of the beam, took a steadying breath, then launched into a tumbling pass—some kind of lightning-fast combo of handsprings that ended in a layout. And when she stuck the landing, the place went wild.

Her smile was radiant. She struck a pose—arms back, chin tilted .

Then her gaze slid toward my section.

Just a quick glance.

But I swear it landed on me.

And that was when it happened.

The shift.

The slow arch of her back. A teasing sweep of her legs. The tiniest wink—so quick it could’ve been nothing.

And I couldn’t be sure since her gaze only landed on me for a brief second before panning to another row, but…was she flirting with me?

I’d seen her do those moves for the cameraman the last time I was here, so I knew they were part of the routine. A way to showcase her personality, connect with the judges, draw the crowd in.

But this time, she was facing my direction.

And I couldn’t help but wonder…was she putting on a show for me?

As much as I loved it—loved the idea that maybe she was—it sent a jolt straight through my chest for a whole other reason.

Because her dad was here. Her teammates. An entire arena of spectators.

And if anyone so much as guessed what might be going on between us…

It would be game over.

I shifted in my seat.

“Okay, Theo,” I muttered, subtly lowering the phone in case anyone was looking my direction, “now would be an excellent time to come back and take this thing off my hands.” Because this was dangerous territory.

Also…there was no way I wasn’t watching that video again when I got home.

But then I heard it.

A voice from behind me. Male. Low. Way too confident.

“Dang, she’s hot. Bet she’s a freak in the sheets.”

I went still.

“Wouldn’t mind seeing that beam routine up close,” another guy chimed in, laughing. “With flexibility like that? Yeah, I’ve got a few ideas.”

More laughter.

My jaw tightened and heat crawled up my neck.

Tune it out. Let it go. Don’t make a scene, I told myself as I stared at the phone screen, trying to pretend I didn’t hear it.

But then the first guy added, louder this time, “Wonder if she’s single. I’d let her ride my balance beam?—”

And that was it.

“Hey.” I turned around before my brain could catch up with my body. “That’s President Archibald’s daughter you’re talking about. Maybe show a little respect.”

Both guys flinched, mid-laugh, their expressions shifting fast like they hadn’t expected to be called out. One of them muttered something about me needing to take a chill pill.

Then I saw him. Lucy’s ex, Josh.

Seated with some hockey teammates two rows up. Watching.

His brow arched, eyes locked on mine, and I was pretty sure there was a hint of recognition flashing across his face.

Perfect.

Did he recognize me from that night at The Garden? Or did he know I was a professor here?

Either way, the look he was giving me wasn’t good. Because it looked like he was connecting way too many dots.

I forced a slow breath and turned my attention back to the floor.

Lucy was finishing her routine—dismounting with a clean double twist and a small hop.

The crowd roared to life and I let out a cheer of my own, trying to keep it low-key. Controlled. Normal. Even though inside, pride was flooding me like a tidal wave.

She was unreal.

Strong. Fearless. The kind of performer you couldn’t look away from.

A few minutes later, Theo reappeared, carrying Charlotte in his arms. She had her little head tucked into his shoulder, arms looped around his neck.

“Did they announce Lucy’s score?” he asked, sounding winded.

“Just barely.” I nodded. “She crushed it. Got a 9.935.”

“No way.” Theo’s whole face lit up. “That’s one of her best this season. You got it on video?”

“Yep. I’ll airdrop it.”

He held out his phone, and I sent the file, doing my best to look casual and not like my heart was still racing from watching Lucy dominate that routine.

From hearing those guys talk about her like she was just something to consume.

From Josh noticing how invested I was in her performance.

Yep. Just one more routine to get through and then I could relax again.