Chapter 2 : Unwelcome Guests

~~~Soraya~~~~

I lasted less than an hour in the penthouse before everything went completely insane. After claiming the master bedroom, I blasted my pre-game playlist and started unpacking like I was trying to murder the suitcase.

My Storm hoodie was halfway over my head when the blender exploded to life in the kitchen, loud, obnoxious, and clearly Declan’s way of reminding me he existed.

I stormed out, visible fumes oozed out my eyes and ears. 

Declan stood at the island, shirtless again, dumping protein powder into the blender like he owned the entire building.

“Rule one.” I yelled over the noise “Shirt On, Now.”

He turned the blender off and grinned that cocky, panty-melting smirk. 

“Rule two, you don’t get to walk around looking like that and then demand I cover up. Those shorts are illegal, Savage.” He shot back.

“These are standard athletic wear, you Neanderthal.”  

I grabbed an apple from the ridiculous fruit basket the sponsor left and hurled it at his head.

He caught it one handed, took a bite, and winked. Before I could launch something heavier, my phone started blowing up. 

Messages from my best friend Maya Torres and Storm teammates.

Maya: Bitch where are you?

Maya: People saying you moved out of the dorms???

Maya: I’m outside the address some random sent me. Let me in or I’m climbing the fire escape.

“Oh no,” I muttered.

Declan raised an eyebrow. “Problem already, wife?”

“Stay in the bedroom,” I ordered, rushing to the door.

Too late.

The second I cracked it open, Maya barged in like a hurricane 4’11 of pure chaos, her red haired changed brightened the ambience in seconds, Maya is like a bowl of fire crackers and unfiltered mouth. 

Behind her trailed two more Storm teammates, Lena and Priya, carrying grocery bags and gossip.

“Surprise housewarming.” Maya yelled.

Then froze when she spotted Declan standing there shirtless, with sweatpants low on his hips.

 “What the actual fuck.”

Priya dropped her bag. “Is that… Declan Shaw? Captain of the Blades? In your apartment? Half-naked?”

Lena already had her phone out. 

“I’m live streaming this. The group chat needs to see..”

“No.” I screamed. “Do NOT” I snatched her phone. 

“This isn’t what it looks like.”

Declan leaned against the wall, arms crossed, looking way too amused. 

It annoyed me even more.

“Actually, it’s exactly what it looks like.” 

Maya’s eyes narrowed dangerously. 

“Soraya Rivera. Explain. Now. Before I call Coach and the entire women’s team.”

The door opened again.

Because apparently the universe hated me and had chose this day to embarrass me.

Jax Callahan casually walked in like he was invited, he is Declan’s best friend, star winger for the Blades, and campus fuckboy supreme.

He was holding a six pack of beer and a pizza box.

 “Bro, I brought reinforcements for your first night in the love shack…whoa.” He stopped dead, staring at the three Storm girls. 

“This just got awkward.”

Maya spun on Declan. “You married her?”

She continued her interrogation. “After that Vegas shitshow where you basically dry-humped her against the wall on camera?”

“We didn’t dry-hump,” Declan growled.

“You kinda did,” Jax said, grinning as he dropped onto the couch like he owned it.

I squeezed my eyes tightly.

 “Video’s still going viral on campus Tok group.”

I took in a sharp breath and exhaled. “It’s a contract. Sponsor deal. Debt relief for my family. His draft stock. We have to pretend to be married until graduation. Happy now?”

Gosh.

Silence lasted exactly two seconds before the room exploded. 

Maya looked ready to murder. 

“You sold your soul to him? The guy who’s called our team ‘the side show’ for three years?”

Jax laughed. “And you married the girl who said your entire line plays like ‘overpaid toddlers with sticks.’ This is gold.”

Priya was already texting the entire Storm group chat. Lena had restarted her livestream in the corner.

“Turn that off” I snapped, lunging for her phone.

Declan moved fast, stepping between everyone like the captain he was. 

“Alright, calm the fuck down. This is our apartment. Our deal. You breathe a word about it being fake and we all lose everything, scholarships, sponsors, futures.”

Maya stepped up to him, fearless. “If you hurt my best friend, I will end you, Shaw. I don’t care how big your NHL contract is.”

The tension was nuclear. 

Shouting, accusations, Maya threatening Declan with a hockey stick she grabbed from my bag, Jax flirting with Priya while filming everything on his phone 'For blackmail material.’ he had said.

I was yelling at everyone to shut up when the front door opened one more time.

A polished woman in a sharp suit stepped inside, the university’s head of athletics and the alumni sponsor’s representative. Her eyes swept over the chaos, half-naked Declan, three storm girls, Jax with pizza, Maya holding a hockey stick like a weapon.

“Well,” she said coldly. “This is disappointing. The first official photos of your happy marriage are already leaking online from that little livestream. The alumni board is not amused.”

She held up her tablet. The screen showed a blurry but recognizable photo. Declan and me inches apart, looking like we were either about to fight or fuck.

Then she dropped the bomb.

“President wants you both at an emergency press conference tomorrow morning. You will look madly in love. And if you can’t sell this convincingly…” 

She smiled without warmth. “The deal is off. Debt stays. Scholarship gone. Draft dreams over.”

She turned to leave, then paused. “Oh, and one more thing, your parents have been invited, Soraya. They’re flying in tonight. They want to meet their new son-in-law.”

The door clicked shut.

The room went dead silent. I slowly turned to Declan, heart hammering.

He looked as stunned as I felt.

Maya and Lena whispered in sync. “Holy fucking shit.”

As if that was the end, my phone started ringing.

Mom.

My Mom was calling.

Just kill me now.