No One Is Jealous

 

Darcy

The ice rink smelt like frozen ice and regret as I walked towards it with my skating blades in hand.  

Fans had unexpectedly gathered to watch a scrimmage of just two individuals fighting over captaincy. What got on my nerves more was that they kept screaming Grayson’s name even though he was a bad player before he left for Milan. Everyone knew, but yet they cheered hard, blurring my name into their scrutinizing gaze.  

I let my eyes travel to the other side of the rink—Grayson bent on one knee, buckling his boots—and I didn’t know why my eyes decided to watch his back from a distance longer than I’d expected.

Alia from level 200 ran to him, handing him a rose with an awkwardly sweet smile. I fucking thought he wouldn’t accept it, but the way he inhaled it deeply made me bite down hard.

What was he thinking? Coming here to prove bullshit?

I scoffed loudly, turning my gaze when his eyes met mine. Everything blurred, but I looked away first, snapping my head towards the approaching figure.

“Hey, bluey.” Echo wrapped a hand around my neck like he always did.

“Don’t call me that.” I threw his hand away.

“What? That’s just a way of complimenting your hair colour.” Echo shrugged with a grin.

“Don’t act like it’s the first time you’re noticing it.” I frowned harder, swinging my stick.

Echo’s eyes narrowed toward Grayson, his demeanor changing into a little distaste. “What’s wrong with him? I thought he left our school?”

I drifted my eyes to meet Gray again. This time he was being swamped by girls.

“Showing off.” I scoffed, folding my arms. My chest tightened as I stared longer.

He fucking dated me. Why the hell would he dare smile at them?

The fact that he’d never asked what happened hurt more.

“Who’s showing off this time?” A feminine voice cut through our malice.

That was Natalie, my girlfriend. Yeah, my girlfriend.

“Gossip.” I rolled my eyes at her. She smiled, her attention already on Grayson again.

“He’s the new guy?”

“No. That’s the old loser.” I let my anger sit at the surface.

“Woah, bluey! You hate him that much?” Echo jerked with hiccuped laughter.

“If there’s anything worse.”

The referee blew the whistle, a sign for us to get to the rink. I gave Natalie a tight-lipped smile while Grayson was striding forward onto the ice.

She pressed a full kiss on my cheek, making me jerk with a slightly disgusted face.  

Grayson’s jaw went tight, his knuckles turning white on his hockey stick.

He brushed past me on the ice. I almost fell off balance. “Bastard.”

“You think getting kissed counts?” He did a taunting laugh.

“And what’s that supposed to mean?” I glared hard at him.

His lips curled up, but before he could speak, Coach was already on the ice.

“Move your feet, boys.”

I blinked thrice. The fog was already getting into my eyes. Holy shit, not here.

We had a face-off and before I could get the puck, the crowd was back to life.

Grayson hit the puck out of my balance, his stick meeting mine with a sharp, vibrating jolt that sent shock waves to my brain. And then he was gone. His legs were too fast as he ducked to a corner and gave a swift, almost impulsive shot from a distance.

What had he done to his legs in Milan?

I couldn’t back down now. I skated with force, intentionally colliding into him. He didn’t budge. He didn’t even look back—just a tiny smirk that sat on his face.

“You’re still clingy, aren’t you?”  

That expression hit me like a mock stare.

“Not to a stinky body, Calloway.” I spat angrily, my stick hitting the puck out of his grip.

He circled back. “You inhaled my jersey and touched yourself in front of me. Sometimes I don’t want to remember.” His face was just an inch away from mine.

Smiley.  

Stupid.  

Painfully attractive.

For a moment I thought no one was watching. I forgot I was playing with an enemy who came back to take my spot as memories hit back. I froze. The ice caged me in its hold.  

And before I could process his tricks, I caught sight of the tiny bracelet under his jersey—it was the exact brand with the stranger from last night.

My brain short-circuited as lightning images flashed in my head. Groans. Slapping. Hissing. Fuck.

Why did these two rich guys choose to have the same property that messes with my head?

Grayson took advantage and shot the puck into five holes.  

My legs weren’t even fast enough, and here was the goalie I’d trusted—the ball passed between his legs.

The cheers erupted. I could literally hear the jabs from the teammates.

“That’s the captain we prayed for.”  

“What a clean shot with ice coffee goal.”  

“Ex-captain is a pylon.”  

“Grayson is a beauty. I want that dude.”  

“Get the hell out of that rink, spineless faggot.” Trey’s voice was the loudest from the bleachers.

I threw him a middle finger with both gloved hands. “It doesn’t matter how loud you cheer, Trey. My answer is NO! I won’t fuck you.” I let out a silly smirk.

A smirk grazed Grayson’s lips.

Coach Lee skated into the rink. His face was a mix of pride and disappointment.  

“Congratulations, Calloway. You’re now the captain.” He took Grayson’s lazy fingers.  

“And you, Williams—get ready for your punishment for lack of sportsmanship.” He nodded at me.

I didn’t even know how I felt when it dawned on me that Grayson would take my position. My knees went weak. I could have fallen on the ice, but that would definitely be a win to Grayson.

I stood there for a second, just breathing, before the words came out.

“You don’t deserve this, Grayson.” I clenched my fist hard enough to bruise.

His smile only stretched wider. My breath cut when he skated to me, lips just an inch away from mine.  

And for a second I thought he would kiss me.

“I don’t deserve it? I won fairly, wifey.” He held my jaw firmly. “You’re mine now, baby. Mine. All mine.” His thin lips were devilish.

I slapped his hands off, my heartbeat going wild, and the fact that he’d noticed me going stiff made it worse.

“Get off. I belong to no one!”

“No? I’ll fuck you in front of your girlfriend. That’s how much the deal goes.” He whispered in my ear.  

A shiver ran down my spine as he walked off. My eyes didn’t leave his back till he was out of sight. I thought I was the only shameless one.

I took off my shoulder pads when I got to the empty locker room. Down the hall, the music was already too loud with a wild party. The vibration thumped in my ear as I sat on a bench, my phone in hand, staring at a new message from the strange dragon-tattoo guy.

*You look pretty on the rink. I want to breed that thing.*

My jaw tightened. He could just show himself instead of hiding in the shadows, right? I texted back after the message was gone.

*Fuck yourself. I’m in no mood.*

I waited for five minutes. No reply. My eyes darted to the screen more times than I could count.  

Until the screen lit up. I checked it fast, but surprisingly it was a call from an unknown number.

I picked up fast before thinking, but the words I heard made my blood run cold.

“You’re Darcy Williams, yes? Your attention is needed at the police station.”