Chapter Two

SARAH

The ball didn’t hit me.

It should’ve.

I braced for it, felt the air shift, felt my breath freeze—

But it never touched me.

Instead, a hand—large, veined, strong—closed around it like it weighed nothing.

Xavier.

Up close, he didn’t even look real. Snowflakes clung to the dark strands of hair falling over his forehead. His chest still rose and fell from the game, his jersey tugged tight across muscles hockey shouldn’t legally be allowed to build.

His eyes cut to the bully trio, cold as the ice behind him.

“Touch her again,” he said, voice low and lethal, “and you’ll regret ever being born.”

Jessica’s smirk collapsed instantly.

Mara swallowed hard.

Ally stepped back like he was a wild animal.

Funny. Henry had called him a monster minutes ago.

Now I was seeing exactly what that meant.

Then, as if on cue, the girls snapped out of their fear and flipped instantly into fangirl mode.

“Oh my God, Xavier, you were incredible today,” Jessica gushed, twirling her hair so hard I thought she’d rip it out. “I mean—those goals? You’re insane.”

“He’s good at everything,” Mara added breathlessly. “Literally everything.”

Everything.

I didn’t need context to know what that meant.

My cheeks burned.

Ally leaned forward, smiling up at him. “It’s my turn next, right? Like—you’ll come over tonight?”

Xavier stared at them blankly, still holding the ball like he was deciding whether to throw it through someone’s skull.

“No,” he said sharply. “Not interested.”

Jessica blinked, shocked. “Excuse me?”

Mara tilted her head. “But last week—”

“Oh, right,” Jessica cut in loudly, shooting a smug look at me. “We hooked up, remember? You practically begged.”

I looked at the ice. My heart twisted. Girls like her didn’t need to beg. They just existed, and guys fell.

But Xavier didn’t even flinch.

“I forgot your name,” he said flatly. “That should tell you everything.”

The three froze.

Then Mara forced a laugh. “You’re joking.”

“No,” Xavier said, already bored. “Leave.”

They stared at him—then at each other—then at me like it was somehow my fault.

“Whatever,” Jessica snapped. “We were just teaching the new intern a lesson.”

Xavier’s jaw clenched.

“Bad lesson,” he muttered.

The girls stomped away, whispering and throwing daggers with their eyes.

The moment they were gone, Xavier finally looked down at me.

And it hit me—I was still kneeling.

Still picking up the pieces of my things.

Still wet, cold, embarrassed, and very much aware that I probably looked like a soggy cupcake next to the supermodels who’d just left.

Xavier crouched, gathering the rest of my items before I could stop him.

“Cute,” he said, handing me my clipboard. “Good girl.”

Cute?

Was he blind?

“I’m not a dog,” I snapped automatically.

He smirked, eyes flickering with amusement. “Never said you were.”

I stood too quickly. My knees almost buckled. God, why did my legs do that? As if embarrassing myself wasn’t enough today.

And of course, Xavier noticed.

His smirk deepened.

“You’re welcome, by the way,” he said.

“For what?” I scoffed, refusing to meet his eyes.

He dropped the hockey ball into my hand. “Saving your face from caving in?”

I stiffened. “I didn’t ask you to.”

“Didn’t need to,” he said casually. “I don’t like watching stupid people do stupid things.”

“I’m not stupid.”

“Never said you were, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

I hated how that word felt warm even though it came from a jerk.

“You’re a playboy,” I shot back. “I’m not interested.”

His laugh was low, deep, and annoyingly gorgeous.

“Relax,” he said. “I wasn’t asking for your number.”

Ugh.

I hated him.

No.

I hated how he made me feel—seen.

“Besides…” His gaze dropped deliberately down my body then back up. “I helped you. You could at least say thank you.”

I tightened my grip around my clipboard. “I’m not thanking someone who thinks the whole school is his playground.”

His smile sharpened. “I like girls who fight back.”

I stepped away, but he stepped forward.

My heart tripped over itself.

“Xavier—”

He reached out and hooked a finger around my intern badge, the plastic card resting right between my breasts.

He tugged me closer by it, eyes locked on mine.

“I also like girls who play hard to get.” His breath ghosted my cheek. “So be careful, intern.”

My pulse exploded in my ears.

Then—

“XAVIER!”

Henry’s voice sliced through the air like a blade.

Xavier released my badge but didn’t move back.

Henry stormed toward us, skates clacking against the concrete, rage burning in his eyes.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Henry shoved Xavier in the chest, making him step back. “Don’t touch her.”

Xavier laughed—slow, taunting. “Relax, Captain. You’re only angry because you lost.”

Henry swung.

Xavier dodged, hands up in a lazy gesture. “Save it for the ice next time.”

Then he looked at me.

Up and down.

Slow.

Assessing.

“You are with him? What a pity,” he said softly. “Good girl. Bad taste.”

Henry grabbed my wrist. “Let's go, Sarah, Don't waste time on a fuckboy like him”.

He pulled me down the hallway.

Behind us, Xavier called, “Sarah!”

My heart stopped.

He must’ve heard the bullies say my name or even Henry.

I didn’t turn around, but his voice dripped with dangerous amusement.

“If you ever get bored…” he said, “I’m always free.”

Henry practically dragged me into the locker room before I could process anything.

He slumped against his locker, breathing heavily. “Don’t ever—ever—go near him again.”

I sat on the bench, wringing out the water from my sleeves. “Henry, I wasn’t—”

“He’s a walking STD,” Henry snapped. “I’m not kidding. Xavier will ruin your life just to entertain himself for a day.”

I swallowed. As much as I hated the delivery, the fear in Henry’s voice was real.

But I needed to change the subject.

My chest tightened, but I said it anyway.

“Henry… can we keep the sibling thing a secret? Just for now?”

His head snapped up.

“I want to earn my place,” I whispered. “I don’t want people treating me differently because I’m your sister. Or giving me this internship because of you.”

Henry stared at me.

Then something soft—warm—proud sparked in his eyes.

“Look at you,” he whispered, almost emotional. “My baby sister’s growing up.”

“Stop,” I groaned as he ruffled my hair again. “Not in public.”

He laughed. “Alright, alright.”

Then he smiled in that big-brother way.

“Come by my room tonight. I got something for you. For the Christmas party.”

“A surprise?”

“You’ll see.”

I smiled, despite everything. He hugged me, warm and tight.

For a second, the world felt okay again.

---

The athlete apartments were dim, quiet, and the hallway was decorated with cheap string lights that blinked red and green. Snow melted off my boots as I walked, my breath misting in front of me.

I didn’t know his room number. Of course, Henry forgot to tell me.

So I guessed.

Room 108.

I knocked softly. “Henry? It’s me.”

No answer.

I knocked again. “Henry?”

I heard footsteps.

The door swung open—

And I forgot how to breathe.

It wasn’t Henry.

It was Xavier standing right in front of me.

Wearing nothing but a towel hanging dangerously low around his hips.

Water dripped down his chest, each drop tracing the lines of carved muscle that looked like someone sculpted him from stone.

Broad shoulders.

Deep-cut abs.

A V-line that should’ve been illegal.

My mouth literally fell open.

Xavier leaned lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, towel tightening around his waist.

A slow, sinful smirk curved his lips.

“Looking for me, sweetheart?”