UTTERLY UNFAIR

NOAH’S POINT OF VIEW

Stealing my brother's identity to prove to my father that girls belonged on the I’ve sounded a lot easier a couple of hours ago. Back then, I’d imagined scoring goals, winning championships, watching my father’s jaw hit the floor when I proved him wrong……I never imagined being wrapped in enough duct tape to survive a natural disaster.

Or wearing three layers of clothes just to hide the fact that God had been a little too generous when creating my body. The wig attached to my scalp felt like it’d been created from a cactus, the fake eyebrows Ernesto glued to my eyebrows itched so badly, I was one scratch away from exposing my entire identity before we even landed.

Don’t get me started on the sideburns.

And somehow, that wasn’t my biggest problem.

My biggest problem was sitting exactly eighteen inches away from me. Jace Donovan. I stole a glance at him before looking back out the airplane window.

Four years; four whole years since I’d last seen him, and time hadn’t been kind to him. No, it had spoiled him.

His dark hair was slightly longer than I remembered, falling effortlessly over his forehead to frame his stupidly handsome face. A sleeve of tattoos disappeared beneath the rolled cuffs of his black hoodie, and an expensive silver watch was around his wrist. Somehow, even while sitting down, he carried himself like he owned every inch of the plane.

He looked like the star hockey player he was. It was unfair; he’d broken my heart and somehow gotten hotter.

“You’re going to keep staring at that window?” He said lazily, I could feel his gaze running over my skin. I clenched my hands. “Or are you planning on saying hello?”

I nearly jumped out of my seat. “I..” my real voice peaked out. I cleared my throat, deepened it; “I’m just tired.”

He studied me for a second while I forced myself to hold his gaze. “Tired?”

“It’s a long flight.”

“Owen Brooks…been a while since we were like this. Where are you headed?” He leaned over me; probably too close because I could smell his minty breath mixed with the expensive cologne that clung to his glistening skin.

I swallowed again. “Black Ridge Hockey Academy.” I hated that my voice came out with a squeak and that his brows shot up.

“You? Why?”

“I want to try out for the star team,” I replied, trying not to blink too fast or tremble from his piercing blue gaze.

“Since when do you like hockey?”

He chuckled, leaning further back. I nearly shuddered; his perfectly athletic, muscled build stretched over the seat, giving him an even hotter look than before.

“Since now.”

“And your father has nothing to do with this? Last I checked, you hate the sport.”

I managed to forget that he and Owen were best friends; of course, he thinks this. “I changed my mind.”

“I can see that….seems your mind isn’t the only thing that’s changed about you.”

I forced a laugh that sounded more like someone choking on ice cubes. “What do you mean?”

His blue eyes lingered on my face a second longer than I wanted to hate. Please stop looking at me….please.

“You smell different.”

“What?” I froze.

“You used to drown yourself in that awful cedar musk.” He gagged to that effect, and I nearly did too.

I hated it as much as he did….we both did. He wrinkled his nose dramatically, frowned slightly, and suddenly leaned closer.

“W-what are you d-doing?” I swallowed. He was so close…so close I could see my reflection in his eyes.

He leaned even closer, burying his nose in the crook of my neck. My mouth fell open as I gasped aloud, making everyone turn to stare at us. I cleared my throat, my nails digging into the seat as he sniffed.

“You smell like coconut…. you're allergic to coconut.”

Owen is allergic to coconut; it’s my favorite.

I cleared my throat yet again, shrugged my shoulders, and said with a forced casual tone. “I-I’m no longer allergic.”

“Really?” He thankfully leaned back, finally giving me proper air to breathe. Although I still caught several notes of his cologne.

“Yeah, the doctor says it’s all right now. I can have as much coconut as I please.” I held myself back from wiping the sweat from my brow.

He didn’t look convinced. But thankfully, before he could ask another question, the slight attendant appeared beside us.

“Mr Donovan?”

He looked up with a polite smile. “Your family’s driver has already arrived at Blackridge Academy, sir. He will be waiting outside the private terminal as soon as we land.”

“Thanks.”

She smiled before walking away. Of course, a private driver and terminal. I wouldn’t expect anything less for one of the richest hockey players in North America, or from the heir to a massive estate his late grandfather left him.

Some things would never change; one of them was the fact that Jace Donovan was disgustingly rich.

He noticed me staring. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar.”

I looked away; the sound of his soft laughter washed against my skin like smooth butter. I should hate it, but I want to keep hearing it. From the corner of my eye, I saw him massage his jaw with an index finger.

I glanced at his watch; we would land soon….and I could hide from him as much as possible. My breath caught in my throat when he asked the one thing I never thought he would;

“How is your sister?”

Every muscle in my body tensed, my ears both tingled and itched as I tried not to look at him.

He’s asking after…me?

“Is she still crazy about hockey?” His voice was casual.

“Y-yes.” Would it have been better to say no?

“I’m shocked she didn’t tie you down back home, and come up with some grand scheme to take your place instead.”

My head snapped to him immediately. “W-w-why w-w-would you s-say that?”

“Easy, tiger.” He chuckled, slapping my chest. I gasped again, eyes wide just like his. “How come your chest is so soft?”

“I…I…” sweat dropped down my brow into my left eye as I tried to find something, anything. “Noah is quite well; she supports me in this.”

“Huh? That’s surprising.” He nodded slowly before looking back out the window.

“Yeah.”

Thank God….my fingers tapped rapidly against my skin as I counted from one to thirty backwards.

“She still hates me?”

He asked again, making me stare at his side profile. The teasing smile had disappeared. For the first time, he widened his eyes and looked almost disappointed.

“I…” My throat tightened as the memory of him rejecting me outright years ago flashed through my mind. I should tell him no and be done with it, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but remember my broken heart, or the fact that I decided to be with Justin out of spite, only to learn he’d left the country shortly after. “Does she have any reason to hate you, Jace?”

My real voice peaked out. I watched him, the way his hands seemed to ball up slightly. He didn’t reply, didn’t even wiggle his brows, and somehow, that silence hurt more than I expected.

Before I could think of anything else to say, the captain’s voice echoed through the cabin.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing in Vancouver in approximately five minutes.”

Relief washed over me. Finally, I would be as far from him as possible. Maybe I would survive being a boy after all.

The wheels touched the runway with a gentle thud, and after we’d stopped, passengers stood immediately, reaching for their luggage.

I grabbed my backpack, already imagining ten minutes of peace before whatever would come next.

Jace slung his duffel bag over one shoulder and grinned. “Don’t look so relieved.”

“Why?” I frowned.

“Why?”

“The fun starts now.”

Before I could ask what he meant, the aircraft door opened. The moment we stepped into the terminal, a booming voice echoed through the arrivals hall.

“BLACKRIDGE RECRUITS!!!”

Every head snapped toward the man in the academy tracksuit standing beside a waiting bus. A whistle hung around his neck, a clipboard tucked under one arm, and a harsh expression sat on his strong face.

“Bus leaves in five minutes! No sightseeing! No laziness!! Tryouts begin the second we reach campus!”

My heart dropped straight into my stomach. I thought pretending to be a boy was going to be the hardest part. Apparently, I hadn’t even started.

I moved toward the bus like the other guys when Jace grabbed my shoulder.

“W-what are you doing?” I blinked, my skin turned warm even though the heavy layers of clothing.

“You don’t have to ride with them in the bus; you can ride with me instead.”

The ride to the campus from here would take at least two hours; spending one more minute in proximity to Jace was a nightmare I couldn’t afford right now.

“I-I don’t think there is any need to..”

“Oh, let’s go.” He chuckled, grabbing my luggage before I could say anything, and he dragged me along.