LOGIN“Or what?”
Nihan refused to look away from Lucy.
She knew challenging her was bold, but someone needed to stand up to this woman. If everyone kept giving in, Lucy would continue living inside her perfect little world, believing she was untouchable.
Believing everyone would always bow their heads and do whatever she wanted.
Luc
Calix had to leave.Deep down, Nihan had always known she would eventually have to face that reality. But she had become so comfortable having him beside her that a foolish part of her had begun to believe he would stay forever.As though time had stopped.As though Manhattan no longer existed.“Wait, Nihan. It isn’t what you think.”Calix’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.She looked at him and forced a smile.“It’s okay. I understand. Your life is in Manhattan.” She lowered her gaze. “I’ll return there too someday, once I find a job.”Calix sighed.Before Nihan could react, he pushed the driver’s seat back, lifted her from the passenger seat, and settled her on his lap.Her eyes widened as he held her firmly in place.“Calix,” she whispered, her face burning as she glanced outside.The car windows were not tinted, and they were still parked near the center where she worked.“Someone might see us.”“You won’t listen unless I make you stay still.”Nihan stared at him.“I’m only ret
“Should I send him a direct message?” Carmen asked excitedly while Courtney and Mary encouraged her.Nihan silently groaned.Why did they always have their breaks at the same time? More importantly, why were Carmen’s friends here again? Didn’t they have anything better to do, or was interfering in other people’s lives their full-time job?“Several people have messaged me asking whether we’ll have a special guest,” Carmen continued. “A lot of our former classmates are hockey players or hockey fans, so I think he would be perfect.”Despite herself, Nihan became curious.Who were they talking about?“That would be amazing!” Courtney exclaimed. “I’ve always wanted to meet him.”“And since he isn’t playing right now, he might respond,” Mary added. “You have a lot of followers, don’t you?”Carmen tucked her hair behind her ear with a smug smile.“I just reached one hundred thousand.”Courtney and Mary immediately began praising her.“Then he’ll definitely notice you.”“With that many follow
Calix had never felt this peaceful in his entire life.Living with Nihan’s family had shown him what a real family was supposed to feel like.Hannah and Jerry treated him as their own son, even though they had known him for less than a month. Fred treated him like an older brother, constantly asking for hockey advice or dragging him into whatever strange activity had caught his attention.Fred could be a menace at times.Calix could only imagine what would happen if Fred and Zayla ever met. The two of them together would create absolute chaos.For everyone’s safety, that meeting could never happen.Calix had even learned how to bake and knit, two things he had never imagined himself doing. Surprisingly, he enjoyed them.Whenever Nihan came home from work and smiled as she ate the sweets he had made, Calix wanted to bake for her again. That simple happiness on her face made every effort worthwhile.He had just finished gardening with Jerry. Fred was out playing hockey with his friends,
“You’re not going, Calix. That’s final.”Nihan sat on the bed while Calix gently dried her hair with a towel.Over the past few days, they had become surprisingly domestic. Their simple routines felt so natural that she sometimes forgot this kind of happiness was something she had once believed she would never have.“What am I supposed to do?” Calix asked, peeking over her head with a smile.It was unfair how handsome he looked, even from that angle.“I already told them I would attend,” he continued. “I’ll go as Calix Godwin and introduce myself as your boyfriend.”Nihan’s cheeks immediately grew warm.Hearing him call himself her boyfriend still felt new. Every time he said it, her heart fluttered and warmth spread through her body.They had not been intimate since she left Manhattan, and looking at him now made her painfully aware of how much she missed his touch.She wanted him.“Do you understand how much attention that will attract?” she asked softly. “They’ll make a scene, and
Calix knew who they were before they even introduced themselves.They had to be the people who used to look down on Nihan.They had squeezed themselves around the table without being invited, and Jerome even had the nerve to take the seat beside her.Calix clicked his tongue.He should have sat between them, but Nihan had stopped him earlier. Now he was forced to watch Jerome sit far too close to her.Across the table, one of the men nudged Fred and gave him an overly familiar grin.“Fred, it’s been a while. You’re playing for Oakridge now?”“Really?” Carmen exclaimed. “I heard the tuition there is expensive. How did you manage to enroll?”Calix subtly shook his head.Fred had been right about Carmen. She barely tried to hide her insulting tone.“I received a scholarship,” Fred replied without missing a beat. “Not many people can do that. Jerome and Logan couldn’t even qualify. I’m the first person from our high school to get into Oakridge that way.”A smirk touched Calix’s lips.Fred
“Just drop us off at the house,” Nihan’s mother said. “Your father is probably exhausted. I haven’t seen him that energetic since the nineties.”Her father immediately protested. “I still have plenty of energy!”Despite his claim, Nihan could hear the exhaustion in his voice. She covered her mouth to hide a giggle. Her father had never liked anyone underestimating him.“After that, take Calix to Dorado,” her mother continued before turning to him. “It’s the most famous local diner in town. The food is cheap, but it’s very good.”“Mom,” Nihan muttered.Her mother merely smiled.“Just make him wear a hat. He’s already wearing Fred’s shabby clothes, so no one should recognize him.”Nihan looked at Calix and could not help smiling.Her mother was right.After playing at the rink, the men had changed because their clothes were covered in sweat. Calix had ended up wearing Fred’s shabbiest outfit, which consisted of a worn-out shirt and linen shorts with holes around the waistband.“What?” F







