Chapter 2 Lila's Pov

“Relax,” Jake murmured against my ear, his hand warm and possessive at my waist. “If you grip my arm any tighter, people will think I’m dragging you in here against your will.”

“I am relaxed,” I lied, forcing a smile as the bass from inside the hall rattled through my bones. “This is just my face when I am relaxed.”

He laughed in a low and confident manner, the kind of laugh that made people turn before they realized why. “ Just do better. You’re doing great, Lila, by the way. Just do better, trust me.”

Trust him.

The word settled strangely in my chest as the doors to the hockey hall swung open and light spilled out like a living thing.

The music hit first. Loud. Pulsing. A rhythm that seemed to crawl under my skin and demand movement from me. 

Colored lights flashed overhead, bouncing off banners with the team’s logo, off glass cups, off bodies already pressed close together. The smell of perfume, sweat, alcohol and anticipation blended into something dizzying.

Jake tightened his arm around mine and stepped forward like he belonged here, like the room had been waiting for him.

And just like that, people began to look at me differently.

Not as Lila Brooks from the literature department. Not as the girl who always had flyers tucked into her bag for student council meetings. 

But as someone chosen by a man sexy as hell. 

I lifted my chin and walked in with him.

“See?” Jake said, leaning down so only I could hear. “Easy.”

I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and laughed, the sound shaky at first, then calmer after a few seconds. “Don’t get cocky. We just crossed the door.”

Inside, clusters of couples stood everywhere. Arms slung around waists. Fingers laced together. Heads bent together in private conversations even with the music screaming over them. I caught snippets as we passed.

“Did you see their jerseys this season—”

“—freshers don’t even know how lucky they are—”

“—my boyfriend plays defense—”

Each word scraped at the old insecurity that I was familiar with but Jake’s presence helped me to be calmer. He moved in close, murmured comments about the lights, the DJ, the drinks table already surrounded by people. 

He smiled at me like it was easy, like flirting was second nature, and when he brushed his thumb over my knuckles, my stomach flipped despite myself.

We stopped near the drinks table and he handed me a cup without asking what I wanted.

“You remembered,” I said.

“Orange punch,” he replied. “You mentioned it.”

I stared at him, surprised. “You actually listen.”

He grinned. “I have my moments.”

I took a sip and almost laughed again, giddy and light in a way I hadn’t felt all week. 

Maybe this could work. Maybe just for tonight, the lie would hold.

Then I saw my brother.

Mason stood near the edge of the room with a couple of his teammates, his presence grounding even from across the hall. His eyes found me instantly, relief flickering there before his gaze dropped to Jake’s arm around my waist.

The relief vanished immediately.

His jaw tightened and is brows drew together. He took a step forward.

Oh no. 

“No,” I muttered, tightening my grip on Jake’s arm. “Not now.”

Jake followed my line of sight, amused. “That your brother?”

“Yes,” I hissed. “Please don’t say anything stupid.”

“I’m offended,” he said lightly. “I only say stupid things when provoked.”

Mason reached us in a few strides. “Lila,” he said in a voice that sounded careful and controlled. His eyes stayed on Jake. “Didn’t know you were coming tonight.”

“I told you I might,” I replied quickly. “Mason, this is Jake, my boyfriend.”

The word boyfriend felt strange and thrilling at the same time on my tongue.

Mason’s gaze sharpened in response. “Boyfriend?”

Jake stuck out his hand like this was a business meeting. “Nice to meet you.”

Mason hesitated just long enough to make it obvious, then shook it, his grip firm. “Mason.”

“I’ve heard a lot,” Jake said smoothly.

My brother’s eyes flicked to me. “Really?”

“Yes,” Jake continued. “All good things.”

I shot him a warning look, silently begging him to stop talking. Mason looked like he wanted to interrogate him like the way a police cop would interrogate a criminal but instead he glanced at me again.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded too quickly. “I’m fine. I’m having fun.”

He searched my face, then sighed. “Alright. I’ll be around.”

“I know,” I said in a voice that was softer now. “Thanks.”

He gave Jake one last look that was unreadable before stepping back into the crowd.

Jake watched him go, his lips twitching. “Protective.”

“You have no idea,” I said.

He moved closer to me. “And who was the other guy staring holes into my back?”

My heart skipped. “Who?”

Jake tilted his head subtly. “Tall. Quiet. Looks like he’s judging the entire room.”

I followed his gaze without meaning to and there he was.

Ethan.

He stood near the bar, hockey jacket open, arms crossed loosely over his chest like he didn’t need to take up space to command it. 

His eyes were on me, steady and unsettling, not angry, not amused, just looking at me intently. Like he was trying to understand something that refused to make sense.

I looked away first.

“No one,” I said too fast. “Just… someone I know.”

He was my best friend’s brother and my brother’s best friend but I wasn't ready to say that. 

Jake chuckled. “Sure.”

I felt heat crawl up my neck. I hadn’t spoken to Ethan all week. Barely exchanged words beyond polite hellos when we crossed paths. And now here he was, watching me walk in with someone else like it mattered.

It didn’t.

I told myself it didn’t.

Jake tugged me toward the center of the room and the music seemed to grow louder as we moved. He danced easily, confidently, pulling me close, spinning me once just because he could. 

I laughed, real laughter this time, and for a moment the noise and the lights and the bodies faded into something almost magical.

“See?” he said again, his breath warm against my cheek. “You belong here.”

I wanted to believe him.

We talked. We danced. People smiled at us, nodded in approval, some girls whispering as Jake moved closer to say something that made me laugh again. He flirted shamelessly, fingers tracing lazy patterns at my lower back, mouth brushing my ear as he spoke, and I played my part, leaning into him, pretending my heart belonged to him. 

Every so often, I caught Mason watching from across the room, his expression wary but resigned at the same time. And every time, without meaning to, my eyes drifted to the bar.

Ethan hadn’t moved much. He talked to people, laughed occasionally but his gaze kept finding me. When our eyes met again, he looked away first this time, jaw tightening and something sharp twisted in my chest.

I tried not to think about it. 

“The party is… intense,” Jake said, handing me yet another drink.

“That’s one word for it,” I replied.

“Lots of unspoken tension,” he added. “I can practically taste it.”

I snorted. “You’re imagining things.”

“Am I?” He smiled like he knew better.

The DJ’s voice suddenly cut through the music, loud and crackling. “Alright, alright, listen up! You know what time it is!”

A cheer went up around the hall. People clapped, whistled, couples pulling closer instinctively.

I smiled deeply as I realised what was going on. 

“The couple dance,” Jake said, eyes lighting up. “Here we go.”

I laughed in response. This dance was what I had been waiting for all night. 

The lights dimmed, shifting into something slower, warmer. The first notes of a familiar song drifted through the air, softer but no less commanding. 

Around us, people turned toward their partners, hands finding waists, shoulders, necks.

I looked up at Jake, nerves fluttering wildly. “Ready?”

“Give me one second,” he suddenly said. “I need to grab something.”

“What?” I asked with brows furrowed in surprise. “Now?”

He leaned down and kissed my cheek in a manner that was quick and light. “Relax. I’ll be right back.”

Before I could respond, he slipped into the crowd, disappearing between taller bodies, darker jackets.

I stood there, momentarily frozen, drink in my hand. The music swelled and soon, couples began to sway.

One second, I told myself.

Just one second.

I scanned the room casually at first, half-expecting him to reappear with a grin, maybe a joke about timing. 

I shifted my weight, stepped slightly to the side to see better.

Nothing.

A couple brushed past me, laughing. Someone bumped my shoulder and apologized. The space around me began to close as pairs drew together, leaving pockets of emptiness where single bodies didn’t belong.

My heart thudded faster.

I craned my neck, eyes darting toward the drinks table, then the entrance, then the hallway leading to the restrooms.

“Jake?” I called, my voice swallowed by the music.

No answer.

I pulled out my phone, fingers clumsy as I unlocked it, scanning the screen for a message that wasn’t there.

Maybe he got stuck. Maybe someone stopped him. Maybe—

A laugh rose behind me, sharp and mocking, a

nd I flinched, suddenly too aware of where I stood. 

I was alone while everyone else moved in sync.

I turned slowly, panic creeping up my spine, and whispered to no one in particular, “Where did you go, Jake?”