His request

Blake's POV

It had been three days, and nothing had changed.

Which meant Xavier hadn't said anything.

But I was far from relieved.

Why hadn't Xavier said anything? He had nothing to lose from this. Nothing to gain either. He was just being an asshole.

I was so scared that I couldn't attend classes or even leave my room. Jason was also looking over his shoulder everywhere we went.

I had assured him that I would take the fall, but he insisted on staying beside me through everything.

Loyal, but stupid.

I scrolled through the school gossip blog every time my phone beeped, but there was nothing about me.

Except the rumor that Roman's girlfriend had been hooking up with another member of the team—allegedly.

And nine out of ten rumors on that blog turned out to be true.

Poor Roman.

I was still scrolling through my phone when Jason stepped inside.

“We've got a problem,” he announced, quietly shutting the door behind him. “I met Roman.”

“Yeah, I heard,” I said. “Natalie cheated on him with Grey.”

“Nah. Grey is gay as fuck,” he revealed. “We hooked up last year, and he wasn't a good top. Neither was he a good bottom. He moaned like a fish choking.”

My face twisted in disgust.

“Gross.”

“Yeah, dude couldn't even suck a dick—”

“What's up with Roman?” I quickly interrupted, changing the subject.

Jason discovered my secret simply by looking at me. He claimed he had sensed something was off, and after I told him why I was pretending to be a boy, he decided to help me.

I loved Jason, but he was just too wild.

The only reason my crush on him died almost as quickly as it started was because of the way he talked. He was completely shameless.

Guys practically flocked to him just to sleep with him. People said he knew how to make any guy moan until the only name they could remember was his.

He lived up to that reputation.

I'd heard them in his room so many times.

But him actually talking about it was worse.

He somehow knew how to make everything more uncomfortable than it already was.

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Roman came by today. He said Xavier asked about you.”

I almost choked on my saliva.

“What?”

“I got his number,” he added. “He said Xavier asked us to call him, or he'll start talking.”

I dropped my legs to the floor.

“What?”

“Roman hates the guy,” Jason said. “So you're going to come up with a better explanation for why Xavier wants to see you.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair.

“Is it too late to believe in God? Can I ask Him to kill Xavier?”

“I'm pretty sure if God wanted Xavier dead, He would've done it. Everyone hates that dickhead.”

I exhaled deeply and leaned forward.

Xavier had the upper hand now.

I couldn't come clean to the school. It would destroy everything.

I'd rather commit homicide than tell the entire school the truth.

“Xavier wants us at Sun Hill Café at six,” he added, showing me his phone. “I called him.”

“I don't want to go,” I groaned.

“He wants to make a deal,” Jason revealed.

“A deal?”

That dickhead wanted to make a deal?

What kind of deal?

“It's worth a shot, Blake.”

That evening, we arrived at the café.

It was one of the busiest cafés on campus. I'd called to change the location, but Xavier had insisted we come there.

“There.” Jason pointed toward the man sitting at the far end of the café.

He was wearing a black hoodie and a green cap bearing the crest of his former school's hockey team.

He stared at the coffee sitting on the table in front of him, completely ignoring the people talking loudly around him.

It was like he was in his own little world.

Jason placed a hand on my shoulder, and I flinched slightly.

“It's okay,” he said softly. “I'm right here. Okay?”

I looked at him and nodded.

“Let's do this.”

Jason started walking toward Xavier while I stayed back for a second to make sure the knife was secured beneath my hoodie.

I swear to God, I was going to kill him if he tried anything funny.

“Xavier,” I said as I took the seat beside Jason.

He looked up at us.

“Again, not exactly the perfect place to meet,” I said with a tight smile. “It would cause quite the scandal if we're seen together.”

“I don't care.” His tone was flat and cold.

“Okay.” I frowned. “What's the deal?”

“Wait,” Jason interrupted. “I just want to know why you haven't said anything to anyone.”

I slowly turned toward Jason with a glare.

As much as I wanted to know the answer too, I thought we should be thanking Xavier for keeping his mouth shut instead of questioning him.

“Two years ago, your school team was nothing but average,” Xavier began smoothly, his face revealing nothing. “Then Blake comes to the school, and suddenly people are scared on my team’s behalf.”

“You mean your former school?” Jason asked.

“My team,” he insisted.

His face remained neutral.

Yet somehow, it sounded like a warning.

“Even with Blake as a player, this school can't beat us,” he continued, raising his head with pride. “And it's a joke that a girl knows the game better than the coach.”

I melted under his blazing gaze.

I wanted to look away, but my body was too scared to obey.

“I have nothing to lose or gain by exposing her,” he continued, his expression still neutral, though his voice had lowered into something darker. “But she has everything to lose.”

“So what are we going to do to make sure we all walk away smiling?” Jason asked.

Xavier finally looked at him.

“What are you doing here? I asked Blake to come, not you.”

“Yeah, didn't anyone inform you?” Jason replied. “We're a package deal. You call her, and you get me as a bonus.”

“What do you want?” I interrupted.

I was so close to dying from anxiety. I could feel it pressing against my organs.

“Money?” I frowned. “Aren't your parents rich?”

He didn't answer.

He just stared at me.

I inhaled deeply, praying for God to give me more patience because I swear I was going to kill him.

“You already took her virginity away,” Jason groaned. “What more do you want?”

Very helpful, Jason.

Very helpful.

“I didn't have sex with anyone,” Xavier revealed.

“You didn't?” I almost screamed.

His silence was more than enough of an answer.

“You were drunk, and some girls started touching you,” he explained. “I just took you home before your privacy got violated.”

I was about to thank him when he added,

“You removed your clothes.”

I froze.

Jason turned to me. “Jeez, girl.”

“You're not my type, so I put some clothes on you,” Xavier added.

“Thank you,” I muttered, still trying to find a reason to be angry with him.

His phone beeped, giving me a second to exchange a knowing glance with Jason.

“So?” Jason cleared his throat. “What do you want to talk about?”

“In exchange for my silence...” He paused for a second, making sure our eyes locked. “I want Blake to be my boyfriend.”

I froze.

Then exchanged a glance with Jason.

“I don't understand,” I said.

“My father wants to set me up in an arranged marriage, and I don't want it,” he explained. “I've tried everything in the book, but nothing worked.”

“So what does that have to do with us?” I frowned.

“My father and my supposed in-laws would be meeting tomorrow to discuss a date for the wedding,” he continued, his voice steady. “If I appear...”

“As gay in front of the whole world, the engagement gets put on hold,” Jason finished.

A slow grin spread across his face.

“That's brilliant!” Jason exclaimed.

“No.” I shook my head and stood up. “I'd rather suck your dick than do that.”

“I doubt you could even make me aroused,” he said coldly.

I'd take that as a compliment.

I turned to leave.

“Ice hockey is for guys.”

I stopped.

Then slowly turned back to him.

“I talk, and you know very well that being removed from the team would be the least of your problems.” He leaned closer, his voice dropping into a dangerous whisper. “You don't want to mess with me, Blake.”

“Go. To. Hell.”

I turned around and walked away.