登入CHAPTER 54The drive to the team's sports medicine center was short and quieter than usual.It wasn't awkward, Just peaceful.Soft music drifted from the radio as the city slipped by outside the windows. Liam rested his elbow against the door, watching pedestrians hurry along the sidewalks while Raphael focused on the road.After a while, Raphael glanced at him."You nervous?"Liam looked over. "About getting a sling off?"Raphael shrugged. "You've had it on for almost a week.""I'll survive.""You sure?"A faint smile tugged at Liam's lips. "You sound more worried than I am."Raphael kept his eyes on the road. "I'm just making conversation.""Mhm.""I am.""If you say so."Raphael huffed. "I liked you better when you were in pain and couldn't talk."Liam laughed."Liar."A smile flickered across Raphael's face. "...Yeah."The sports medicine clinic occupied the ground floor of the team's training facility. The familiar scent of disinfectant and athletic tape greeted them the moment t
CHAPTER 54The apartment was unusually lively for eight in the morning. Camera batteries lined the kitchen island in neat little rows, alongside memory cards, lenses, cleaning cloths, a laptop, and two backpacks. A half-eaten piece of toast sat forgotten on a plate as Aria darted frantically between the kitchen and the bedroom."Battery," she called.Raphael slid one across the counter without looking up."Got it.""Lens cloth."He pointed toward the side pocket of her backpack. "Already packed.""My extra SD cards?""Front zipper.""My charger?""Left compartment.""My..."Raphael finally looked up from the checklist on his phone. "Aria."She froze mid-step."You've asked me where everything is six times.""Have I?""Yes.""Oh.""You also asked where your camera was while it was hanging around your neck."Aria instinctively looked down. The camera rested exactly where he'd said it was. She sighed dramatically. "I'm nervous.""I noticed."Liam watched the siblings from the couch, tryi
CHAPTER 52Outside, the evening air was cool, carrying the scent of rain that had fallen earlier in the day. The sidewalks were still damp, reflecting the glow of the streetlights beginning to flicker on. Liam and Aria had only made it halfway down the block. Raphael lengthened his stride."Hey."Both of them turned around. Aria blinked repeatedly in shock. Then she slowly folded her arms. "Seriously?"Raphael slipped his hands into his pockets. "What?"She looked him up and down. "I thought you didn't feel like going out.""I changed my mind.""What a coincidence.""What is?""That you suddenly decided to take a walk."Raphael shrugged. "I wanted some fresh air."Aria looked around dramatically. "And the fresh air only exists on this street?""I guess.""The exact street we're walking on?""I live here."Liam, completely oblivious to what was happening, nodded. "That's true."Aria looked at him. Then back at Raphael. Then at Liam again. She had to press her lips together to stop hers
Chapter 51The apartment settled into a comfortable quiet after Marcus finally left. Aria had claimed one of the bar stools by the kitchen island, absentmindedly peeling the label off a bottle of water. She looked out the window. The afternoon sun had begun to dip lower, painting the city in warm shades of gold. She smiled to herself."I don't have to be at the venue until tomorrow afternoon."Raphael looked up from rinsing a coffee mug. "Mhm.""Sooooo" She stretched lazily. "I kind of want to explore the city."Raphael nodded. "Okay."She turned toward Liam. "Liam."He looked up. "Yeah?""Will you take me?"Liam blinked. "...Me?""Yeah." She smiled. "I've barely seen anything besides the hotel lobby."Raphael opened the cupboard a little harder than necessary. "I can take you."Aria looked at him. "I know.""So...?""I want Liam."Raphael frowned. "...Why?"She shrugged innocently. "Because I already know you."Raphael stared. "That's your reason?""Mhm. I've known you all my life. I
CHAPTER 50The apartment buzzed with more energy than it had seen all day. Plastic grocery bags rustled across the kitchen island as cupboard doors opened and closed in quick succession. Aria unpacked everything she had insisted on buying, declaring that the men were starving themselves and surviving on nothing but protein shakes. Liam stood beside her, pulling items from the bags and handing them over one by one.“So…” Aria held up a jar of peanut butter with a flourish. “Important question.”Liam glanced over. “Okay?”She set the jar down dramatically on the counter. “How did you become captain?”Raphael looked up from where he was loading bottled water into the fridge. “Oh, that’s easy. Coach picked him because—”“I asked Liam,” Aria cut in smoothly.Raphael blinked. “…Right.”Liam shot him an amused look before scratching the back of his neck. “It wasn’t really that dramatic.”“Oh?” Aria rested her elbows on the island, leaning in. “Tell me.”“I guess…” Liam shrugged. “I’ve always
Chapter 49Liam nearly walked straight into a display of bottled water. He stopped short, blinking at Aria.“Excuse me?”She looked back at him with perfect innocence. “What?”“I said you like my brother.”“I… no.”“No?”“No.”She hummed thoughtfully. “Huh.”“Huh?”“I thought you’d deny it faster.”“I am denying it.”“That sounded more defensive than convincing.”Liam rubbed a hand over his face. “We’re teammates.”“Mhm.”“And roommates.”“Mhm.”“And friends.”“Mhm.”“Stop ‘mhm’-ing me.”“I’ll think about it.”Liam sighed. “You are exhausting.”“I’ve heard that before.” Aria reached for a packet of biscuits and dropped it into the basket. “You know… I’ve never seen Raphael talk about someone this much.”Liam paused. “He talks about me?”“Constantly.”His eyebrows rose. “I don’t believe you.”“You should.” She laughed softly. “When he first joined the team, every phone call home was hockey this, hockey that.” She began counting on her fingers. “‘Lannister yelled at me today.’ ‘Lanniste
The bass thumped through the walls of The Icehouse, the team’s favorite upscale club downtown. Neon blue and white lights pulsed across the crowded dance floor, reflecting off glass tables and mirrored columns like shards of ice. The Wolves had reserved the entire VIP section — bottle service flowi
The arena lights hummed overhead as the team took the ice for morning practice. The cold air bit at Liam’s exposed skin, but he welcomed it. it sharpened his focus. He skated out first, stick tapping against the ice, calling out positions for the warm-up drills. Captain’s job. Always had been.Raph
Liam’s eyes snapped open at 4:07 AM, the same time his internal alarm had gone off for years. The room was still dark, the city outside the window quiet except for the occasional distant hum of traffic. He lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, before the weight of the new realit
Liam paced the length of his apartment like an animal on heat, the city lights glittering mockingly through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The victory high from last night had curdled into something sour and heavy in his chest. Every time he closed his eyes, he heard Raphael’s voice, low, mocking, f







