Chapter 2

If someone asked me why I hate Mateo Carter, I’d probably say it’s for a lot of reasons, but the truth is it all comes down to how easy it is for him to ruin everything without caring, because he plays dirty, on and off the ice, because he’s always smiling like nothing has consequences, because he never loses, because he always gets what he wants and people follow him even when they shouldn’t, because he has that reputation as a player, a heartbreaker, like it’s something to be proud of, and still no one seems to see him for what he really is, and what pisses me off the most is that someone like him, someone exactly like that, is the one who’s with Sofi now, like it wasn’t enough having him as a rival, I also have to deal with him being this close, right in my life, in hers, like he somehow belongs there… when he doesn’t.

And maybe the worst part is that this isn’t just about him.

It’s about her.

Because Sofi has always been mine… not like that, not officially, but she has been since the moment I met her, and even if I never said it, even if I never did anything about it, it was always there, quiet, constant.

And then he showed up.

And what I hate the most… isn’t just that he took her.

It’s how easy it was for him to do it.

⸻

The second I step off the ice, Sofi appears through the crowd, moving fast, weaving past everyone, and for a second I think she’s coming to me, but no, she walks right past and goes straight to him, throwing herself into his arms like nothing else exists, like the rest of the world disappears, and Mateo doesn’t hesitate for a second, he grabs her by the waist and kisses her.

It’s not a quick or casual kiss, it’s slow, certain, the kind that says too much, the kind that lasts longer than it should, like he’s proving something, like he knows someone is watching.

And that someone is me.

Something uncomfortable tightens in my chest, a strange mix of things I’d rather not look at too closely, so I look away, because it’s easier that way, it’s always been easier that way.

“Lucas!”

I look up when Sofi calls my name, and this time she’s coming toward me, smiling like everything is fine, like nothing just happened.

“You played amazing,” she says, grabbing my arm, “seriously, you were great.”

I give her a small smile, just enough not to look like an idiot.

“Yeah, sure.”

She frowns, like she doesn’t quite believe me.

“There’s nothing wrong with losing sometimes.”

“I’m fine,” I say, pulling away a little more sharply than I mean to.

She looks at me carefully.

“Are you sure?”

I nod.

“Just tired.”

And it’s true, just not because of the game.

I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to see him, I don’t want to pretend everything is normal when it clearly isn’t, so before this gets any more uncomfortable, I take a step back.

“I’m leaving.”

“Already?” Sofi asks, frowning, “we were going to—”

“We’ll talk later.”

I start to turn, ready to walk away without looking back, but her hand wraps around my wrist before I can take another step.

“Lucas, wait.”

Her tone changes, not light or distracted anymore, something more serious.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a second before looking at her again.

“What?”

“There’s a party tonight,” she says, “at one of the guys’ place.”

Of course.

Mateo’s team.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I reply, too quickly.

She tilts her head, watching me like she’s trying to figure me out.

“Please.”

Just one word, but Sofi knows exactly how to say it.

“We’re celebrating,” she continues, “and… I want you there with me.”

That makes me hesitate.

It always does.

“Sofi…”

“Just for a while,” she insists, “if you don’t like it, we leave, I promise.”

I look at her, and there it is, that expression I know too well, the one that means she’s already decided I’m going, she’s just waiting for me to agree.

And like always… I give in.

I exhale.

“Fine, but just for a while.”

Her smile appears instantly, bright, satisfied.

“I knew you’d say yes.”

Of course she did.

She lets go of my hand, but doesn’t move too far, like she wants to make sure I don’t change my mind.

“I’ll come get you later,” she says, “don’t disappear.”

“No promises.”

She laughs, and for a moment everything feels normal, like nothing is wrong, like Mateo doesn’t exist, like tonight is just going to be another night and not a party to celebrate the fact that we got our asses kicked.

But as I watch her walk away, with that energy that always seems to follow her, I can’t shake that feeling in my chest, that quiet discomfort that shows up when something doesn’t quite fit.

Like I’m about to step into something I won’t be able to control, and the worst part is that deep down, I know I should say no, because something tells me that party isn’t going to end well, that none of this is going to end well… not like this, because if I had known just how far things were going to spiral that night, maybe the story would have been completely different.