001

AVA 

The first time I saw Caden Duke in person, I forgot how to breathe.

Which was embarrassing considering half the female population of Norwell University saw him almost every day without nearly passing out.

The arena exploded into cheers as the final buzzer rang. Norwell Wolves: 4. Westbridge Titans: 1.

I rose to my feet with everyone else, my banner in my hands as I cheered the loudest.

The hockey team celebrated on the ice, bright lights flashing across the rink, music blasting through the speakers, and students screaming Caden’s name loud enough to shake the building.

Not mine, obviously.

Even whilst I sat in the front row at every game, I was just another invisible scholarship student no one gave a shit about.

But him?

He was impossible to ignore.

Caden skated across the ice with effortless confidence, his dark hair damp, and broad shoulders moving like he owned the entire arena. 

Maybe he did. At Norwell, Caden Duke wasn’t just the hockey star.

He was practically a god.

My best friend, Mira, grabbed my arm dramatically. “If that man ever looked at me for longer than three seconds, I’d simply pass away.”

I snorted, although my eyes stayed glued to him. “You say that every game.”

“Because every game he somehow gets hotter.”

Fair point.

The team gathered near the barrier, laughing and shoving each other while cameras flashed around them. Then suddenly—completely unexpectedly—Caden looked up.

Directly towards my section.

Towards me.

My stupid heart nearly stopped.

For one delusional second, I imagined something impossible: him climbing over the barrier, walking toward me with that arrogant smirk, before kissing me breathlessly while the entire arena watched.

Goodness.

I seriously needed psychiatric help!

A blonde appeared beside him before my fantasy could spiral any further, wrapping herself around his arm possessively.

Mara Jennings, that one lucky bitch. 

 She stood on her toes, locking lips with his, and I pulled my gaze away, reality slamming right through me.  

Caden Duke didn’t know I existed. He probably would never, and even if he did, girls like me were never his type.

I adjusted my glasses, sliding my hands into my hoodie sleeves while students pushed toward the exits around us.

“The delusion ends tonight,” Mira said, breaking me away from my thoughts.

“It ends every Friday,” I reminded her.

“And yet here we are again.”

Unfortunately, she was right.

Because no matter how many romance novels I read, no matter how many fictional men ruined my standards, nobody compared to Caden Duke.

Not his face, nor his voice. 

He was the walking definition of every morally questionable book boyfriend I’d ever obsessed over.

But he would only be mine in my dreams…or perhaps in my novel.

~~~~

I got home a little late because of the game. “Mom?” I called out, following the aroma of the food to the kitchen.

She wasn’t there, but a number of dishes were on the table, which made me wonder if we were expecting a visitor. 

I turned towards the staircase, and was about to call out to her when I heard footsteps approaching.

Speak of the devil. 

“Goodness ma!” I exclaimed, my eyes running over her body. 

I couldn’t remember the last time she dressed this beautifully or when last she smiled this hard.

“What’s the occasion?” I added, walking towards her.

She chuckled. “Can’t a woman play dress up?” 

“You can. But it’s surprising seeing you this way, and with that amount of food, I know it’s definitely not just dress up.”

She rolled her eyes as we both sat.  

She reached for my hands. “I met someone.”

My face immediately lit up.

“Wait—seriously?”

She nodded, smiling in a way I hadn’t seen in years.

Not since Dad died.

“Oh my goodness,” I muttered with a shaky breath. “This is…amazing!”

Her grip on my hand tightened like she was nervous. “I didn’t want to tell you because I wasn’t sure it would lead to something serious then…”

Tears welled up in my eyes instantly; ten years of loneliness and constant heartbreak—she deserved this!

“He makes me happy, Ava.” Her voice cracked slightly, and the last thing I wanted was for her to cry and ruin her makeup.

I threw my arms around her before she could say anything else. “Then I already love him.”

She laughed against my shoulder. “You haven’t even met him yet.”

“Doesn’t matter.”

“It might when I tell you he’s coming over tonight.”

I pulled away immediately. “Tonight?”

“In an hour.”

“What?!”

She grinned unapologetically as I hurriedly stood. “I have to freshen up,” I muttered, rushing upstairs.

“Put on something nice; he isn’t coming alone,” I heard her say. 

The moment I shut my bedroom door, I fell on my bed first. This was the best news I’ve heard in a while, and I couldn’t wait to see the man behind her smiles.

I reached for my laptop instinctively, and the opened document on it forced a smile on my face.

Caden’s name stared back at me from the screen. Not actually his name, obviously. I wasn’t insane. 

In my story, he was Cade Hunter—the emotionally unavailable hockey captain with commitment issues and sinful hands.

Totally different.

I cracked my knuckles before typing furiously.

She watched from afar as his hands wrapped around that of another woman…his lips… Gosh, Cade crashed against hers, rough and impatient. 

Avaline could only watch in jealousy and soaked pan—“Ava!”

I nearly launched off the bed.

“What?!” I yelled back, slamming the laptop shut like it contained deadly secrets.

“They’ll be here in ten minutes!”

Shit.

I rushed towards my wardrobe, ransacking and regretting every clothing choice I owned. 

After changing three times, I finally settled on a fitted burgundy gown, pairing it with silver pearl earrings. 

I let my hair down, put on a light lip gloss, and adjusted my glasses. Took one last look at the mirror before rushing out.  

The doorbell rang just in time. My stomach flipped nervously.

Mom appeared in the hallway also looking anxious. “Do I look okay?”

“You look beautiful.”

She smiled softly, squeezing my hand.

I hurried down the stairs first, weirdly excited to meet the man responsible for making my mom glow again.

Without thinking, I swung the front door open.

My body froze…my brain completely shut down.

No way! No fucking way!

“This was a dream! This had to be one of my silly delusions,” I muttered to myself, my eyes fixated on him.

Caden Duke.

Standing on my doorstep? Looking as handsome as ever in formal clothes. 

“Are you going to keep staring like a weirdo or let us in?” His deep baritone voice broke me away from my thoughts.

“I’m—sorry.”

I stepped aside quickly with trembling legs. 

This was real. He was real!

 Beside him was an older man in a suit, also handsome, certainly my mother’s fiancee. “You must be Ava,” he said, a warm smile on his face. 

“Y-yes I am.”

“A pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Grant… Grant Duke.”

Mom appeared behind me, beaming as they both locked lips. 

We all walked towards the dining room, but all along my head was scrambling. 

It has always been my dream to meet Caden, but definitely not as my stepbrother… I mean, I’ve been fantasizing about—fuck no!

Tonight was about Mom. I couldn’t ruin it.

~~~~~~~

The next few minutes were tense and suffocating in a weird way. Only our parents talked happily; Caden remained silent.

I managed to steal a few glances, and his face was stone-cold, like he didn’t want to be here. 

“So Ava,” Grant called out, and I smiled, looking up. “Your mother tells me how impressive you are in your academics.”

I nodded, unsure of what to say. 

“Norwell,” my mother spoke up. “You won’t believe it if I told you she passed their scholarship exams. You know how difficult it's rumored to be. ”

“You didn’t tell me she attends Norwell,” he responded, glancing towards Caden, who didn’t even look up. “Caden is the star hockey player over there.”

Mom looked surprised. “Really? You two must know each other then.”

Our eyes met coincidentally, and he quickly averted his gaze. 

“Tell us, you two must know each other, right?” Grant added, their face beaming with smiles.

Caden didn't look like he would speak. 

“Umm, not really… I do wat—” I was still saying when he cut me short.

“She’s a nobody. We have never spoken or crossed paths.” 

A Nobody?

The fuck? What an arrogant asshole! 

And I hated that the words landed harder than they should have.

I looked down quickly before anyone noticed my expression.

Mom cleared her throat awkwardly while Grant frowned slightly. “Caden.”

“What?” he shot back.

The room went awfully quiet.

Grant broke it. “You will not refer to your stepsister as a nobody!”

“Isn’t she?” He spat, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I offended him.

His eyes met mine again. “She’s a mere scholarship kid; we can’t and will never cross paths.”

“Well that changes today.” Grant yelled, both of them now glaring at each other. “Couldn’t you behave for one fucking day?”

Mom cleared her throat loudly. “Grant, don’t be too hard on him,” she muttered, reaching for his hands. “With time, they will surely get along.”

Would we?

Because my heart was in a mess now...

The rest of dinner went down in a silent blur. Mom and I cleared the dishes, after which we both escorted Grant and Caden out.

“You know,” Grant began casually, "Ava transporting every day seems exhausting.”

A sigh escaped from mom’s lips. “I’m working towards renting an apartment closer to campus.”

“Well, there won’t be any need for that.” His eyes shifted towards Caden. “She could stay at your off-campus house.”

Silence.

A long one, and then—“Absolutely not.”

“It wasn’t a suggestion,” Grant said.

“I need my space.”

“In a three-bedroom penthouse?” Grant added, turning towards me. “So what do you say Ava?”

All eyes were on me now.

“I…” I swallowed hard. “I don’t want to cause problems.”

“You won’t,” Richard assured me. “Your mom and I will drop you off tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. This could be a good way for you two to bond as siblings. Caden has a car; he will drive you both to school every day.” He turned to Caden. “Wouldn't you?”

His gaze flickered to me, his voice low and mocking.

“I can't wait to have you, sister.”

Goodness, Lord.

Why did that sound like a smexy threat?