Rejected by my team, Claimed by the Rival

(Athena's POV)

“Ew. Girl! Stop staring at him like that before I throw up.”

I laughed under my breath, gripping my hockey stick tighter as I turned to look at Tessa, my best friend.

We were near the player's bench, the rink screaming loud around us as both schools packed the arena like tonight meant life or death.

Well, maybe it did. The championship game always brought madness, but this? This was worse.

Westbridge versus Westmore.

Me versus Luca Ryder. Versus the two ‘west’

Weird, isn't it?

Tessa stood beside me in her jersey, sweat already shining at her temples from warm-ups. She followed my gaze across the ice and groaned.

“God, you're down bad.”

I smiled before I could stop myself.

Across the rink, Luca was skating backward like he had no fear in his body, smooth and stupidly perfect, like the ice was made for him alone. The crowd was already screaming his name, and he wasn't even trying yet.

Dark hair, sharp jaw that makes me tickle and that cocky grin that makes him look even more beautiful.

Worse, he was mine.

Well…kind of…..a secret thing.

Yeah, don't look at me like that. Rivals shouldn't be seen flocking around with each other and that was why we both agreed to keep things low because it was for the better.

Tessa bumped my shoulder. “You're smiling again. I hate you.”

“Jealousy is ugly on you.”

“It’s a concern, actually. You look like a girl in a romance movie five minutes before she gets cheated on. You know all these rom coms girlies? You are a gone girl!”

I gasped. “Rude.”

She snorted, then her expression changed. “Wait.”

I looked at her and she looked at Luca, then back at me. “Why does he keep looking over here like he's about to either confess his love or ask you to commit a felony.”

My stomach flipped because he had indeed been looking. Even from across the rink, I could feel his glance on me every second.

It was quite our thing.

And it only made my heart do the stupid little jump it always did around him.

Tessa saw it and gagged dramatically. “Disgusting.”

I laughed, but my chest felt too warm because today's not just about the game, it's about what Luca had promised me.

After tonight, he said, everything would change.

No more hiding. No more pretending I was just another hockey player he respected.

He was going to tell everyone about us!

And maybe..just maybe. .he was going to give me the promise ring he joked about two nights ago while kissing me so hard I forgot my own voice.

My fingers tightened around my stick.

“Athena.” His voice came over my skin before I even noticed he was now close to me.

Tessa’s brows shot up as Luca stopped in front of us, his helmet off, his hair damp from sweat with his beautiful blue eyes locked flirtily on me like Tessa didn't exist.

“Ew,” she muttered. “I'm suddenly very single.”

“Well, go away.” I whispered.

“With pleasure.” She pointed at me. “If you come back looking even more in love, I'm ending our friendship.” Then she walked off.

I turned back at Luca and instantly forgot how to breathe. He looked …tense, which was very unlike him.

Luca Ryder lived for this kind of attention. Crowds, cameras and pressure. He wore all of it with great pride, but tonight, his shoulders feel tight.

“You okay?” I asked softly.

He glanced around, then took my wrist and pulled me a little farther from the bench where the noise was charging at us.  “I need to talk to you.”

My stomach twisted. The way he said that, made me feel suddenly nervous. “What happened?”

He looked at me for a second, then dragged a hand through his hair. “I need you to trust me.”

I blinked. “That sounds terrifying, Luca Ryder.”

“I'm serious, Athena.’

I searched his face, suddenly very aware of how close he was. “Okay…I trust you. What is it?”

His jaw tightened and he looked away for a second. “I need you to let me win tonight.”

For a second, all I did was stare.

“What?”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Please. Just listen first.”

“Luca…”

“I'm tired, Athena.” His eyes held mine. “I'm tired of always being second to you.”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out because his words hit me so suddenly.

“You know what they say,” he went on. “Every time we play, it's always about you. The girl who never loses. The girl who made Westbridge famous. The girl who can beat any guy on the ice.” He gave a short laugh, but there ain't nothing funny in it. Just sarcasm that I could feel in my bones. “And me? I'm the boyfriend nobody knows about and the player who keeps losing to his own girl.”

My chest tightened. “Luca, I never made you feel like that.”

“I know.” His voice softened. “I know, baby. This isn't about you doing something wrong here. It's just ..I need that one win from you.”

I stared at him, my mind starting to  race really bad.

Everyone was trusting me on this championship. One of the biggest games of the season. My team trusted me and my coach.

Hell, my entire school trusted me.

“You can't be serious.”

“I am.” He touched my face, and that alone almost undid me. “Please. One game. Let me have this.”

Christ sake, why was I standing here, melting because he was looking at me like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

I loved him, I loved him so much it embarrassed me. “I can't just throw a game.”

“You can.” His thumb brushed my cheek. “And after I win, I'll make it right.” He leaned in and my breath caught. “I'll tell everyone.”.

The whole world seemed to stop. “What?”

“Yes! I'm done hiding us.” His voice went lower. “After the game, I'll call you out in front of everybody. No more sneaking around.” A smile fell on his mouth. “And if you want…I'll even give you a ring. A promise until I can give you the real one. You know.”

My heart slammed against my ribs so hard it hurt.

Really?

“Luca…”

“Please,baby.” His forehead touched mine. “One game. Then I'm yours out loud.x

I closed my eyes  be cause he was getting down there. “You swear?” I whispered.

“On everything.”

And that was it. That was how I nodded in agreement, while he placed a kiss on my lip with so much joy in his eyes.

He squeezed my hand, once then skated off before I could think too hard enough what I’d agreed too.

The whistle blew, calling us back and I skated onto the ice but Tessa's eyes stayed on me like she knew something was wrong with me.

The crowd began chanting my name, the moment I stepped out.

“Athena! Athena! Athena!”

Usually,  it made me feel invincible, but tonight, it just made guilt claw at my chest.

The pick dropped and I played on instinct at first, so clean, fast and sharp before I started to withdraw slowly as Luca took control, slamming the puck.

And just like that, the puck slid right through my path , hitting  into the net.

The crowd erupted as Westmore exploded like they have been waiting for this moment so badly while my team and I froze as the scoreboard glowed above us.

“WESTBRIDGE: 2

WESTMORE: 3

For the first time in two seasons, I had lost and I could feel pain and tension amongst the students.

And through it all, Luca looked at me and mouthed one word. “Stay.”

That was my fucking hope! Maybe because to me, love meant sacrifice and I thought that was exactly what I was doing.

I stood near the rink while Westmore celebrated like they'd won the world.

They handed Luca the trophy and he lifted it high with the arena shaking with his name all around.

My heart pounded so hard I could barely hear anything else.

This was it, this was finally the moment he would choose me in front of everyone and let the rivalry die down.

He was handed the mic and the whole arena went quiet. He smiled, his eyes sweeping the crowd before landing on me.

“There's someone I want to thank tonight,” he started and my breath caught. “She believed in me when nobody else did.”

I could feel tears gathering in my eyes. He just knew how to get me all soaked in tears.

“She stood by me.”

My hand flew to my mouth.

“She made this happen.”

And the whole rink held their breath while Luca grinned and stretched out his hand. “Come here, Sienna.”