Four

(Athena's POV)

If embarrassment could kill, I would've died twice this week.

The first time was at the rink and the second was standing in front of a black gate with “ASHFORD HOCKEY” painted across it in peeling silver letters while Tessa stared at me like she was waiting for me to come to my senses.

“This,” she said, folding her arms, “is officially the dumbest thing I've ever helped you do.”

I adjusted the strap of my bag and glared at the gate like it had personally offended me. “You helped me sneak out of the hospital.”

“Exactly.” Tessa pointed at herself. “Best friend of the year. Criminal by association.”

I would’ve laughed if my stomach wasn’t tying itself into knots.

The place looked nothing like Westbridge’s rink with no shiny glass entrance or banner. Just old stuff.

A side door opened before I could change my mind.

A girl stepped out with a clipboard tucked under one arm and a headset hanging around her neck. She looked about our age, maybe a little older, with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense expression that screamed ‘I run this circus and I hate every clown in it.’

“Athena  Holloway?”

I straightened. “That depends. Are you here to insult me or offer me a job?”

Her mouth twitched. “Talia. Team manager.” She held the door open. “Come in before one of them starts a fight because they’re bored.”

Tessa leaned in close to me as we walked. “I kind of love her.”

“Same,” I muttered.

Talia led us past a narrow hallway lined with dented lockers and framed team photos.  “You’re really serious about this?” she asked, glancing at me.

“I came all the way here.”

“People do weird things when they’re angry.”

And it made me look at her. “Are you saying I’m here because I’m angry?”

She gave me a flat look. “I watched the video.”

Tessa hissed beside me. “We’re suing everybody.”

I shut my eyes for a second.“Right,” I muttered. “Of course you did.”

Talia shrugged. “Campus did too. Half the city probably did by now.”

Amazing. Fantastic! I wanted the ice to open up and swallow me.

Instead, I lifted my chin in pain. “And yet you still emailed me.”

She gave me a small nod.  “Because public humiliation doesn’t erase skill.” She stopped walking and turned to face me fully. “And because if there’s one person in this city who knows Luca Ryder’s habits better than anyone, it’s you.”

My jaw tightened at his name. I still do not want to believe that he actually did that to me yesterday.

Fair point, maybe?

Tessa looked between us. “So what exactly do you people want from her?”

Before Talia could answer, a door somewhere behind us swung open, replaced with heavy, slowed, lazy steps.

I turned without thinking, and my entire body locked.

Oh. Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me.

It was him. Lake guy.

The one who had dragged me out of freezing water after I’d publicly ruined my life. The one with the deep voice. The one who had the nerve to sound amused while I was literally dying.

In daylight, he was worse, pretty worse.

Tall, way too tall with broad shoulders under a black hoodie pushed halfway up his forearms. He had dark hair, messy in that irritating way that looked accidental, but somehow perfect anyway.

A strong jaw that probably belonged in a cologne ad, sharp cheekbones, crooked mouth that looked like it enjoyed causing problems and his eyes, dark, watchful and obviously MEAN!

For a weirdo, he was unfairly handsome. Annoyingly, Offensively, Stupidly handsome.

And it made my face hot.

Great! Just great.

He leaned one shoulder against the doorway and looked me over slowly, then his mouth curved. “Well,” he drawled. “Look who picked a less dramatic entrance today.”

Tessa gasped and I wanted to throw myself back into the lake.

I straightened so fast I nearly got whiplash. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He actually laughed and Talia pinched the bridge of her nose like this happened a lot. “Jeremaih” she said flatly.

So this was Jeremiah Ashford?

Of course it was. Of course the man who saved me from drowning had to be the exact same person I was here to beg for a chance from.

I hated the universe.

“Athena Holloway” Jeremiah said, pushing off the doorway and walking toward us. “Campus legend, I ce queen and terrible at picking lakes.”

Tessa stepped in front of me like she was ready to fight him.“Say one more thing and I’ll shove that pretty face into the boards.”

His gaze flicked to her, then back to me with a cunning smirk.

“Your friend’s fun.”

“She bites,” I snapped.

“Good. Mine do too.”

I stared at him and he stared back with that little stupid smile, never leaving his mouth.

I turned on my heel.“This was a mistake.”

Tessa blinked. “Athena…”

“I’m not doing this.” I started walking fast. “I’m not standing here while some smug, overgrown psycho makes jokes about the worst night of my life.”

“Overgrown?” Jeremiah called after me. “That one hurt.”

I reached the door and a hand slammed against it before I could grab the handle, blocking the exit and it made me freeze.

Jeremiah moved in front of me, one arm braced against the door, the teasing finally gone from his face. For the first time since he opened his mouth, he looked serious.

“I’m done joking,” he said.

I folded my arms, mostly so he wouldn’t see my hands shaking. “Then talk.”

His eyes held mine firmly. “I need a coach.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m not a coach.”

“No,” he said. “You’re better. You’re a player who sees the game before it happens.”

Talia nodded once from behind him and I looked away first.

“And what exactly do you want from me?” I asked.

“You help rebuild this team.” His voice stayed very calm. “You help me beat Luca Ryder.”

My jaw clenched as I felt pain.“And in return?”

Jeremiah took one step closer. “In return,” he said softly, “I make sure Luca pays for what he did to you.”

I forced myself not to react and Tessa sucked in a long breath. “That’s not tangible enough.”

One of his brows lifted and I lifted my chin as well. “If I’m helping you, I want something real.”

For one long second, Jeremiah just looked at me, then curved his mouth again. Then he straightened and shoved his hands into his pockets. “My uncle sits on the board for the women’s national development pipeline.” His gaze never left mine. “He can get one name pushed to the front for the elite training camp shortlist.”