The Catch

YUNA

The tiny velvet box in my hand had cost me two months of tips. 

It was ridiculous. I couldn't afford it, but Ethan Howard was worth every skipped meal.

I smiled as my thumb brushed over the silver watch nestled inside.

"Ethan Howard," I giggled. "You'd better cry."

We were two years old today.

Two years of late-night study sessions, surprise roses, stolen kisses after hockey practices, and whispered promises about forever.

He'd texted me an hour ago.

"MEET ME AT THE ARENA, I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU."

Knowing him, he'd probably planned something cheesy. But no matter how cheesy it is, it would be made with love, which makes everything better.

The Wolveridge Knights ice arena was surprisingly quiet when I arrived. No single soul was around.

Ethan Howard was my boyfriend of two years, who happens to love hockey and is the best friend of his team's captain.

I walked through the familiar hallway and smiled politely at the receptionist.

"Ethan is still inside?" I asked, and she nodded.

"Locker room."

"Thanks," I responded. My heart fluttered, and my grip tightened around the gift bag as I headed down the corridor.

Halfway down the corridor, I heard laughter.

I frowned, my eyes naturally lowered to my wristwatch. It was quarter past 8. 

Maybe one of the players brought their girlfriend.

I kept walking, one step at a time, until I heard it and froze.

A soft moan echoed through the hallway, stopping me dead in my tracks, my cheeks flushed in embarrassment.

Why are they doing it in the locker room?

I froze as another moan escaped her lips, then followed the unmistakable voice.

I know that voice from anywhere.

I'd memorized every laugh. Every whisper of his deep voice.

My stomach twisted in a tight knot. My feet moved before me, and suddenly I found myself moving closer to the storage room where the sound came from.

The door was half open, a hand rested against it, a fair, long finger with pink acrylic-coated nails peeped through the opening.

I stalled. Scared of looking any further. I swallowed the hard lump in my throat and briefly shut my eyes. With trembling fingers, I reached for the door.

 It swung inward with the slightest push.

I stood frozen. The image before me made my stomach curl, and my muscles tensed with tears suddenly rolling down my cheeks.

My upper lip curled up as I watched Ethan pressed against the wall, the girl's backside grinding against him, his fingers pulling her red hair, leading her through the rhythm of the dry humping.

The gift bag slipped from my hand, the velvet box slipped out of the bag, rolling to where Ethan stood.

Ethan jerked his head towards the sound. His face was drained of color when he saw me.

"Yuna....."

The woman slowly turned her face. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at her.

No.

"It can't be," I muttered under my breath.

".....Ana?"

My sister stared back at me. Her lipstick smudged.

Ethan's jersey was nowhere to be found, and his hand was still grabbing her waist tightly.

Her upper lip curled into a smirk as she watched me.

I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and sniffed.

"Yuna....." Ethan pushed himself off her, fidgeting with the zip of his jeans. "I.... I didn't know you'd come so quickly."

So quickly?

The word echoed in my head. He wasn't sorry.

No, this isn't what it looks like.

But he was quick to point out that I arrived earlier than expected.

I stared at them. My hand trembled, and my bottom lip shook.

My gaze drifted from him to my sister. The same person who had hugged me this morning before I left the room and wished me a happy anniversary.

"Ana....." My voice came out as nothing more than a whisper. "Why?"

She shrugged and wrapped her hands around Ethan's bicep. Her fingers tracing through each vein.

"I fell in love."

"You.... You fell in love with my boyfriend." I repeated, gaping at her.

She tilted her head and chuckled. "He was never really yours anyway. He was going to leave you sooner or later."

I took a step back. My back pressed against the wall.

A shaky laugh escaped my lips, and I shook my head.

"No....."

I shook my head over and over again. "No, Ethan," I mumbled and took a step closer to him. "Tell me.... Tell me she's lying."

He lowered his gaze, then stared back up at me. "No, Yuna." He responded.

“What?”

One hundred and seventy-nine good morning texts. Countless promises. Kissing and dates. All gone?

The silver watch I had spent months saving for glinted beneath the fluorescent lights. A cruel reminder of the countless shifts, sleepless nights, every skipped meal, and sacrifice I'd made for a man who wasn't worth a second of it.

He probably calls me a fool for having sacrificed my comfort for a piece of shit.

I bent down, my fingers trembling as I picked it up.

"I skipped meals for this." I mumbled, "I worked double shifts, I tutor students for this shit!"

A guttural growl escaped from my throat.

Tears blurred my vision, and my body shook violently.

How dare they betray me in this manner?

"Don't be too heartbroken," Ana said, resting her head on his shoulder. "One of the Arena cleaners might pick an interest in you soon."

My palm collided with her cheek before I could stop myself.

Smack!

Ana stumbled sideways, and her red hair swayed with her.

"You bitch!" She screamed. The shout echoed through the hallway, and within seconds, footsteps thundered towards the equipment room.

One player arrived, then another, until my back was filled with his teammates and staff.

"Damn. Isn't that Ethan's girlfriend's sister?" One person spoke. 

Ethan looked around the growing crowd. He glared at me and then chuckled.

He chuckled!

"You are making a scene, Yuna." 

Am I making a scene?

I dug my teeth on my bottom lip, my fingers curled into a fist.

"You really think I'm making a scene, you disgusting piece of shit?" I scoffed, "You've been cheating on me with my fucking little sister!"

"Move."

The voices from his teammates quieted, and Ethan removed Ana's hand from his and straightened.

People stepped aside from my back, and I slowly turned around.

His practice jersey clung to his broad shoulders, his hockey stick still resting in one hand.

His sharp blue eyes slid from me to Ethan, Ana, then back at me.

"What the hell is going on in here?" He asked, looking at Ethan.

"She's acting out again, Captain," Ethan answered and started walking towards me. "Don't worry, I'll fix it."

He grabbed my arm and started dragging me towards the door. 

I twisted my hand off his grip and stepped back.

"You both deserve each other," I said and chuckled.

I glanced to the side, and my eyes clashed with Gavin's.

"Don't play the victim, Yuna!" Ana rushed towards Ethan and grabbed his hand. "You weren't paying attention to him!"

I swallowed the lump in my throat and nodded my head.

Okay.

I turned and walked straight towards Gavin and stopped in front of him.

He arched his brows as he watched me.

"Are you okay?"

"You can help me be." I grabbed the front of his jersey and pulled him down. 

He went completely still. The chatter in the hallway died down as I slowly slammed my lips to his.