Face Off

Chapter 5

Paige’s POV

He saw me.

My heart was pounding loudly in my chest.

There was no way, Knox had just looked directly at me.

Thousands of students filled the arena. The stands were packed, the crowd deafening, yet the moment he’d skated onto the ice, his eyes had found mine.

Last night flashed through my mind—the kiss, the way his lips had tasted, the way his hand had felt against my waist.

My fingers tightened around the edge of my seat.

What was he even doing here?

The whistle blew and the game officially began.

The arena exploded.

And within five minutes, I forgot every single thought in my head, because Knox was insane, he was as fast as lightning, skating around the rink like he owned the place. The puck seemed glued to his stick. He weaved through defenders effortlessly, performing quick moves with his hockey stick to fake out opponents.

The crowd roared.

A player from the opposing team tried to block him, their frustration showing.

Knox slipped past him.

Another tried.

Same result.

Then suddenly—

The puck hit the back of the net.

The arena exploded when he scored. I jumped so hard I nearly spilled my drink.

“GOOOOOAL!”

The announcer’s voice boomed through the speakers.

The students around me lost their minds.

Unlike the other guys who celebrated with flashy fist bumps, Knox simply skated backward, barely reacting as his teammates swarmed him.

Like scoring was the most normal thing in the world.

“What the hell?” I muttered.

Leah barked out a laugh. “He's so good, it's unreal”

I folded my arms quickly, forcing my face to stay calm. “Erm… he’s okay,” I muttered, even though my chest was still buzzing from the goal.

“You’re literally standing.”

I immediately sat down.

Leah snorted.

The game continued.

Then Knox scored again. And again.

And somehow, despite knowing absolutely nothing about hockey, I found myself leaning forward every single time he touched the puck.

Every time he got close to the goal, I found myself holding my breath.

My stomach dropped whenever someone checked him. For some reason, I cared enough about Knox not to want him to get hurt.

Which was ridiculous.

I hated him…. right?

Yet somehow, I barely noticed Mike the entire game.

Every time my eyes wandered across the ice, they found Knox.

The girls behind me weren’t helping.

“He’s so hot.”

“Look at his arms.”

“I would let that man ruin my life.”

I rolled my eyes.

But they weren't wrong. He was ridiculously hot. His Jersey clung to his broad shoulders. Sweaty-dark hair sticking in the wrong places, jaw sharp and slightly clenched, cheeks flushed from the game.

What was I doing? I shouldn't be ogling at my best friend's brother like that, yet I couldn't stop myself.

I tore my gaze away from the ice and sank back into my seat.

Get a grip, Paige.

This was Knox.

The same Knox who had spent years calling me a midget. The same Knox who seemed to take personal pleasure in getting under my skin.

One stupid kiss didn’t change that.

I folded my arms across my chest and forced my attention elsewhere.

I stayed until the final buzzer, because I didn't want to leave Leah alone and I didn't want her to be suspicious of anything either.

The Knox team had won, and the crowd was in uproar, chanting Knox’s name. Students immediately began pouring out of the arena, filling the aisles with a sea of jerseys and school colors. This was the best time to leave without anyone noticing.

If I left now, I could avoid Knox entirely.

No awkward conversation.

No reminders of that stupid kiss.

I grabbed my bag and stood.

“Where are you going?” Leah asked.

“Home.”

“What? Already?”

“Yes.”

“But Knox—”

“I’m leaving, Leah.

She opened her mouth to argue, but I was already weaving through the crowd.

The sooner I got out of here, the better.

“Paige” The voice I had been dreading rang in my ears and stopped me in my tracks. Slowly I turned to face him, and there he was.

His hockey jersey was damp with sweat, his helmet tucked beneath one arm.

A humorless laugh escaped him “Well, this explains a lot.”

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”

He took a step closer. “You and Knox.”

My stomach sank.

“What do you mean?”

“No, seriously.” He shook his head. “You had me feeling guilty for days.”

I stared at him.

Guilty?

This idiot couldn’t be serious.

“You cheated on me, Mike.”

“Did I?” he shot back. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you moved on pretty damn fast.”

My jaw dropped.

“I found you making out with another girl in a restroom, the girl you said was your best friend”

“And then Knox just happened to show up?”

I almost laughed at his words but I kept a straight face.

“You can’t actually be this stupid.”

His expression darkened.

“No, Paige. What’s stupid is acting like I’m the villain, walking around like you are better than everybody, when you’ve clearly been messing around with him this whole time.”

Something twisted in my chest, how did I date this person for so long?

“Messing around?” I repeated, I laughed. Maybe a little too loud. People start staring at us.

“Mike, you cheated on me.”

His jaw tightened.

For a second, guilt flashed across his face.

Then it disappeared.

“I know I screwed up.”

“Then what exactly are we talking about here?”

His eyes searched mine.

“I just didn’t think you’d move on that fast.”

My chest tightened. What did he just say

The nerve of him.

It had been three days since I caught him with another girl, and not once did he call to apologize or beg.

And somehow, he was standing here acting wounded.

I opened my mouth to respond.

A voice beat me to it.

“So what if she has?”

Every muscle in my body locked.

I knew that voice.

The hallway fell silent.

I turned, slowly.

Knox was standing a few feet away.

Still in his jersey, looking even bigger off the ice. How did he get to me so fast?!

My stomach dropped.

Mike let out a dry laugh. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Knox ignored him completely.

His eyes landed on me. His eyes searched my face, like he was looking for something. His lips were curled into a small smirk that made my insides tingle most sinfully. Then he looked back at Mike.

“You said you didn’t think she’d move on that fast.”

His voice was calm.

“Let me ask you something.”

Mike folded his arms.

“What?”

Knox’s expression didn’t change.

“If you don’t want her anymore…”

My breath caught.

The hallway went completely silent.

Knox took one slow step forward.

“Why are you so bothered that somebody else might?”