The Hockey game

CHAPTER FOUR

PAIGES POV

It was almost four o’clock in the morning by the time I finally got to my apartment. It was too quiet.

Leah was probably sleeping, judging by the fact that she didn't jump me with questions.

I dragged myself upstairs to my room, it appeared as though Leah helped me clear the mess in my room. I'll have to thank her in the morning, because I was too tired to even clear it.

As I laid in bed to sleep, my mind continued to replay the kiss.

Images of how Knox devoured my lips were still floating around my head.

My thighs pressed together. God.

His hand at the back of my neck, fingers tightening just enough to keep me there. The way his tongue—

I squeezed my eyes shut and turned onto my side, dragging the blanket up.

What was wrong with me?

I had let him kiss me.

Knox.

My biggest bully. My best friend’s brother.

And the worst part?

I hadn’t stopped him.

And then the way he behaved after the kiss, like it hadn't shaked him like it did me. there was after.

He just ushered me into the car and didn't say anything the whole ride home.

That was good.

Because it didn’t matter anyway.

He was leaving. Going back to the States. Whatever that moment was—ended before it even started.

That thought settled heavier than it should have.

Eventually, exhaustion pulled me under. That was my last thought as sleep finally pulled me under.

“Paige, wake up” A hand shook my shoulder.

“Paige” I groaned, flopping onto my stomach I pulled my pillow over my head, hoping to silence her.

“Lee, let me sleep a bit” I grumbled.

“Wake up Paige, you are already running late for your classes” I sat up so quickly, running my hands through my hair.

“Shit, what time is it?”

“Slow down, I was just joking” Leah grinned, handing me a cup of coffee.

“You look like you got hit by a truck.” She looked at me sympathetically.

“I feel like it” I said taking the cup.

“I saw the videos this morning about the club, are you okay? Why didn't you call me Paige?” said said gently.

“I'm sorry” I replied, my face turning red as I remembered what happened at the club. “I thought I could handle it myself.”

“You don't have to apologize Paige, I just want you to know that I'm always here for you”

I hung my head low as I slipped the cup of coffee. I tried to hide it as tears started to well up, but it was no use, Leah saw it and wrapped her arms around me.

“He was cheating on me, Lee” I said between sobs “I-I found them in the restroom, h-he didn't love me. H-he never loved me, Lee. I t-thought I was the problem, but I wasn't.”

“Screw him, Paige. Men are trash” She rubbed my back “You are smart, hot, and about to be a Lawyer! Who needs boys, screw his hockey ass. C’mon, let's go get breakfast.”

I let out a small laugh, she made it sound so easy. Like I could switch it off.

“Yes, He's trash” I muttered to myself, trying to convince myself. And maybe he was, but it still hurt. I quickly wiped my tears and pushed myself off the bed.

“I have important things to do” I said to Leah and grabbed a towel.

Leah watched me, but didn't say anything.

By the time I showered and dressed, my shoulders felt lighter.

“I'm heading out Lee, I have classes” I said, heading out to the dining area to grab something to snack on.

Leah perked up immediately “Wait- are you coming to the hockey game later?”

“I don't know Lee, I don't want to see Mike just yet” I say dryly.

“Come on, we have to go! I heard Enzo is playing today, and also there's a new player we should go watch today.” She said, with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

Enzo was one of the players on the hockey team that Leah had been pining away for since our first semester. He barely gave her any attention, but she always went to each of his games, cheering him on, because she was convinced he liked her.

“I'm not going, Lee. As for the new player, it's too early to set me up.” I said, grabbing some apples.

“Come on” Leah whined again.

“Please, for me?” She batted her eyelashes. I sighed and headed out.

“Ok Lee, I'll see you later”

The Arena was full of noise and light. It was buzzing with excited students, one part of the hall reserved for our university and the other for the rival university.

I lingered at the entrance.

This was a bad idea.

My fingers tightened around my phone as the wave of laughter broke out somewhere behind me. The thought of seeing Mike or anyone recognizing me from the video made my skin crawl.

“Paige” Leah waved a few rows up, practically bouncing in her seat. She got one of the good seats, not too close to the rink but close enough to see all the action.

I forced myself to move, going up the steps, shimmering through the rows of seats until I reached her.

“You made it” she said, grabbing my arm. “I knew you would.”

I managed a small smile and sat down.

Around us, I could hear the conversation between some girls, talking about a new player.

“I heard there's a new player, he's making his debut today”

“Yessss” the other girl squealed with excitement. “I heard he's very hot.”

I cringed at their conversation and scrolled on my phone waiting for the game to start.

Leah, on the other hand, was already scouring the ice rink like her life depended on it- probably searching for Enzo.

My eyes drifted to the ice rink.

Players were already skating doing warm-ups, the sound of blades against ice echoed faintly. The cheerleaders were at one end performing an opening dance on ice skates before the game.

And then I saw her- Avery

My stomach dropped.

She laughed at something someone said, flipping her hair like she didn’t have a care in the world.

Like she hadn’t— just destroyed my relationship.

I swallowed hard and looked away.

The whistle blew. More players came out.

I spotted Mike almost immediately.

He skated straight toward Avery like the rest of the rink didn’t exist. She leaned over the barrier, laughing at something he said, and then— he kissed her.

Something twisted low in my stomach.

Mike never did that with me. Public displays had always been “too much,” according to him. He had barely even introduced me as his girlfriend to his teammates. I’d sat through games alone more times than I could count—because he said it didn’t matter if I came.

I clutched my phone.

“Hey,” Leah nudged me gently with her elbow. “Don't, He's not worth it”

I blinked, realising I had been staring for a while.

I forced my eyes away from Mike. They landed on the entrance tunnel instead—the dark opening where the players kept coming from.

I focused on that.

The announcer’s voice boomed suddenly through the arena.

“And now—making his debut…”

“Oh—this is him.” Leah straightened beside me.

My pulse quickened, though I didn't know why. My gaze still fixed on the tunnel.

“…Number seventeen—”

A ripple of excitement spread through the stands, people leaning forward, the girls beside me already had their phones up, squealing with excitement.

“Knox Tatum!”

Everything in me stilled.

He glided out onto the rink, his jersey fitted perfectly across his broad and defined shoulders.

My heart slammed against my ribs.

“What is he doing here?” I whispered to myself.

“What” Leah laughed beside me “You didn't know, he transferred back this semester, huge deal by the way”

My chest tightened.

I forced myself to look back at the rink.

Knox skated out to the middle of the rink, skating around in circles and pumping his hockey stick in the air while the crowd cheered, all around me the girls screamed and swooned.

But I barely heard any of the noise.

Knox slowed slightly.

turned his head.

Somehow, despite the thousands of students in the whole arena, Knox looked directly at me.

The same way he looked at me last night- like I was his prey.

His eyes stayed on me, and his lips moved.

My breath stilled.

“Hey Midget”

I froze, heat rushed through me, and I remembered exactly how those lips tasted

— and he skated off like he had not just ruined me all over again.