CHAPTER 21: PICTURE PERFECT DISASTER

CALIX’S POV

CRAAAACK!

The sound of my hockey stick hitting the puck echoed loudly in the empty arena. I watched the puck fly across the ice and move directly into the back of the net, but I didn't feel happy about the perfect shot, I just skated forward, dragged another puck from the pile, and set it up.

It was past ten in the night, and the newly renovated Northcott rink was empty, illuminated only by the bright overhead stadium lights.

I should have been in my dorm sleeping already, but every time I closed my eyes, I felt Noah’s body pressing me against the bathroom, and I could still feel the wet soreness between my thighs.

My mind was spiraling, and the only way to keep from losing my mind was to skate until my lungs burned.

I drew my stick back again, ready to take another furious shot.

Clap... clap... clap…

A slow, mocking applause suddenly echoed from the dark spectator benches. I froze mid-swing, and snapped my head toward the shadows near the entrance tunnel. A tall figure stepped out into the bright light of the rink.

My stomach instantly churned uncomfortably.

It was Tobias Russo. He was wearing his Kensington varsity jacket, his hands shoved into his pockets. He had a messy mop of brown hair and a punchable, arrogant smirk stretched across his face.

I already hated Tobias with every single cell in my body. On the ice, he was the dirtiest player in the entire league. During our last match, he had illegally checked one of my freshman teammates into the boards, giving the poor kid a concussion that put him out for the season.

And the worst part? Tobias just laughed about it. He treated everyone at Northcott like trash simply because we weren't born with a silver spoon in our mouths. To him, we were just poor kids playing in his world.

Pathetic bullshit!

“Get the hell off my ice, Russo,” I spat, gripping my hockey stick tightly. “Kensington's rink is across town. You have no business being here.”

Tobias didn't look intimidated at all. He walked over to the edge of the rink, leaning his arms against the barrier, and then looking down at me like I was an insect.

“Relax, Sinclair. I'm not here to steal your precious ice time,” He chuckled lazily, like a snake slithering through grass. “Though I must say, the new rink looks great. Still wondering how this poor school was able to pull it off.”

“I said get out,” I hissed, skating right up to the boards, staring him down. “Before I use this stick to smash your teeth in.”

“Oh, I wouldn't do that if I were you, Captain,” Tobias murmured, his smirk widening. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his smartphone. “Because if you touch me, I might accidentally press 'send' on a very interesting little file I have right here.”

I frowned, my chest heaving beneath my practice jersey. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You know, I always wondered how a low-life school like Northcott suddenly got the funding for a brand-new arena,” Tobias frowned, tapping his finger against the screen of his phone. “And then, a few nights ago, I saw something very weird.” He paused, a dry chuckle slipping past his lips. “First, I saw Noah’s sports car parked near your campus trails. So, I did a little digging. I followed the breadcrumbs. And wow... I found some fantastic gold.”

My heart stopped beating, and eyelashes were already fluttering uncontrollably.

Tobias turned his phone around, pressing the screen against the clear plexiglass barrier so I was forced to look at it.

My eyes widened more than they had ever done in my entire life.

It was a photo… the quality was blurry because it was taken from a distance in the dark, but it was undeniable.

The first image showed Noah’s power bike hidden in the middle of the walk away. But then the second image... the second image was a nightmare come to life.

It clearly showed me lying back on the grass, my shirt messed up, and Noah Kensington, the golden boy, the billionaire heir, on his knees between my legs, his head buried in my crotch, clearly sucking my dick.

The world started spinning, and sheer panic crashed over me, making my knees go weak. I felt like I was going to throw up right there on the ice.

Someone else had been watching us, and out of all people, it had to be Tobias Russo.

Great! So great! My life was officially ruined! It would be better to just jump off a cliff somewhere as soon as possible.

“You... how did you…” I stammered, my voice cracking embarrassingly.

“I have my ways,” Tobias grinned, pulling the phone back and sliding it quickly into his jacket pocket. “Noah thinks he's so smart, hiding his little playground romance. But he got sloppy. You both got sloppy.”

I gripped the top of the boards, my hands shamelessly shaking uncontrollably. “What do you want, Tobias? Money? I don't have any. My family is broke, you already know that. I can't give you anything.”

“Money? Please, Sinclair. My dad owns half the real estate downtown. I don't give a crap about your pennies,” Tobias scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. He leaned closer, his voice dropping into a vicious whisper that sent shivers down my spine. “I want something much better.”

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat feeling like a hard rock. “What?”

“The mid-season exhibition match between Northcott and Kensington is in exactly three days,” He started, his eyes shining widely. “The whole city will be watching, the scouts will also be coming. Everyone wants to see if Northcott’s little miracle streak can beat the reigning champions.” He paused, tapping his fingers against the barrier.

“You're going to throw the game, Captain,” Tobias commanded boldly. “You're going to play like an idiot, that's what I want, you feel me? I want you to miss the passes like a blind goat, fumble the puck, and make sure Northcott loses by at least four points. I want your team completely humiliated on live television. Is that clear?”

“No…” I breathed, continuously swaying my head from side to side, my face edged with a right frown. “No, I can't do that. Hockey is everything to my guys. We worked so hard for this. I can't... can't just betray my team. like that."

“Okay, no problem. I will just simply send this photo straight to George Kensington, Noah's father.” Tobias snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a knife. “And then I'll leak it to every major news outlet in the city. Let's see how fast your shiny new rink gets bulldozed to the ground.”

He scoffed. “And let's see what happens to your precious hockey career when everyone finds out the Northcott captain is a faggot who sells his body to his rival for cheap money like a freaking prostitute.”

A breathless gasp slipped past my lips before I knew it. I stumbled back, the threats feeling like huge bricks being thrown to my chest.

“Three days, Calix,” Tobias grinned, stepping back from the barrier and turning toward the exit tunnel. He didn't even wait for my answer. He knew he had me completely cornered already. “Play like a fucking idiot, or watch your whole world burn. The choice is yours.”

He walked away, his loud, arrogant laughter echoing through the empty arena as the doors swung shut behind him.

I stood there alone, struggling to breathe.