Chapter 3

~Damien~

Lila’s my childhood friend. Distant enough that people don’t side-eye us at the close family celebrations, close enough that our parents still act like we’re gonna end up married and popping out trust-fund babies. She’s known me since we were kids stealing liquor from Dad’s cabinet. She thinks she knows me. She doesn’t know this part. Nobody does.

I pulled into the circular driveway at her parents’ place, big white columns, lights on every bush like they’re scared of the dark and killed the engine. She was already outside on the porch steps in sweats and one of my old hoodies she never gave back, arms wrapped around her knees, mascara tracks dried on her cheeks. It looked pathetic .

“Jesus, Lila, you look like a raccoon,” I said, slamming the car door.

She didn’t even flinch. Just stared at me with those big wet eyes. “Shut the fuck up, You followed me because?.”

“Girl why are you always on edge, what the hell was that back at the games.”

“He’s supposed to be mine.” Her voice cracked on the last word. “I got him here. I fixed everything so he could… ”

“Yeah, yeah, you’re the fairy godmother of broke-ass hockey players. Spare me.” I walked up the steps, stopped right in front of her so she had to tilt her head back. “He’s not yours. He never was. And if you keep pulling this jealous ex bullshit, you’re gonna fuck up more than his mattress.”

She laughed, bitter and snotty. “Oh please. Like you care about him. You’ve been trying to run him off since day one.”

I crouched down so we were eye-level. Close enough she could smell the ice and sweat still on me. “Listen to me real careful, dear friend. You breathe one word about his family , or the scholarship paperwork, or whatever dirt you think you’ve got, and I will make sure every door your family’s name opens slams in your face. I’ll tell Uncle exactly how you’ve been blackmailing people to keep your little ego afloat. I’ll make it so you can’t buy a coffee without someone spitting in it. You want that?”

Her mouth opened, closed. Tears started again but she blinked them back fast. “You’re defending him? You?”

“I’m defending my fucking territory.” The words came out sharper than I meant. I stood up quickly, turned away so she couldn’t see whatever was crawling across my face. “He’s mine to deal with. Not yours. Not the team’s. Mine. So back the hell off before I stop being nice.”

She stood up too, voice shaking. “You’re interested in him.”

I froze. My whole body locked. Didn’t turn around.

“I’ve known you for years, Damien. The way you look at him when you think no one’s watching. You want more from him. ”

“Shut up. Take your depressants you delusional little whorem” I spun on her so fast she stumbled back a step. “ You think this is about interest? This is about him walking onto my ice, stealing my puck, looking at me like I’m just another rich prick he can knock down, and still breathing when he does it. Nobody else does that. Nobody.”

She stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “You like him.”

“I like breaking things that don’t break easily.” I grabbed her arm not hard, just enough to make her focus. “Pack your shit out of his place and go stay with your mom. And if I hear one rumor, one whisper, one text screenshot floating around about Alex Rivera, I’ll know it came from you. And I won’t ask nicely next time.”

She yanked her arm free, eyes blazing now instead of watery. “You’re pathetic. Obsessing over some scholarship trash because he doesn’t kiss your ass. I'll keep my feelings for Alex and you won't do shit about it.”

“Yeah, well, at least I’m not crying on porch steps over a guy who dumped me for cheating.” I smirked, mean and slow. “Go inside, Lila. Sleep it off. And stay the fuck away from him.”

I didn’t wait for her answer. Just turned, got back in the car, and drove. Fast. Windows down, cold air slapping my face, trying to freeze out the way my stomach flipped when she said it out loud. You like him.

Fuck