Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Rowan 

I sat in the treatment room after another tough session with Maeve, my shoulder still throbbing from the exercises she made me do. She never went easy on me and I liked that more than I wanted to admit. The group chat on my phone started blowing up. Sponsors announced the annual Winter Charity Gala. 

The Ice Wolves had to attend. No excuses this time. I groaned loud and typed fast. “I refuse. Count me out. Not doing it this year.”

The team owner stormed into the room a few minutes later, phone in hand and face already turning red. “You have to go, Rowan. It’s mandatory for the captain. Sponsors are paying big money for the team to show up and look good.”

I shook my head hard, not even looking up. “No way. I’m not smiling for cameras with people who only care about my stats and never the real stuff behind them.”

The owner sighed heavy like I was personally killing him. “Then you’ll face heavy fines. Thousands. The team can’t cover that if you skip. Make the right call here, captain.”

We went at it right there in the treatment room, voices rising quick. “This is ridiculous,” I snapped, standing up fast. “I hate these fake events with all the politics and the forced smiles.” He shot back quick, “Too bad. Be there or pay up. Your call, captain. Don’t make me bench you over this nonsense.”

I went quiet for a minute, rubbing my bad shoulder and thinking hard. Then I looked at Maeve who was still putting away supplies, looking tired but strong like always. She had been on my mind nonstop since the lodge, the hot chocolate, and every therapy session where she pushed me like a normal guy instead of a celebrity. I wanted her there with me. For real. 

But I couldn’t face telling her that. She’d reject me fast. After what Zayne did, why would she ever trust another Ashcroft? 

“Maeve, come with me to the gala. Not as my girlfriend or anything. As the team’s medical representative. Keep it professional. Please.”

She blinked at me, surprised. “Me? Why me of all people?”

“Because you’re part of the staff now and I need someone real there. Not the fake pack people smiling for photos. What do you say? It would mean a lot to me.”

She hesitated, biting her lip. “No, Rowan. I can’t. After all the videos and comments online, showing up with you might make everything worse for both of us. I’m not ready for that.”

Later that day I found her in the break room during lunch. “Think about it again, Maeve. It’s just one night. Medical rep. No pressure at all.”

“I said no,” she replied, crossing her arms tight. “It’s not a good idea. People will assume things and I don’t need more drama.”

I leaned on the table, trying to keep my voice calm. “Come on. I trust you more than anyone on the team. You’re the only one who doesn’t baby me in therapy. Help me out here. I really don’t want to go alone.”

She sighed, looking annoyed. “You’re really pushing this hard, aren’t you?”

The next morning before practice I tried one more time in the hallway. “Maeve, please. The fines are heavy if I skip. I need you there as rep. Just professional. One night. That’s all.”

She paused longer this time, staring at me. “Fine. I’ll go. Reluctantly. But only as medical rep. Nothing more. Don’t make it weird.”

The night of the gala,  I picked her up, nerves hitting me harder than any game I ever played. She looked good in that black dress, the way it hugged her curves making it hard to look away. I wanted her there as more than rep. I wanted her. Bad. But I kept it light in the car. “Ready for the circus tonight?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said, smoothing her dress with nervous hands.

We arrived and photographers swarmed us the second we stepped out. Flashes everywhere blinding me. Someone from the press shouted loud over the noise, “Captain Rowan! Is this your girlfriend?”

Maeve immediately started denying it, voice quick and firm. “No, I’m just the team’s medical rep. Nothing more than that.”

I paused, my arm still near her side. I looked toward the entrance. There was Zayne standing with Mia on his arm, looking perfect and smug like they owned the whole night. Something snapped inside me. I smiled big. I wrapped an arm gently around Maeve’s waist, pulling her closer against me. Her warmth felt right, too right.

“Actually,” I said calmly to the cameras and the crowd pressing in, “Babe, let’s not bid it anymore. she is my girlfriend.”

Flashbulbs exploded all around us like crazy, lights flashing nonstop as reporters shouted more questions. I held her there, heart pounding hard, knowing this would change everything. I wanted her. For real. The fear she would reject me if I said it out loud kept the full truth stuck. Another Ashcroft. She’d never believe me.

The owner came over quick, eyes wide with panic as he whispered in my ear. “What are you doing, Rowan? This wasn’t the plan we talked about at all.”

I shrugged, keeping my arm around Maeve’s waist. “Plans change. Maeve is here as my girlfriend now. Deal with it.”

Maeve turned to me fast, voice low. “We talked about this. Medical rep only. What are you pulling?”

“Things shifted when I saw him show up,” I said low near her ear. “Trust me on this one. It feels right.”

Zayne started walking toward us with Mia trailing behind. “Rowan. Maeve.”

Mia smirked mean. “Nice dress, sister. Fitting for the help at an event like this.”

“Back off,” Maeve said, sharp, body tense against me. “I’m not here for you or your games.”

I kept my arm around her tight. “She’s with me. End of story. Walk away.”

Zayne’s face tightened up. “This is a mistake, cousin. You know it is.”

“Funny coming from you,” I replied, voice steady. “After what you did at the festival to her in front of everyone.”

People whispered loud around us. Phones were out recording every second. I felt Maeve tense more but she didn’t pull away. That small thing gave me hope. I wanted her close. Needed her close. But I couldn’t tell her how much I actually wanted this to be real. Rejection would hurt too bad.

Maeve pulled me aside a little, voice low. “What are you doing? This is blowing up fast and getting out of hand.”

“Exactly what needs to happen,” I said. “You deserve better than how he treated you. And I want to be the one giving you that chance.”

She looked at me, eyes searching my face. “Just don’t make it worse for both of us, okay?”

Zayne and Mia watched us from a few feet away. Mia looked mad as hell. Zayne looked confused and angry, his hand tight on her arm like he was holding himself back from something.

“You don’t get to claim her now,” Zayne said, voice low and tight.

I laughed short and sharp. “I didn’t claim anything. She chose to come with me. That’s enough for tonight.”

Maeve stayed close to my side through the night. The fake relationship felt real in my head every time I touched her. I wanted it bad. Her strength, her sarcasm in therapy, the way she didn’t baby me. All of it. But the fear kept me from saying it. She’d say no. She’d walk away. I couldn’t risk that.