Chapter 16: Don't tease me Jeremy.

Nadia's POV.

I knew it was like the hundredth time I had sprained my ankle, but why was he so concerned?

I told him I was fine countless times, but he kept pressing on, kept asking what was wrong, where I was, and it was damn annoying.

I pushed him off, acted rudely, and hoped he wouldn't bug me anymore. But there he was, dragging me to the locker room, like we were some couple running off to the rainbow.

"Stop, okay. I said I'm fine." I tried to refute, to push him away, but damn, he just had to keep going. And now he was getting closer to me.

Ha!

He pushed off my wig.

What was wrong with him?

He was leaning closer.

Why was he so close to me?

His hand was on my waist, his eyes glancing at my lips.

Wait, what was he about to do?

Oh no.

"I care about you, peaches. Can't you see that I do?" He was closing the distance between us, and all I wanted was to push him away, but it seemed like my limbs had failed me.

The only things working were my eyes, which were burning wide, and my mind, which was raging with thoughts.

"Jere... Jeremy," I stuttered, my palm sweaty from not being able to move even though it wanted to.

Why wasn't he listening?

Why wasn't he moving away?

My back was against a locker already, him barely an inch away.

I swallowed hard, closing my eyes.

If he dared kiss me, my teeth would chop his lips off.

Just when I was about to bite into his skin, a knock landed on the door, but it wasn't enough to make him pull away.

And there came another, heavier, louder.

At last, he pulled away, a wicked grin on his face.

Why was he fucking smiling?

Did he... Was he just teasing me?

"You should put your wig back on," he chuckled, taking off his helmet. "We don't want the world to see that the pretty new player is actually a pretty girl." He smirked.

That jerk...

"How dare you... Argh!" I growled, picking my wig from where he dropped it, one hand on my beating chest.

"Your cheeks are hot red too, they make me think you are smitten by being so close to me."

He stepped away and watched me wear my wig as i mumbled cusses under my breath.

When he opened the door, Chris and other of our teammates rushed in.

"Here you both are..." Chris threw suspicious glances between Jeremy and me, and my hands unconsciously went straight to my red flushed cheeks.

"C'mon Jeremy, you have to talk to the press, we made it to the championship, man." He cheered and they all roared, on their way out.

Jeremy stopped halfway. "Are you coming, Noah?" That smile, the wicked annoying one that made him look like the devil, he had it on his lips again.

"Umm, sure." I pressed my tongue hard, narrowed my chest to give out what sounded like a masculine voice, and sighed in relief when they all left.

What the heck was that? I wasn't able to push him away?

Why were my cheeks so hot and red?

No, I wasn't smitten by him. I disdained him and the fact that he was a Deluca. The mere sight of him reminded me of his father and the betrayal fired at mine.

No, I hadn't forgotten.

The rage was still blazing inside of me.

So why was I so weak when he was so close?

After steadying my wig on, I walked out of the locker room.

I vowed to leave my fist on his face, next time Jeremy tried such a stunt

***

I returned to the stands to find them seated and questioned by the press.

"Oh boy..."

I didn't realize how loudly I groaned in frustration. I was already irritated at the sight of Jeremy, who, even though he was speaking into a microphone, had his eyes on me, flickering with mischief.

Such a jerk!

"Captain Jeremy, how do you feel giving your team the win in the final minutes and taking it into the championship? You know it's a huge win for the Cheetahs as this will be their twelfth championship yet. So tell us, how do you feel for the team?" one of the press asked Jeremy, and before he could reply another bounced up with more questions.

"Is this a glorious moment for you? What are your expectations from your teammates as you embark on this journey?"

I returned my eyes to Jeremy, curious to hear his answer.

"Well, getting the championship was a huge win for us as a team. It proves our dedication and resilience are paying off. We have come this far because we have each other; each member of this team has put in admirable dedication and work into this and I want to give a special shout-out to the coach and our new player Noah."

Wait, did I just hear...

Noah — that was me, I was Noah.

Why the hell was he calling my name?

My brows furrowed as every eye turned to me, the cameras clicking away.

"He has shown great strength and I'm certain that with him on our team, we will come home with the trophy," Jeremy added, and that ticked a buzz as murmurs rippled within the crowd.

"He didn't even play in today's match. The new dude is getting all the praise?"

The grumbles kept growing loud and I bit my lower lip, my blazing eyes on Jeremy who wore a smirk.

That was it; I was going to kill him.

"That will be enough questions for now, thank you," the coach tried to dismiss, but one of the reporters yelled from the back.

"Where's Mr Albert Deluca?"

Just the mention of his name made everyone pause.

"Jeremy, there have been rumours that your father has never graced the arena with his presence ever since you started playing professional hockey for the Cheetahs." He continued, and I watched Jeremy's face darken.

"Why is that? Is it because of a family feud? Will we get to see him in some later matches as the championship progresses?"

Another uproar ensued.

Jeremy's jaw clenched and my curiosity heightened.

His father had never watched him play?

He was the team's captain; any goddamn father would be proud to watch him create a legacy on the rink.

But I guessed Albert Deluca wasn't the best father either.

"He's not answering that," the coach spat. "No more questions."

Security stepped in, pushing the press away.

My curious eyes glanced at Jeremy, and for some reason my stomach felt heavy at the sadness in his eyes.

Why did I care?

I didn't.

***

We all returned to the locker room with neither Jeremy nor me saying a word to each other or to anyone else.

But the others—they were all over the place, chanting happily and poking at each other as they stripped naked.

Argh, the things I had to live with.

"C'mon boys, get dressed and take your asses out.

We're having a meet and greet with some fans," the coach announced before walking away.

Some fans?

That was weird.

"I guess the coach is talking about some filthy rich family who paid hundreds of dollars just to take pictures with us," one of the players clarified as if reading my thoughts, and I gasped in realization.

"Noah, you’re dressed already. Man, you should go out and keep the fans entertained," another said, and they guffawed.

Okay, men had a very awkward sense of humor.

Well, in the locker room they did.

As if their hanging balls weren’t enough to drive me completely nuts.

"Sure," I grumbled, getting off the bench, my eyes trailing to Jeremy who was in a corner with a towel around his waist.

He was the only one I hadn’t seen naked. Well, him and a few others and I crossed my fingers, praying it would remain that way.

***

I sat by myself as the rest of the team joined me in the stands. They were dressed like me, in sweatpants and blazer jackets.

I scratched my neck as I felt my bones crack with every stretch.

Damn, I was tired. I couldn’t remember the last time I woke up with a drool on my face.

That was how short my nights had been.

"I heard it’s the CEO of Robin Enterprises. She brought her children for a meet and greet."

"Yeah, I heard her twins are huge fans. And she’s a filthy multimillionaire."

Some of my teammates who sat next to me discussed amongst themselves.

Soon, I heard children’s giggles as a blonde woman, a boy, and a girl with the coach approached the stands.

Wait…

I knew her.

She… she was Simone Roberto. The woman I had to convince to buy some fucking cosmetics.

What the…

I didn’t know when my lips fell ajar, but then another person joined them.

Zachery.

He was there—and the next thing I heard made my stomach churn.

"That’s Zachery Roberto, the CEO’s younger brother. I heard the dude is a billionaire."

My gossiping teammate whispered, and I felt my eye twitch as I unintentionally locked eyes with Zachery.

Oh no.