Semua Bab Craving The Enemy: Bab 21 - Bab 30

CHAPTER 22MASONI did it on purpose.The kiss with the staff, every shove, every bump during drills, every time I cut him off mid-stride — all of it was to see if Tyler Reyes would finally snap.And oh, he was close.The guy’s jaw was locked so tight I half-expected to hear a crack. His eyes kept shooting daggers at me, even when Coach was looking. Which, for Reyes, was saying something. He usually played it straight in front of authority.By the end of the last drill, he stalked off the ice without a word.Perfect.In the locker room, I dropped onto the bench, pulling my pads off. Avery flopped down beside me, smelling like sweat and bad cologne.“You’re a menace,” he said.I grinned. “Thanks.”“Not a compliment, Grant.” Avery tugged at his jersey. “You were poking the bear all afternoon.”“I was just playing,” I said innocently.“Yeah, and I’m just a saint,” he shot back. “Reyes looked like he was about to swing his stick at your head.”Damien, across the aisle, smirked. “Would’ve

CHAPTER 24MASON Tyler didn’t say it.He could’ve, but he didn’t. And the way he’d looked at me — half pissed, half something else — had been burning a hole in my brain since yesterday.Was it just lust? Or was it something he didn’t even want to name?I was still thinking about it when Avery jogged up beside me on the trail, hoodie half-zipped, hair sticking up.“You look like you’re plotting someone’s death,” he said.“Maybe I am,” I muttered.He snorted. “Let me guess — Reyes.”I shot him a look. “You’re obsessed with us.”“Correction: the entire retreat is obsessed with you two. It’s like watching a soap opera, but with hockey sticks.”I shook my head, lips twitching despite myself. “You need a new hobby.”We were heading back toward the lodge when I caught movement near the tree line. A shadow — tall, hood up, standing just inside the boundary of the retreat property.I slowed. “You see that?”Avery frowned. “See what?”When I glanced back, the figure was gone.“Never mind,” I s

CHAPTER 26TYLER Mason’s back was already retreating through the crowd when I turned my head. He didn’t look back once.And that… bothered me more than it should.“Earth to Tyler.”I blinked and focused on the brunette in front of me. “Sorry. Zoned out.”Celeste laughed softly, looping her arm through mine like she’d done a hundred times when we were kids. “Still doing that thing where you overthink everything?”“Still doing that thing where you read my mind?” I shot back.She smirked. “It’s a gift. Now—come here. Let me look at you.”She stepped back, giving me a once-over that was equal parts fond and judgmental. “You’ve bulked up. All those gym selfies on your team’s page? Not bad, Reyes.”I rolled my eyes. “Stalker.”“Archivist,” she corrected. “I just keep a record of my people.”“You’ve been here five minutes and you’ve already insulted me twice.”“Balancing out the compliments I’m about to give you.” She grinned. “Seriously, Ty, I missed you.”My chest squeezed. “Yeah. I misse

CHAPTER 28TYLERDinner was… tense.Not the fun, chaotic kind of tense where Avery and Malik started throwing bread rolls across the table and Coach threatened to make them run laps. No — this was the quiet, strained kind of tense.I was halfway through my dinner when I noticed it.Coach Allen and Coach West, heads tilted close together at the far end of the table. Forks untouched. Voices low.Malik nudged me with his elbow. “What’s up with them?”I followed his gaze, pretending I wasn’t already staring. “No idea.”“They’ve been like that for ten minutes,” Liam muttered, leaning across me. “Looks like they’re hiding something.”Before I could answer, Avery — never one for subtlety — raised his voice. “Hey, Coaches! What’s with the intense staring contest over there?”The whole table went quiet. Allen and West froze like they’d been caught stealing cookies. Then Allen leaned back in his chair, forced a smile.“Nothing,” he said.West nodded, eyes flicking toward Allen like they’d rehea

CHAPTER 30TYLER The party felt too loud. Too bright. Too full of Mason’s eyes on me every time I looked his way.By the time we were filing back toward the buses, I’d already decided I wasn’t sitting anywhere near him.“Ride with me,” Malik said, spotting the sour look on my face.I hesitated. Mason was at the front, scanning the seats. His gaze hit mine, a flicker of something — regret, maybe — before I tore my eyes away and slid into Malik’s lap.“Comfortable?” Malik smirked.“Shut up,” I muttered, leaning back into him.He didn’t push. But halfway through the ride, when the chatter around us dipped, he murmured, “Something happen?”I stared out the window. “I saw Gabriel today.”Malik stilled under me. “…Your brother?”“Yeah.” My throat tightened. “We talked. He explained some things. And Mason—” I swallowed hard. “Mason knew. He’s been in contact with him.”Malik’s arms tightened around my waist. “Shit. I’m sorry, Ty.”I didn’t answer. Malik didn’t push for more. Just kept a ste