All Chapters of Rivals Or Lovers: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Champ POV I woke up to the sound of the shower running from the bathroom. Figured out that Kyle was already up. I turned to the side and blinked a few times, still half asleep, and saw him standing near his bed, buttoning his shirt like he was heading to an interview instead of bike practice. “Morning,” I muttered, voice rough from sleep. He didn’t even look at me. “Mmmm.” He hummed? By the time I finally sat up, he had already packed his gloves, hair still damp and sticking out in random directions. The guy somehow managed to look like he had his life together while I looked like a failed science experiment. “You could at least pretend to be human till 8 a.m.,” I said, rubbing my face. He glanced at his watch. “It’s 8:15.” “Damn it.” He zipped up his jacket. “You’re gonna make us late again.” “Correction, you’re gonna make me late by waking up too early.” That earned the smallest smirk from him. Kyle grabbed his keys from the chair and slung his bag over hi

Ryan POVTwo weeks off. For everyone else, it was a chance to relax, go home, see their family… or whatever. But not me. For me, breaks meant going back to my step-parents’ house and I hated it.My stepdad didn’t bother me much, but my stepmom did… she had this way of turning every second into a lecture or a lesson. She’d nag about me choosing racing, she'll always say she loves me and she wants a bright future for me, racing wasn't a dream for her. Ugh, the thought alone made me want to disappear. Forget it.“Where are you staying this break?” Champ asked as we walked our bikes off the field.I shrugged. “Anywhere but not home. You know me, I always end up at your place anyway. It’s easier.”Champ grinned. “Of course, I figured that out. Your usual escape.”I laughed lightly. “Yeah. Your house is quiet, and you don’t make me feel like I’m trapped in a bird cage. Honestly, that’s why I always come here.”Champ nudged me playfully. “Good then. Two weeks off with you at my home should b

Ethan POV“First of all, I’m sorry for not turning up at your parents’ death anniversary. I tried following but you shut me out like I was trash. Seriously? Was it because of the racing match?”The words came out before I could stop them.Ryan turned his head sharply, his jaw tightening like I had just said something wrong and I knew I did. We were sitting side by side on the coach.He didn’t look at me. His gaze was fixed on some random spot across the room, where Kyle and Champ were laughing about something. Kyle’s hand brushing Champ’s shoulder like he owned him, their loud voices echoing through the living room.Marco himself had disappeared upstairs to grab a deck of cards, probably planning some ridiculous drinking game he wanted to play.Ryan’s silence stretched so long I started regretting opening my mouth. But then he exhaled slowly.“You don’t get to bring that up,” he said finally, his voice low.I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. “Why not?”“Because,” he said, turning t

Ryan POV“Let’s go home, Ry.”Marco’s voice slurred as he leaned too close, reeking of alcohol.I shoved his shoulder lightly, standing up. “Don’t call me that.”He only laughed harder, nearly toppling over before Champ caught him. Kyle was already sprawled across the other couch, staring at the ceiling like he was forced to do so.“Man, I told you to slow down,” Champ said, steadying Marco as he hiccupped.“I did slow down,” Marco protested weakly. “Then Kyle poured another round.”Kyle groaned without moving. “I was being polite.”I rolled my eyes and turned toward Ethan, who was still sitting with his glass untouched now, watching the room like he wasn’t really part of it. The faintest smirk tugged at his mouth, but his eyes were quieter than before.Something about that didn’t sit right.“You driving?” I asked him.He looked up, meeting my gaze lazily. “No. I'm spending the night here." He looked around them scattered on the ground. "But who's going to take Champ home? Can you dri

Champ POVMy phone vibrated on the table, I picked it up hurriedly because I was expecting someone's text, and the person really surprised me.~ Kyle: Can we see?A small grin found its way to my lips as I typed back.~ Me: Sure. Where do we meet?~ Kyle: At the karaoke club.Perfect.I pushed myself up from the couch so fast my head almost spun, ran up the stairs to my room, freshened up and changed into something decent and attractive.I glanced at the mirror, satisfied with my look, before leaving my room. Not bad.When I ran downstairs, Ryan was still in the living room, lying on the couch with the TV on mute.“Where are you going?” He didn’t even look up when he spoke.“None of your business,” I said, slipping on my sneakers. “Don’t wait up for me.”His eyes flicked up for a second. “Don’t come back drunk.”“Yes mum, stop nagging.”“Idiot,” he muttered.I grabbed my phone and keys and stepped out before he could say anything else.~~~~~The city was already alive by the time I go