All Chapters of IN BED WITH THE RUTHLESS HOCKEY CAPTAIN: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

104 Chapters

Seventy One: Pieces that don't fit

DEVIN.Every afternoon when I walk into the school library instead of going home, I tell myself that I am only checking one more file. Somehow, "one more file" always turns into hours of searching through old records that most students never even know exist. I keep hoping I will finally find something that proves Carlos is lying. Instead, every day seems to pull me farther away from that answer. The more I search, the less certain I become about anything.Mrs. Lewis smiles when she sees me again."Back already?"I smile awkwardly."I guess.""That must be one very important project.""It is."She laughs softly."Well, try not to stay until I have to lock the doors.""I won't."I head straight for the same computer I have been using all week. The old machine hums loudly as it starts, taking forever to load the school's archive website. While I wait, I pull out my notebook. It is already filled with dates, names, and little notes that barely make sense anymore.When the page finally op

Seventy Two: Thin Ice

WHITNEY.The last person I want to spend another afternoon with is Carlos.Unfortunately, the school has other plans. Because of all the recent disciplinary problems, several of us are assigned to another mandatory volunteer project. This time, we are helping clean and organize the community ice rink before a weekend program for children. The moment I see Carlos standing across the parking lot with work gloves in his hands, I seriously think about turning around and going home. Then I remember skipping is not an option, so I force myself to stay.One of the teachers claps her hands together."Everyone, pair up. We have a lot of work to finish today."I silently pray not to hear his name."Whitney and Carlos, you'll organize the equipment room."Of course.I close my eyes for a second before picking up a box of hockey cones. Carlos says nothing as he grabs another box beside me. We walk toward the storage room without looking at each other. The silence between us feels heavier than eve

Seventy Three: Rivalry returns

CARLI keep telling myself that if I play well enough, everything else will eventually fade away.It is the only thought that gets me through another morning at the arena. My captain's letter is still gone, and every practice feels like another test I am expected to fail. Some teammates still believe in me, but others barely look at me anymore. They think I let the team down. They think I deserve everything that happened after the leaked playbook. I never argue with them because part of me feels like I deserve their anger.The locker room is unusually loud when I walk in.Someone laughs from the far corner."Well, look who's finally here."I recognize the voice before I even turn around.Landon Hayes.For a second, I simply stare at him.He is back.After months away with a shoulder injury, my old rival is standing in front of his locker like he never left. He looks stronger than before, and the confident smile on his face tells me he already knows everyone is watching us.Oliver walk

Seventy - four: He's home again

WHITNEY.Jayden is finally leaving the hospital after weeks that felt like they would never end. The nurses smile as they hand him his discharge papers, and even the doctors seem relieved to see him strong enough to go home. I help carry his backpack to the car while he jokes about never wanting to eat hospital food again. I laugh with him because that is what I have dreamed about ever since he wakes up.His apartment feels exactly the way he leaves it when we finally arrive.There are books scattered across the coffee table, an old hoodie hanging over the couch, and unopened mail sitting by the front door. Dust has settled over everything, making the place feel forgotten. Jayden looks around the room and lets out a long breath."It feels weird.""What does?""Being home."I smile."You'll get used to it.""I hope so."We spend the next hour cleaning and unpacking his things from his bag. We joke about where everything belongs, and for a little while, it almost feels like life is retu

Seventy - Five: Crossing a line

CARL.I notice the car three days before I finally decide to trust my instincts.The first time, it is parked across the street from the school. I barely pay attention because parents and visitors stop there all the time. The second day, it is sitting in almost the exact same place. The windows are dark enough that I cannot see the driver, and the engine stays running even after classes begin. I tell myself it is probably nothing. I have enough problems without imagining new ones.By the third day, I notice the same car again, and I tell myself I cannot ignore it anymore.I slow down as I walk toward the arena after my last class. The same dark gray sedan is parked beside the sidewalk again. It is facing the school gates, almost like someone wants a clear view of every student leaving campus. I stand there for a moment, pretending to check my phone while secretly watching the car.Oliver walks up beside me."You coming?""In a minute."He notices where I am looking."What is it?""Tha

Seventy - six: Secrets

DEVIN.I cannot stop thinking about the missing files.The school database does not simply lose documents by accident. Someone removed them, and the timing is too perfect to ignore. Every record that raises questions about Jayden somehow disappeared before I could finish checking it. The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that the answers are still somewhere inside this school. If the digital copies are disappearing, maybe the paper copies are not.That thought brings me to the administration building after classes.The hallway is almost empty, and the old building feels much quieter than the rest of campus. I walk to the reception desk where an older woman is sorting through stacks of folders."Excuse me, ma’am."She looks up and smiles."Can I help you?""I need to look at some old school records.""What kind?""Old event files."She studies me for a moment."Research project?"I nod."Something like that."She points down a narrow hallway."The archive room is at th

Seventy - seven: Breaking point

WHITNEY.Throughout the entire drive to his apartment, I tell myself I am only going to check on Jayden. I keep saying I am not going there to argue or accuse him of anything. I only want to make sure he is settling in and doing okay after leaving the hospital. But the folder of printed photographs sitting on the passenger seat beside me says otherwise. Every traffic light gives me another chance to turn around, yet I never do.Jayden opens the door before I even knock twice."There you are,” he says, smiling warmly and pulling me into a hug. "I was starting to think you forgot about me."I force myself to smile back."I could never."He pulls back and observes me for a second. "You look tired.”"I didn't sleep much,” I reply. "You've been worrying too much."His words almost make me put the photographs back into my bag. I almost decide to forget everything and simply spend a quiet afternoon with him. Then I remember Carlos admitting he knew Jayden. I remember the old ticket stub, th

Seventy - eight

CARLOS.I do not sleep at all.Every time I close my eyes, I see Whitney standing in the equipment room asking me the same question. Did you know Jayden? I hear Landon talking about a lie that has survived for years. Then I remember the gray car following Whitney and the fear that someone else is already moving pieces I cannot see. By sunrise, I give up pretending I will get any rest.Without really thinking, I get into my car.I drive for almost forty minutes before I finally pull into the driveway of my childhood home. My parents are both at work, so the house is quiet. I unlock the front door with the spare key that’s always been in my possession. The familiar smell of old furniture and coffee brings back memories I am not ready to face.I slowly climb the stairs to my old bedroom.Nothing has changed.The same faded hockey posters still hang on the walls. My old desk sits beneath the window, and my shelves are still filled with trophies from years ago. It almost feels like time st

Seventy nine: Meeting

WHITNEY.I barely sleep after getting Carlos’ call as his voice keeps replaying inside my head. If you really want the truth... meet me tomorrow. Come alone. Every time I close my eyes, I remember everything he has done, everything I believe about him, and every warning telling me to stay away. Then another memory pushes its way in. The photographs. The hockey ticket. Jayden's hesitation. By sunrise, I am more tired than when I first lay down.I spend most of the morning arguing with myself."This is a mistake."I whisper the words while making coffee that I never drink."He's trying to manipulate you."That has to be the answer.Carlos has every reason to confuse me now that I am asking questions. Meeting him alone sounds reckless, and I know Devin would probably beg me not to go. But another part of me keeps asking the same question over and over.What if he is finally ready to tell the truth?By noon, curiosity becomes stronger than fear.I send him a short message.“Public park.

Eighty: Questions without answers

WHITNEY.I do not open the wooden box the moment I get home.Instead, I leave it sitting beside my bed for almost an hour while I walk around my room pretending it is not there. Every time I look at it, my stomach twists into another knot. Part of me wants to throw it away without opening it again. Another part of me cannot stop wondering what else Carlos hides inside. In the end, curiosity wins.I lock my bedroom door and carry the box to the middle of the floor.The brass lock has been open since yesterday. I slowly lift the lid and begin taking everything out one piece at a time. Soon my carpet is covered with photographs, charity event programs, school newsletters, handwritten notes, and old keepsakes. I spread them into neat rows, hoping that seeing everything together will expose the truth.Instead, it only creates more questions.I spend hours studying every detail.I compare dates written on newsletters with the dates printed on charity programs. I match signatures on voluntee

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