Semua Bab Kissing the Hockey Captain: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Ava’s POVNobody spoke after my mother dropped the pregnancy news. Well Victor did, but Ryan and I...we just stole glances and hoped my mum would say it's all a joke.My mum laughed nervously instead. “Okay, someone react before I start panicking.”Victor smiled instantly and wrapped an arm around her waist. “It’s good news...right guys?"He looked at me then at Ryan.Good news.Right.I forced my face to move before anyone noticed how completely thrown off I was.“That’s…wow.” My voice sounded weirdly distant to my own ears. “Congratulations.”“Thank you, honey.” Elena looked emotional already. “I know it’s sudden but—”“A baby,” I interrupted quietly.The word felt strange coming out of my mouth.A baby meant this wasn’t temporary anymore. This wasn’t just my mother dating Victor Carter.This was permanent.Family.Across the room, Ryan still hadn’t spoken.Victor finally looked toward him. “Ryan?”His jaw tightened slightly before he nodded once. “Congrats.”That was just flat. My

Ava’s POV“This weekend.”The words kept repeating inside my head long after I left the principal’s office.I barely noticed where I was walking.Students moved around me laughing, talking, arguing about classes and parties and hockey finals while my chest felt tight enough to crack open.Lily was leaving. Just like that.No warning. No goodbye. Nothing.Because somebody leaked a damn picture.I pulled my phone out again and called her immediately.Straight to voicemail.“Come on,” I whispered.Again. Voicemail.By the third call, I wanted to scream.Instead, I shoved my phone back into my pocket and headed toward the parking lot before I could start crying in the middle of school like some emotional disaster.Rain from last night still covered the sidewalks while cold wind pushed against my face.I drove straight back to Lily’s house.This time, I wasn’t leaving until I saw her.I knocked hard enough to hurt my knuckles.No answer.I knocked again. Still nothing.Then finally the doo

Ava’s POV School felt louder lately too. Like everyone else kept moving normally while my life slowly turned into some dramatic Netflix series I never asked for.By the time I reached campus, students were already crowding the hallways talking about the championship game next week.Posters of Ryan and the hockey team covered half the walls now.Unfortunately for me, Ryan Carter himself was standing beside my locker the second I arrived.“You’re late,” he said casually.I blinked at him. “Are you waiting for me?”“No.”“You literally are.”Ryan ignored that. “You said you’d think about tutoring me.”I opened my locker slowly. “Good morning to you too.”“I’m failing chemistry.”“That sounds like a personal problem.”“It becomes your problem when I get benched.”I tried not to smile while grabbing my books. “Still dramatic.”Ryan stepped closer slightly. “Please.”It still sounded strange coming from him. I glanced at him carefully now.Dark hoodie. Tired eyes. Hair messy like he barely

Ava’s POVThe surprise test was absolute torture. Mostly because Daniel wouldn’t stop talking.Not enough for the teacher to snap at him. Just enough annoying comments under his breath to distract literally everyone around him.“Damn,” he muttered while spinning a pen between his fingers. “Forgot Brookshire teachers love acting like prison wardens.”A few students laughed nervously.Ryan ignored him completely from two rows ahead of me.Which honestly made Daniel look even more desperate.The teacher finally dropped papers onto Daniel’s desk with an irritated sigh. “If you’re done performing for the class, maybe you can start writing.”Daniel flashed him a lazy grin. “Missed you too.”Lily leaned toward me immediately.“He looks like nicotine and bad decisions.”I snorted quietly.“Seriously,” she whispered. “Why does he suddenly look like he owns three motorcycles and unresolved trauma?”I bit back another laugh just as Daniel glanced toward me again.And there it was. That old famil

Ava’s POVI leaned in.Ryan’s eyes dropped to my mouth instantly and the entire hallway suddenly felt too small. His hand moved slightly against the bench beside him like he was about to touch me again.Then...“Oh for the love of God.”We both jerked apart immediately.Lily stood at the end of the hallway holding two bags of popcorn and looking deeply offended.“Do you two ever take a break from unresolved sexual tension or is this a full-time job?”My entire face burned instantly. Ryan leaned back slowly rubbing a hand over his face while laughing under his breath.“You have terrible timing,” he muttered.“You’re welcome,” Lily replied proudly.I wanted the floor to open and swallow me whole.Lily walked closer dramatically narrowing her eyes at us.“You almost kissed again, didn’t you?”“No,” I lied instantly.“Yes,” Ryan said at the same time.I whipped toward him in horror.Ryan looked way too amused with himself now.“Oh my God,” Lily gasped. “This is better than Netflix.”“Pleas