Chapter 3 Hockey Game (2)

• KAIDA’S POV
• As the door slammed behind me, I rested my back against the wall, dragging it slowly until I squatted with my back against the wall and my hands wrapped around my legs.
• I knew how pathetic I looked while crying, but I couldn’t help it. It sure wasn’t easy to move on from someone you love so much, but seeing Liam smiling with his teammate as if nothing had happened made me realize I was the only one fooling myself.
• He had fallen out of love with me, but I kept forcing myself on him in our relationship.
• I felt guilty for trying to make a sinking relationship work.
• “Kai,” I heard a deep voice call my name, and I paused for a second, wanting to hear if the same voice would call my name again. Or maybe I was now hearing things.
• “Kai, you’re in there.” I heard once again, and I stood up, wiped my face, and pushed the door open.
• Only one person calls me Kai, and that is Maverick, Ember’s older brother.
• Once the door pushed open, his face was the first thing I saw. I hated how much his looks made my heart skip for a second.
• Sharp jawline, lush eyebrows, deep oceanic eyes.
• Jesus Christ… I shouldn’t be ogling at my best friend’s brother like that, yet I couldn’t stop myself.
• “Why are you here?” I asked, my voice low. “You should be in the arena. You have a game.”
• He ignored my words and stepped closer, causing my breath to hitch.
• As he stepped closer, his cologne wafted past my nose, and dare I say he smells divine. I’ve always been a lover of good scents, and I can tell a good one once I spot it. Maverick’s cologne is definitely a good one.
• “What are you doing?” I stuttered, blinking rapidly, but he didn’t reply.
• Instead, he leaned closer, our faces just inches away from each other. “You were crying,” he said.
• It wasn’t a question, just an observation.
• “No, I wasn’t crying,” I said, shaking my head negatively, refusing to admit.
• “You were,” he stated in a deep, low rumble, his face blank.
• “I don’t see how that concerns you, Maverick,” I said, folding my hands under my chest, trying to stay strong under his scrutinizing gaze.
• “You’re my sister’s best friend. Of course, I should care for you, just like I care for my sister,” he replied, his gaze not leaving mine.
• “Why now of all time?” I scoffed. “Last I remembered, we’ve known each other for five years, but you never cared, so why now?”
• “Because I just felt like it,” he shrugged, his hands in his hockey pants’ pockets.
• “Well, thanks for the concern. I don’t need it,” I rolled my eyes and made an attempt to walk away, but he was fast to grab my wrist.
• His touch sent tingles spreading all over my body, and I quickly dragged my wrist from his hold.
• “What is it again?” I asked, my voice higher than normal. I was a bit annoyed.
• “Liam broke up with you, didn’t he?”
• “Maverick, when did you start snooping around?” I asked, my brows arched and my voice filled with sarcasm.
• “I don’t do that,” he smirked. “The whole college knows about it. Not just me.”
• Shit!
• It had only been a day since Liam and I broke up, yet the whole college already found out about it.
• Seems bad news spreads faster than good news.
• “So, are you here to mock me?”
• “Why would I do that? I’ve got no time to mock you, Kai,” his voice became soft all of a sudden, making a pull of warmth fill my stomach.
• “My name is Kaida, not Kai,” I corrected, but that only made his lips stretch into a lopsided smile.
• “I’ll call you whatever I want.”
• “Suit yourself then,” I rolled my eyes and turned around, walking down the hallway.
• Halfway through, I heard Maverick called my name. “Kai,”
• I turned around with a frustrating sight. “What now?”
• “Wish me good luck against your ex-boyfriend.”
• “I don’t think you need a good luck, because I’m sure you’d win against him.”
• “Well, thanks for the assurance,” he smirked, turned around, and disappeared into the darkness, while I chuckled before heading back to the arena to watch the game.
• By the time I returned, the arena was filled to the brim, and if not for the fact that Ember had already kept a seat for me, I wouldn’t have found a place to sit.
• “What took you so long?” Ember asked, watching me with a soft gaze. “Did you cry?”
• “No, I’m fine now. You don’t have to worry.”
• “We can leave if you want,” she added, trying to make sure I was fine.
• “We don’t have to leave. I’m fine now.”
• The screaming of fans made us snap our heads towards the ice rink, where Maverick walked in confidently. The way he carried himself with confidence and pride made me smile.
• Soon enough, the game began.
• It started as an intense game between the two teams, but soon the Phoenix team began to win against Liam and his team.
• Surprisingly, it felt so good. I didn’t know why, but I loved how annoyed Liam was and how he kept screaming at his teammates on the ice rink.
• It was a 1-5 goal point. The Runners scored 1 goal, while the Phoenix scored 5 goals.
• Left with a point to crown the Phoenix team winner of the game, Maverick took it upon himself to score the point.
• He skated towards a Runner player and grabbed the puck using his hockey stick.
• He skated past Liam and his team and made sure they couldn’t take the puck from his hold.
• Maverick made sure to control the puck with precision, and his speed, agility, and stickhandling skills were top-notch.
• Just before Liam could get the puck from his hold, Maverick hit the puck into the goal net, and immediately, the arena erupted with screams from enthusiastic Phoenix fans, while Runners fans’ shoulders slumped in disappointment.
• A wide smile spread on my lips as I watched, while Ember rose to her feet, jumping and screaming Maverick’s name.
• Suddenly, he turned towards the arena, his eyes falling on mine, and for a second, my heart skipped a bit.
• Where he stood was far from where I sat, yet I heard every single word he mouthed at me.
• “That goal was for you, Kai.”