Aria
“Are you alright?” Lucas’s gray eyes soften as they linger on me, trailing slowly from my face to the outline of my boobs, then my hips. That’s when I remember…I’m still wearing Lily’s stupidly short gown. My face heats up, and my core pulses with a dangerous kind of awareness. I try, but I can’t pull my gaze from his ridiculously perfect body.
“Aria… are you listening to me?”
His voice jolts me out of my not-so-innocent thoughts. My mind was wandering, imagining those fucking tight muscles of his bending me in all sorts of ways and fucking me until my legs gave out.
“Yes… I’m alright,” I blurt out, but my voice comes out sharper than I intend.
His brows knit slightly. “Are you sure? You should’ve stayed at the medical center.”
“I’m fucking fine.” The words tumble out, and they sound harsher than I meant.
Lucas drops his gaze but doesn’t argue. Instead, he turns and heads to the bathroom, probably to shower.
The second I hear the water running, I flop back on the bed, kicking my legs in frustration. Why did I have to be so rude? I didn’t mean to snap at him. It’s not like he deserves it. Ugh! What’s wrong with me?
I sit up and fiddle with my fingers, my mind running circles around itself. After everything that happened yesterday, maybe it’s better if I just cut ties with Lucas now. But even as I think it, I know I can’t. I’m so tired of living by someone else’s rules.
The bathroom door opens, and my breath catches. Lucas steps out, steam rolling behind him, with nothing but a towel wrapped low around his waist. His skin glistens with water droplets, each one teasing as it slides down his toned abs.
Breathe, Aria. Just… fucking breathe.
I swallow hard, trying desperately to keep my gaze anywhere but on him. But of course, I fail miserably. And because the universe loves humiliating me, he catches me staring. I brace myself for a smirk or some cocky remark, but instead, he just ignores me and heads to the closet.
“What the hell is his problem?” I mutter under my breath. I mean, I’m the one who almost got killed yesterday. Not him!
Minutes later, Lucas emerges fully dressed, fresh, and still annoyingly gorgeous. Without a word, he heads for the door.
“Wait!” I jump up, my voice sharper than I intended.
He pauses, turning slowly, one brow raised.
“Are you… are you leaving?” I ask, frowning.
He nods. “Is there a problem?”
I’m stunned. Why is he acting so… distant?
“No… no problem,” I mutter.
He starts to turn away again, but I blurt out, “Are you playing tonight?”
“Yes, in three hours.” For a moment, his eyes light up, a flicker of something familiar returning. “Are you coming?”
I hesitate, then shake my head. “No… I don’t want to.”
His expression dims, and he lets out a quiet sigh before walking out. The second the door closes, I collapse onto the bed, groaning loudly.
“I don’t want to? Really, Aria? Could you be any more of an idiot?” I scold myself, kicking my feet in frustration. Why did I have to react that way? And why is Lucas acting so… off? Is he still mad about Vanessa?
‘You’re the one who took it out on him,’ my wolf, Gail, chimes in, her tone dripping with judgment.
‘Yeah, thanks for the reminder,’ I roll my eyes.
I toss and turn for hours, my mind refusing to let me rest. When evening finally rolls around, Mia and Lily pop in to check on me.
“You’re really not coming to watch the game?” Lily pouts. “Shadow Pang is playing right now. Full Moon’s next.”
I shake my head. “What’s the point? I wanted to join the cheerleading team, but it’s no use anymore.”
“Yeah, you were so excited about it,” Mia says with a sigh.
“It’s fine. I don’t want any problems with Vanessa.”
They exchange worried glances before leaving. I head to the bathroom and take a quick shower. Wrapping myself in a towel, I stand in front of the mirror, debating. Should I go? Probably not. Vanessa would fucking lose her mind.
But as I rummage through my closet, my eyes land on the cheerleading uniform I received yesterday. I stare at it for a long moment. Then, with a sudden burst of determination, I grab it and pull it on.
Tying my blonde hair into a high ponytail, I glance in the mirror. The uniform fits perfectly, and for once, I actually feel good about myself.
Grabbing my bag, I head for the hockey rink, my heart pounding with every step. I know Ethan and Vanessa’s warnings are echoing in my head, but I don’t care. This is my fucking life. And for once, I’m not backing down.