Chapter 65 GAVIN HAWKINS' POV Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Practice was horrible today. With a game scheduled for Saturday, we were close to doom. Frustration boiled inside me as I threw my hockey stick across the rink, watching it slide past the blue lines. My hands clenched into fists—I needed to hit something. "Gavin," Shawn called out, tapping me on the shoulder. I turned to him, shooting an irritated glare. "What?" He didn’t flinch. "Coach wants to talk." I let out a sharp grunt, running a hand through my damp hair. "Save your energy for the game, Hawkins," Shawn said with a smirk. "For now, just listen to Coach's whining." "It's not whining," I snapped, my jaw tightening. "We were awful today. Worst practice ever. We weren’t in sync, and I couldn’t stop a single puck." My breathing turned heavy as anger twisted inside me. Shawn patted my back. "Calm down. Coach will figure things out." --- Locker Room Coach’s voice was sharp as a
Chapter 66: You don’t have to ask me to want you, LyricGAVIN SPENCER POV I didn’t hesitate. I shoved the script into Aaron’s chest and sprinted after her, pushing through the auditorium doors into the dimly lit hallway. “Lyric!” I called, my voice echoing against the lockers. She was already halfway down the hall, moving fast. She didn’t stop. Didn’t even look back. My heart pounded as I closed the distance between us, finally reaching her just as she pushed open the exit door leading outside. I grabbed her wrist, gently but firmly, forcing her to stop. She flinched and yanked her arm away, spinning to face me. Her eyes were brimming with hurt, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something—but of course, she couldn’t. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone, typing furiously. A second later, the robotic voice from her text-to-speech app cut through the cool afternoon air. “Don’t touch me.” I swallowed hard. “Lyric, please. Let me expl
Chapter 67: You should just get your lips ready.LYRIC SPENCER POV At the sound of Viktor's voice, I pulled away from Gavin, looking away as I wiped my tears. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice gentle. I nodded solemnly, keeping my head down. "We should go back. The teacher is calling for everybody." I glanced at Gavin. He was staring at Viktor and me with an indecipherable expression. I quickly looked away, focusing on the path leading back to the auditorium. My relationship with Gavin was not something I wanted the world to know. I was a coward because of that. "Have you guys decided what role you're auditioning for?" Wren asked, glancing between Aaron and me. I kept my head lowered, even though I had washed my face to hide the evidence of my tears. "Mr. Bingley," Aaron replied, adjusting his posture. "And you?" "Elizabeth Bennet, good sir," she declared dramatically, curtsying. "And you, Lyric?"
Chapter 68: Neither will you LYRIC SPENCER POV By the time Wren dropped me off at the old house, Gavin was already waiting, leaning against his car with his hands shoved into his pockets. The streetlights cast shadows across his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the unreadable expression in his eyes. I approached cautiously, my fingers tightening around the straps of my bag. His gaze never wavered, following my every step like a predator watching its prey. "Get in," he said simply, opening the passenger door for me. I hesitated. I should say something—anything—to break the silence. But instead, I slid into the seat, and he shut the door behind me. The drive was quiet, the tension so thick it pressed against my skin. I could feel his frustration radiating off him, but I didn’t know what to do about it. When we pulled into his driveway, he killed the engine but didn’t move. His hands gripped the wheel tightly, knuckles white. "Who’s the
Chapter 69: Challenge accepted LYRIC SPENCER POV Aunt Stephanie’s voice rang in my ears long after she left the kitchen. I stood there, my body stiff with anger, my hands curling into fists. Gavin had gone quiet beside me, his gaze heavy on my face, but I couldn’t look at him. Not when my mind was spinning. Boston. She was taking me away. Away from everything I knew, away from the life I had fought to build. Away from— I swallowed hard. Away from Gavin. No. I refused. I wouldn’t run. I wouldn’t abandon everything just because she thought it was the only way to protect me. Gavin shifted, stepping closer. His hand brushed against mine, grounding me for just a second. “Lyric,” he murmured. I pulled my phone from my pocket and typed quickly. *I’m not leaving.* He exhaled sharply, rubbing his jaw. “You think she’ll let you stay?” I hesitated before shaking my head. * She’s already decided.* Gavin’s jaw ticked. His hands clenched at h
Chapter 70: Needed to cool off." Gavin Hawkins POV "Hey, Hawkins. What did Henleys ever do to you?" A slow smile tugged at the corner of my lips. I looked down at my black Henley shirt, which was unbuttoned. I huffed a laugh, shaking my head. “Henleys didn’t do anything to me,” I muttered, but the teasing glint in her eyes told me she didn’t believe me. She took a step closer, tilting her head, waiting. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “Fine. Maybe I have a personal vendetta against burnt burgers and forced bonding.” Lyric smirked, her fingers flying over h
Chapter 71: Loosen up GAVIN HAWKINS POV After our little escapade in the water, we hid behind a rock and went for a second round. This time, I made sure to wear protection. We were too caught up in the moment to think about it earlier. But right now, I didn’t care. Right now, she was in my arms, her lips still pink from my kiss, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel like running. We had a blanket covering our naked bodies, our legs tangled underneath. I could still feel myself getting hard, due to her thighs pressing against my torso. It was too late, because my desire was already taking over. Lyric gasped, smacking me in the arm. I expected her to pull away, but instead, she rolled onto me, guiding me inside her. When she settled, she sat up, starting to ride me slowly. It was the first time she was on top, so I guided her by holding her waist. Our cheeks grew redder, and she couldn’t bear to look at me. I couldn’t help but stifle a smile as I help
Chapter 72: over-the-top h@rnyTHIRD PERSON POV The smell of grilled burgers and smoky barbecue filled the backyard as Gavin and his teammates gathered around a makeshift cornhole setup. Two wooden boards sat across from each other, each with a hole near the top, ready to test their accuracy. The team had decided to hold a cornhole tournament. “You guys ready to lose?” Shawn taunted, twirling a beanbag between his fingers. Gavin smirked. “Big talk for someone who barely made it last time.” “Hey, Hawkins, don’t get too confident. I’m winning this,” Aaron added, shooting Gavin a competitive glance. Before anyone could respond, a voice cut through the conversation. “Can I join?” The group turned toward the unexpected visitor. A few of them immediately recognized him, while others exchanged confused glances. Lyric perked up, eyes widening in surprise. She waved enthusiastically. “Viktor?” Gavin and Wren said in unison. “What brings you here
Chapter 88: Breaking up with you Lyric POV "A lady back there asked if I could give her a drink since she's 'lack toast and tell her aunt,'" Viktor said over the counter, his eyes crinkling with amusement. I stared at him blankly, barely registering his laughter. "She meant lactose intolerant," he added, letting out a deep chuckle. I didn’t laugh. I wasn’t in the mood for jokes. My mind was too preoccupied with my fight with Gavin yesterday. What did he mean by what he said? Shaking off my thoughts, I left the counter to prepare the order Viktor handed me. My body moved on autopilot, my mind still trapped in yesterday’s argument. Then suddenly—pain. Hot coffee spilled over my hand, scalding my skin. The cup hit the floor with a shatter, but I didn’t scream. I didn’t even flinch. I only stared at the mess, the burning sensation barely registering through the numbness inside me. "Lyric, are you hurt?" Viktor’s voice was tight with concern as he hurr
Chapter 87: Who gave you that title? LYRIC SPENCER POV My hands trembled as I sat on the bleachers, clutching the edge of my phone like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. The crowd was still buzzing with energy after the win, but my focus was gone. I didn’t hear the cheers. I didn’t see the flashing lights. I couldn’t feel anything but the weight in my chest. He saw. I knew it the moment I looked up and saw Gavin’s face on the ice. The way his expression fell. The way his shoulders dropped like the air had been knocked out of him. He saw Viktor kiss me. And he thought I let it happen. I swallowed hard, trying not to cry, but the tears blurred everything—my screen, the rink, the people. I wanted to go to him, explain, scream if I had to, but I couldn't even speak. All I had was this goddamn phone, and I couldn’t get close enough in time. I tried to follow him after the ceremony, but the crowd was too thick, and he disappeared before I cou
Chapter 86: A nobody GAVIN HAWKINS POV I couldn’t move. The roar of the crowd faded into a low, muffled hum—like someone stuffed cotton in my ears. Everyone around me was cheering, celebrating, soaking in the win, but all I could hear was the pounding of my heart and the static in my head. Because on that giant screen… I saw her. Lyric. Smiling. Laughing. And Viktor… kissing her like he had the damn right. No. No. No. My throat tightened like it was closing up. My gloves suddenly felt like they weighed a hundred pounds. My chest ached, like someone had slammed a hockey stick straight into it. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t do anything but stare. She didn’t push him away. She didn’t even look surprised. I wanted to believe it was a mistake. That Viktor forced it. That it was out of nowhere. That she didn’t mean to let it happen. But none of it mattered. Because it still happened. And I felt so goddamn stupi
Chapter 85: Sugar town Third person POV “Gavin is back,” Aaron asserted, stepping into the room with urgency in his voice. “Where was he?” someone asked, confusion etched on their face. “Family emergency,” Aaron paused. “He forgot his phone at home, and it was switched off.” “That bigot,” Coach Fedelin cursed under his breath, shaking his head. He turned to Lyric, his expression softening. “Sorry to bother you. We’ll leave now.” Lyric offered him a tight, polite smile, though her mind was already spinning. She wondered how Gavin was doing. What kind of family emergency could make him leave his phone behind? And if his phone was really off... why did he reply to her text? Her eyes narrowed. Why was Gavin lying? A voice broke into her thoughts. “I saw Coach leaving. Is Gavin okay?” someone asked. Lyric nodded and signed, > “Okay. That’s great.” --- In the locker room, Gavin sat on the bench, already dre
Chapter 84 Third Person POV Finally, it was Friday—the day of the long-awaited match. Foreigners and out-of-town visitors filled the town stadium, eager for the game to begin. The scent of grilled hot dogs and burgers filled the air as vendors lined up their stands, taking advantage of the large crowd. Inside the locker room, the coach gathered his players for a final pep talk. The team was fully dressed in their uniforms and hockey gear, ready to take on their opponents. However, as they huddled together, the coach quickly realized someone was missing. "Where is Gavin?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation. The players exchanged confused glances, searching each other’s faces for an answer. "Shawn, you're closest to him. Where is he?" the coach pressed, narrowing his eyes at the player. Shawn hesitated before answering, his voice uncertain. "I don't know, sir. He hasn’t been picking up my calls or responding to my messages." The coach’s express
Chapter 83: Out of the game GAVIN HAWKINS POV The cold evening wind breezed past me, sending a shiver down my spine. I had driven over two towns to reach the Baby Dragon Casino, the location Allesio had assigned me to. The plan was simple: deliver over ten grams of methamphetamine. It was the most sought-after drug of the month, going for over a thousand dollars per 1.5 grams. I pulled over a few blocks from the casino, scanning the area for anything unexpected. By that, I meant the police. This place was notorious for drug dealing, thanks to its location by the famous casino. Politicians, celebrities, and the elite stopped here, not just for high-stakes games but also for a quick fix. Allesio was one of the biggest dealers in town. I was just the messenger. The deal was to dress decently—not enough to raise suspicion, but just enough to blend in while standing out slightly. With tight security and police dogs patrolling the area, the risk was high. I hoppe
Chapter 82: Just some guy > I signed before lowering my hands. Viktor smiled, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “She thinks she’s unlucky. Says I’m too overbearing.” > I teased, raising an eyebrow. "Hey!" He placed a hand on his chest, feigning offense. "I’m just helpful. It’s not my fault people don’t know how to take care of themselves." I rolled my eyes and turned away, stepping toward the main street. The town was quieter now, with most businesses closed for the evening. A few groups of people wandered around, probably visitors in town for tomorrow’s hockey game. Viktor easily fell into step beside me. “Are you walking home alone?” I nodded. "I’ll walk with you," he said casually, shoving his hands into his pockets. > "I know." His voice was light, but his steps remained firm. "But I want to." I didn’t argue. It had been a long day, and honestly, I di
Chapter 81: Gorgeous It was a little hotter than expected in the middle of January. The café was getting fewer and fewer customers during this time. People in Velmont didn’t drink much coffee in winter since snow rarely fell in town. The last time it snowed was at my sixth birthday party. I only remembered because Mama had kept the photos at home. I had clocked out of my shift earlier that day. It had taken a lot of convincing to get both Gavin and my aunt to let me work. The head chef, Sasha, was at the grill, her face red from the heat. She was also washing dishes in the back, her movements sharp with frustration. Then Michael stepped in. He stood by the threshold of the double doors, scanning the room like a hawk. "You, with the ugly hairband." I froze, pointing at my nose in question. "Yes, you," he clarified. Self-conscious, I touched the hairband resting atop my head. My mother had given it to me. It was beige and outdated, but I loved it.
Chapter 80: I pity her Gavin Hawkins’ POV I would like to say everything was going according to my plan. But it wasn’t. Lyric was never meant to be part of my life, and it would take me a year to realize it. Because if something wasn’t yours, it would hurt you until you realized it. --- I pulled my Jeep into the driveway of Alessio’s house, gripping my keys tightly as I made my way to the door. Lyric and her aunt were safer in my house than they were anywhere in Velmont, but that didn’t mean Alessio couldn’t still harm them. I wasn’t going to let that happen. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to ignore the weight of the steel tucked into my jeans. I pressed the doorbell. A sharp voice erupted from the speaker beside the gate. "Who is it?" "Gavin Hawkins. I'm here to see your boss, Alessio," I spoke into the intercom. The response was immediate and laced with hostility. "My boss says he doesn’t know a Gavin Hawkins. Leave be