Dorian’s P.O.VAn hour later, I was seating on the edge of a couch that probably cost more than my entire childhood home. Noah had briefly explained that it was his apartment condo where he stayed anytime he needed to hide away from the team mates or just have some time to himself. And seeing its interior, there was nothing else to say to describe it, other than, it suited Noah. Hockey Royalty. The kind of guy who had everything, but the ability to sit the fuck down and stop pacing before I lost my goddamn mind.Noah hadn’t stop pacing since we got in. He dragged his hand through his hair for what seemed like the hundredth time, yanking at the strands like he wanted to rip them out. Every few minutes, he’d snap out of his frantic pacing just to kick at the coffee table or slam his fist into the wall, yelling, ”FUCK” or “SHIT!”I exhaled through my mouth, feeling the throb of a headache brewing. “You’re gonna give yourself a fucking aneurysm.”Noah ignored me.Fuck. I’d tried, ten mi
DORIAN'S p.o.vI woke up to the sound of sniffles and without having to see him, I knew it was Noah crying. A lump formed in my throat and I pushed it down with a gulp.Knowing him well enough by now, I didn't move an inch, pretending to be asleep. Noah hated being caught crying. It was pride or shame or a lifetime of being told that boys don’t do that shit. Whatever it was, he buried his face into the pillow and tried to be quiet about it. But he wasn’t. Not to me. He never could be. I stayed still for maybe a full minute before I heard his voice whisper thickly. “I know you’re awake.”That lump lodged in my throat again. I opened my eyes slowly and reached for the bedside lamp, blinking against the soft yellow glow that filled the room. Noah was curled up on his side with just his boxers on, back turned to me with shoulders shivering heavily as though he’d been holding himself together all night and finally cracked.I sat up a bit and reached out a hand which I ran through his hair
Dorian's P.O.V.Noah didn’t say a fucking word or look at anyone. He just pulled his gear on with this quiet, rigid dignity that made my chest ache. His hands shook only once, when he started to fix on his skates.. I caught it—of course I fucking did. My eyes hadn’t left him for more than a second since he walked in.The silence in the locker room was worse than shouting. Worse than punches. It was the kind of quiet that clung to your skin, crawled under your clothes and made your spine itch. Like everyone was pretending he wasn’t there, like if they didn’t speak, maybe he’d vanish.Hell, even Matt—the fucking loudmouth who never shut the fuck up—was quiet.It felt like the fucking Twilight Zone.I wanted someone to say something. Anything. Shout. Fight. Even spit. Just fucking acknowledge the elephant in the room. But no—this kind of silence was a different kind of violence. One Noah didn’t deserve.I hated every goddamn second of it. The door suddenly flew open, slamming against th
Dorian's P.O.VI felt like shit as I realized Jaxon knew the guy in the picture was me. It wasn't surprisingly really seeing as he caught us at the store just a few days ago, but the hatred in his eyes as he glared at me made me feel sick to my stomach.Because Jaxon was right. I was hiding and letting Noah stomach all of it. I stood frozen when I should have stepped in and protected him. I let everyone stare at him as if he was broken while I played the part of the nonchalant aloof guy. But in reality, I was just a fucking coward.After Jaxon finished, no one dared to say a word. They just looked away and got dressed. With a sneer on his face Jaxon retreated back to his locker which was next to Noah's and they began discussing in hushed tones. Noah said something in a low voice to Jaxon, and Jaxon nodded, keeping his hand on Noah’s shoulder, protective as hell. They stayed like that for a minute, with Noah talking and Jaxon listening. Like they were in their own bubble.Jealousy burn
Noah’s P.O.VI didn’t expect Jaxon to show up beside me like that. Not after I’d looked him straight in the eye and told him nothing was going on between me and Dorian. Denying every single thing.But he still stood next to me. He didn’t care what the guys thought. And even if he didn’t say it out loud, I knew—he fucking knew that it was Dorian. And yet, he kept his mouth shut and let everyone assume he was the mystery guy.I respected the hell out of him for that but it didn’t mean it still didn’t sting. Watching the guys I’d bled with, fought for, and led....watching them turn away like I’d stepped into the locker room with something contagious made my heart ache. No one said anything to me, not a single fucking peep. All they dared was glances, words muttered under their breaths and disgust that hung in the air like mold.Except for Greg. He didn’t act weird nor did he say much either, but at least he looked me in the eye when I passed and gave me a quiet nod.I tried to focus duri
Noah’s P.o.VI couldn’t say anything…not at first. My jaw was locked tight, hands jammed deep in my pocket that my fingers were starting to cramp. But the silence wasn’t peaceful. It was loud as fuck in my head.The second he said her name, it was like my brain started working in slow motion while my thoughts scrambled to catch on. And it didn’t take much for everything to click. If Tina Hayes was his mom and a patient at Lakeview rehab, then…Fuck.She had to be a drug addict, or recovering. But Dorian never said anything. Not even fucking once. Not even when we got drunk and he told me bits and pieces from his childhood. Perhaps I should have guessed then, but maybe it was easier to keep Dorian in a neat little box of anger, and pride and trouble. It was easier to fall in love him, when I didn’t have to understand every facets of him. God, but I wished he’d told me sooner. My chest felt weird, not tight exactly but it was as if there was too much air in the room and none of it cou
Fuck. Noah was so hot.There was something about Noah when he was like that. Lying there naked on my bed, cock dripping, golden hair all fucked up as he ransacked my drawers looking for condoms, as though he was going to combusted if he waited another second.Climbing off the bed, I peeled off the rest of my clothes, kicked off my jeans like a man possessed, and sat back, fisting my cock with one hand while I waited for Noah to get them. Fuck, why did he have to look so fucking hot? My dick was hard to the point of pain, needing to be buried deep inside him right now.As he reached into my drawer, finally, he suddenly stopped..My brows furrowed and I slowed down from stroking my cock as I watched Noah slowly turn around, holding something in his hand.A picture frame.At first, I was confused. It was probably just a dumb picture of me as a kid. I didn't remember what exactly photo my face was in these days seeing as my mom hid most of my childhood photos anyway. Who gave a shit?But
Dorian's P.O.VThe morning light was already pouring in when I cracked open my eyes, one arm reaching for the warm weight I’d fallen asleep beside.But the bed was cold and empty.I blinked blearily, the haze of sleep fading just in time to hear footsteps and pacing. Noah’s sharp and furious voice cut through the air like a knife.“Dorian, why the fuck did you do this?”I sat up fast, heart slamming against my ribs. He was standing across the room, his phone in hand, glaring at me as if I’d just killed someone.“What are you—” I started, but then he turned the screen to face me.Fuck.I just sighed and flopped back onto the mattress, covering my face with my forearm. “I thought you deactivated your Innagram account.”“No, I didn’t, asshole,” Noah snapped. “I just switched off my phone. For you. For us.”His voice cracked, and I winced.Of course. Of course he’d see it. I’d hoped—stupidly, desperately—that maybe we could just have this one weekend. That we could pretend. Stay in this l
Noah's POVChristmas Eve, and I felt like roadkill that had been rained on, run over twice, and forgotten on the side of the road. My nose was clogged, my head was pounding, and my limbs felt like they’d been stuffed with wet socks. The apartment echoed with silence and I just felt so fucking miserable..Liam had left for “practice” three days ago. Practice. On Christmas week. Sure. I wasn’t stupid. Even NHL players got time off for the holidays. But I didn’t ask questions. It was his place, not mine. He could go to Jupiter and I’d still have to be grateful for the four walls and overpriced furniture.I shuffled to the door like a corpse when the bell rang, dragging the blanket off the bed with me like it was my emotional support animal. A tissue hung out of my nostril, clutched in one hand like my last shred of dignity.I was already mentally preparing myself for the sight of a package guy or maybe Mark, here to guilt-trip me into watching Elf for the fifth time. But when I opened th
Dorian’s POV“Twenty-nine... thirty.”The bar slammed back into place with a satisfying clang, my arms trembling slightly from the weight. My chest rose and fell, slick with sweat, and I laid there on the bench for a second, staring at the ceiling of the mostly empty university gym like it had answers. It didn’t.Groaning, I wiped my face with the towel I slung over the rod, then sat up and shook out my arms. The pain was good. It kept me focused and grounded. It had only been a week and a day since I started seriously training again, but my body was already responding—bulking, hardening, becoming familiar again. Something I could control. conditioning and playing ice hockey for the last few weeks of the championship season also helped a lot.Anyhow, I made my way to the floor-length mirror at the far end of the gym, bare-chested, my joggers hanging low on my hips. My reflection stared back at me and not to be a conceited asshole but I was impressed. My arms which had begun to thin wh
NoahIf you favoured Minnesota in the winter, the beautiful snow covered scape and curling up in front of a fire place with a hot whipped coffee, then you'd definitely find Miami offensive as fuck. It was less than a week to Christmas and the sun was out. It wasn’t even noon and it was already making a damn spectacle of itself, glaring down on my windshield like I owed it money. I had the AC blasting, sunglasses on, and I was still squinting like a mole dragged out of his burrow.it was insane. The only tell tale sign it was winter was definitely the over the top decorations along every single building I'm driving past and the string lights around trees that'd be lighted up at night.My phone suddenly buzzed where it was mounted on the dash, dragging me from my observation. I tapped the screen and my second bestfriend's name flashed across it. biting back a grin, I answered the call but before I could even say hello, her voice exploded through the car like a battle cry.“NOAH FUCKING
Dorian's P.O.VIf I thought the Carter mansion looked stunning at night, it was even more ridiculous in daylight. It wasn't just an house but an estate, looking like something off a postcard. I sat behind the wheel of Susie’s tiny car, jaw slack as I stared up at the sprawling estate. Massive hedges shaped into clean-cut shapes of cherubims. The last time it had been in shapes of chess pieces or I may have been mistaken looking at it in the night. Anyway, the pillars gleamed like they were carved from marble, and a few people in uniform swarming the front lawn like busy bees, stringing up massive Christmas garlands. It was literally a whole operation. Frosted wreaths, gold-dipped reindeers, strings of lights being looped over every surface that could take them.Of course, they had a whole staff for this. Rich people didn't climb ladders to decorate their house for Christmas. It was just perfect I caught them at this time. Shit.I opened the car door and stepped out, my shoes muted
Hello guys! Author here! I'm so sorry about the last chapter. I would love to launch into an explanation of why that happened but the words count for "authors notes" is very limited. (But it's a honest mistake.)It won't happen again and to show I'm really sorry.I'm making the next chapter free and adding it to this note.so here.Championship Season.Dorian's P.O.VDORIANThree weeks laterI shoved the door open with my shoulder, the tiny bell jingling in that annoying, rusty way it always did. The strip mall lights outside cast long shadows across the linoleum floor. Everything smelled like synthetic pine and warm plastic—exactly like a place that sold discount dish soap and almost expired soda should.At the front desk, Susie didn’t even look up. Her eyes were glued to the little TV mounted up in the corner like a shrine. Snorting at the reindeer jacket she had on--please it looked absolutely ridiculous --I blinked, pausing halfway into the store. That was me on the screen, liftin
Noah's P.O.V The long drive from campus to my home felt like a slow trek to my own execution. By the time I pulled up to the front of my family’s mansion, the same looming, white-stoned fortress I'd grown up in, it had gotten even darker. My tires crunched over the long winding driveway which was filled with floodlights along the stone paths down which cut through the Late night November darkness. I killed the engine, and left my hands on the steering wheel, breathing in and out. For a second, I just sat there, staring up at the massive house like it was about to swallow me whole. It was like a giant beast carved into hill, the many floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflecting lights causing the house to glow all by itself. Beside me, Dorian whistled low from the passenger seat. "Jesus," he muttered, turning to me with raised brows. "You lived here your whole life?" He shoved the door and stepped out, craning his neck to take it all in; the ivy wrapped columns, the massive lak doors
Noah's P.O.VThe long drive from campus to my home felt like a slow trek to my own execution. By the time I pulled up to the front of my family’s mansion, the same looming, white-stoned fortress I'd grown up in, it had gotten even darker. My tires crunched over the long winding driveway which was filled with floodlights along the stone paths down which cut through the Late night November darkness.I killed the engine, and left my hands on the steering wheel, breathing in and out. For a second, I just sat there, staring up at the massive house like it was about to swallow me whole. It was like a giant beast carved into hill, the many floor-to-ceiling glass windows reflecting lights causing the house to glow all by itself.Beside me, Dorian whistled low from the passenger seat."Jesus," he muttered, turning to me with raised brows. "You lived here your whole life?" He shoved the door and stepped out, craning his neck to take it all in; the ivy wrapped columns, the massive lak doors and
Noah's P.O.VThe bass thudded so hard through the walls it rattled the red Solo cup in my hand. I wasn't even sure what I was drinking anymore but it clearly was something sweet and carbonated that burned my throat going down. It didn’t matter anyway because I was here to get shit faced drunk and forget why I even was alive.I leaned back against the wall of the sorority house, blinking against the strobe lights flashing through the crowd. There were bodies all around me. Everyone was sweaty, drunk and sloshing drinks everywhere. However I felt...empty as though I was watching it all through a thick glass window.But even through the blur of it, my eyes kept betraying me as they flickered back to where Dorian stood surrounded by a small harem of girls. All of them were gorgeous—perfect bodies, perfect makeup, shrieking with laughter at whatever bullshit he was saying.I couldn't stopooking at him.I kept telling myself not to and just be normal, have fun and to let go, but every damn
Noah’s P.O.VIt has been three days since that Thanksgiving dinner with Jaxon’s family and I swear to God, it might as well have been three years with how fucking hectic everything got afterward. Long hours, harder drills, screaming matches on the ice because Coach kept grinding us down to the bone. Everyone was running on fumes, trying to stay sharp for the last (8th) game of the regionals, but I felt like I was back in fucking hell week.On the...somewhat...bright side, Dorian was finally back with us. Coach had unbenched him after I promised to not let our personal relationship or the lack of it affect the twam , and for a minute, I thought things might go back to normal. Dorian stayed out of my way during practice and he'd gone back to his usual animosity, not speaking to anyone before and after practice. But when it came time for Coach to list the starting lineup for the final games, Dorian’s name wasn’t on it. I caught the flicker of hurt that crossed his face when Coach said i