Page 148 of Only Ever You

“I can see that. It was written all over your face.”

“Let’s get out of here,” I tell her, changing the subject. “I want to change before the party.”

The house is even more packed than it was on Halloween. Probably because several groups of students from Santa Clara found their way here too. The voices are loud and the music is louder, but it’s all background noise to me. All I can think about is Michael.

When I find him, he’s laughing with his teammates in the kitchen, cheeks flushed, hair still damp from the shower. He’s practically glowing. And God, I love seeing him like that.

His name echoes around the house. Chatter about his hat trick. His level of dedication. Declaring him the star of the game. Here and there, I hear people mention how impressed they are with how fast he recovered after his motorcycle accident, how it didn’t seem to affect his game at all.

Leaning against the wall near the stairs, I watch, letting him have his moment. He deserves it. This is his win. And after all the whispers, the comments about him not being enough to be with me, I don’t want to stir the pot or snuff out his light. We can have our moment in private, inside the walls of one of our bedrooms. For now, my desire is that he enjoys his time and really believes he’s not his dad’s last name. He’s not just my boyfriend either.

He is Michael Thompson. Captain of the Hawks. Future center for the New York Phantoms.

He is a very talented player, always has been. He needs to remember that, even when the naysayers get loud. They are nothing but noise—he is everything.

Blake dances in front of me, singing along with every song at the top of her lungs. Just being near her makes me smile. She’s so enthusiastic and carefree in a way I’ve never experienced, but her presence alone calms me, especially after seeing Sienna. As perceptive as Blake is, my guess is that her goal is to get me to relax and forget about it.

“Babe, let’s dance?” She clutches my hand, pulls me to her chest, then twirls me around.

I laugh the whole time. When she finally lets go, I feel lighter.

“I want to go find the girls from the team. Come with me?”

I shake my head, glancing at the gaming door. Michael and the guys migrated that way shortly after I spotted him. It’s probably a little more private, so this may be a good time to check on him. To show him I’m here. That I support him.

“I’ll go check on Michael and then find you. Okay?”

“Fine. Find me later.” Grinning, she spins and flounces off.

With a deep breath in, I move farther into the house. The music thumps, vibrating the walls, the floors, even the ceiling. The air smells like sweat, alcohol, and sweet perfume. Too sweet, actually. When I get another whiff of it, it sends a shiver down my spine.

Inside the gaming room, LED lights glow purple, and a big window overlooks the backyard. Several people sit on couches and armchairs, talking, drinking, and scrolling through their phones. Diego and Asher are arm wrestling, both red-faced and too focused on their locked hands to notice my arrival.

Why am I not surprised?

I scan the room again, this time finding Michael. A smile blooms on my lips, though it quickly dies when I realize he’s with Sienna.

They’re standing near the window. He has a drink in his hand, his eyebrows knitted together, lips pursed. Sienna is in front of him, one shoulder pressed against the wall. They’re not close. While he’s tense, she looks relaxed.

Not a single person greets me. They’re all engrossed in what they’re doing, and I’m just one more person in a packed, dimly lit room. With curiosity fueling my steps, I walk closer, desperate to know what they’re talking about.

Maybe it’s wrong, but there’s no fighting the urge to eavesdrop.

Sienna’s head is tilted, her blonde hair spilling over her right shoulder like a heavy curtain. “I don’t get you. First, you lived in your dad’s shadow, never able to step out and be considered an individual, always attached to your last name. And that makes sense, really. We don’t get to choose our parents. But how can you be okay with existing in her shadow now?”

He clenches his jaw. “Don’t start.”

“Oh, please, Michael. I’m not starting anything.” She lets out a curt laugh. “I’ve been here for thirty minutes, and I’ve heard more than one group of people talking about it.”

Wow. This level of malice is cruel, even for her. Yes, she pulled this kind of shit with me, but I didn’t realize she’d done it to Michael too. It’s like it comes naturally to her, the way she’s planting her own ideas into his head and pushing his buttons, knowing exactly what’ll hurt the most. She’s a fucking manipulator.

“You hear what people are saying, right?” she goes on. “Have you seen the comments under your posts? Under the Hawks’ posts?” Sienna grimaces, pressing her hand to her chest in mock sympathy. “It’s sad so many people don’t believe you have enough talent and ambition to play in the NHL. That you were only drafted because of your dad. And now…” She pauses dramatically, letting out a huff. “Now, everyone is wondering if you have enough to be with her. Doesn’t that bother you?”

The vein in his temple pulses so violently, I can see it from here. Lip curled, he crushes his empty cup and sets it on the windowsill.

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” he snarls. He’s practically shaking, like he’s ready to completely explode.

Sienna’s smile grows. With her shoulders back and her posture straight, she smooths the front of her tee. She’s totally enjoying this.