Chapter 43: The Mascot’s Shadow

(Aveline’s POV)

Classes had been a nightmare, but the announcement afterwards felt like a prison sentence.

“Since the school hockey team represents the core of Crestwood’s athletic budget,” the athletic director droned over the PA system, “this year’s annual sports fundraiser and pep rally logistics will be co-organised by our star linesman, Kieran Hampton, and our team mascot Asher Carter.”

Which was how I found myself trapped in a tiny athletic office behind the rink.

I kept my eyes straight and glued to the budget spreadsheet on the laptop screen. I was treating him like a stranger. A ghost. I refused to acknowledge the fact that forty-eight hours ago, I had woken up in his bed, tasted his lips, and slapped the skin right off his cheek.

“We need forty additional cases of energy drinks for the booster club booths,” I muttered, my voice flat, cold, and entirely professional. “Sign off on the athletic department voucher so I can submit it.”

Kieran didn’t answer.

He was sitting on the edge of the desk just two feet away, his long legs stretched out, blocking the narrow walkway to the door. He wasn’t looking at the voucher. He was looking at me. His eyes tracked the tight line of my jaw, completely unbothered by my icy demeanour.

“You’re avoiding me, Ash,” he murmured, his voice low, vibrating through the quiet room.

“I’m executing my duties,” I shot back, finally snapping my eyes up to glare at him. “Sign the paper, Hampton.”

A slow, humourless smirk touched the corner of his mouth, but before he could speak, the door swung open. Milo and Landon burst into the room, arguing loudly about how awkward the sponsor banners are, dragging a massive, heavy plastic crate of varsity hockey jerseys between them.

“Look out, Carter!” Landon called out, carelessly shoving the heavy crate forward without checking the clearance.

The massive plastic bin caught on a stray cord, tipping violently. It was falling straight toward my lap, heavy enough to crush my hands against the desk. I flinched, bracing for the impact.

I didn’t hit the ground. And neither did the crate.

In a fraction of a second, Kieran lunged. His massive frame completely blocked my vision. He caught the falling edge of the heavy plastic bin with one hand, his muscles straining beneath his sweatshirt, halting its momentum from my face.

“What the hell is wrong with you guys?” Kieran snarled, his voice dropping into a terrifying register that made the entire room freeze. He shoved the crate back toward Landon with dangerous force. “Watch what you’re doing around here. Move.”

Milo and Landon blinked, completely stunned. Kieran had never defended a non-athlete in his life, let alone a quiet nerd.

“Geez, Hampton, relax,” Milo muttered, raising his hands defensively. “It was an accident.”

They quickly grabbed the crate and scrambled out of the office, shutting the door behind them.

My heart was hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

I looked up at Kieran.

He was breathing steadily, his eyes scanning my face, checking for injuries with an intensity that made me feel entirely exposed. He was acting as my shield. He was protecting me, even when I was trying to push him away.

And it terrified me. Because I didn’t know what he wanted in return, and I refused to trust anyone in Crestwood, especially a Hampton.

Instead of stepping back, Kieran leaned down further.

“You can keep the walls up all you want, Ash,” he murmured quietly, “but you’re shaking. You can’t fake your way out of the fact that I can see right through you.”

My lungs completely locked up.

The implication behind his words hung heavily in the suffocating me. He knew. He was playing with me, reminding me of that morning at his house, reminding me of the burning secret he held over my head.

“What?” I choked out, my voice cracking slightly.

“What are you talking about, Hampton?”

Kieran watched the fear flicker across my face for a second too long before a slow, lazy smirk stretched across his lips. Then he straightened up smoothly and picked up the silver pen resting beside my laptop.

“I’m talking about our philosophy project,” he said casually, like he hadn’t almost stopped my heart. “We still have a grade to maintain, partner.”

He quickly signed the athletic department voucher and slid the papers back toward me, his fingers brushing mine for the briefest second before he walked out of the office without another word.

By Monday morning, the entire school courtyard was buzzing with movement. The annual sports fundraiser pep rally was happening that afternoon, and everybody looked stressed. Students carried banners across campus while volunteers dragged tables toward the gymnasium.

I stood near the wooden benches trying to organize a checklist on my phone when Daphne walked up to me.

“Asher, hey,” she said softly, adjusting the strap of her bag. “Are you okay? You look exhausted after the weekend.”

“I’m fine, Daph,” I lied quickly. “Just a lot of work with the athletic department.”

Theo joined her almost immediately, already looking irritated. “If Hampton is dumping work on you, tell me, Ash. I don’t care if he’s the star player. He doesn’t get to use you like a personal assistant.”

“He isn’t,” I replied before this could become another argument. “I promise.”

Theo kept talking, but my attention drifted past his shoulder toward the school entrance.

Kieran was standing there with Milo, Landon, and some of the hockey guys laughing loudly about something. But the exact second my eyes landed on him, his laughter disappeared.

Slowly, he turned his head toward me.

Even from across the courtyard, his eyes locked directly onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach twist painfully. Theo was still beside me talking about protecting me, completely unaware that the boy across the courtyard held the match to my entire life.

I looked away first.

The fundraiser prep that afternoon was complete chaos. The gymnasium looked like a disaster zone filled with tangled wires, sponsor banners, folding chairs, and half-open boxes scattered everywhere. Everybody was yelling over each other while trying to get things finished before the pep rally started.

I was hauling a heavy crate of promotional flyers toward the stage when my phone started buzzing loudly from the equipment table nearby.

I ignored it at first.

Then it rang again.

And again.

I was struggling beneath a stack of banners when I noticed Kieran leaning against the table. Before I could even tell him not to touch it, he reached down and picked up my phone, sliding across the answer bar.

“Hello?” his rough voice answered.

I froze instantly.

My entire body went cold as I stared at him from across the gym.

Then I heard my mother’s voice through the speaker.

“Aveline, come to the hospital right now,” she said with eager. “Asher’s hands moved. Oh my God, Aveline… he moved.”

Everything around me stopped.

The noise in the gym faded into nothing.

Kieran stood completely frozen with the phone pressed against his ear while my blood turned ice cold inside my veins.

I can’t believe he heard that.