Chapter 48: I will always choose you

Aveline’s POV

Milo Hayes didn’t throw normal high school parties. His events always felt like something bigger, something controlled by rich kids who had too much freedom and not enough limits. Tonight was no different. He had rented a huge estate hidden deep in the woods near the state line. It was quiet outside, but inside it was chaos.

The main living room was packed. Music was so loud it shook the floor. The bass hit my chest like a heartbeat that wasn’t mine. The air smelled like expensive perfume mixed with alcohol and sweat. Everyone was laughing too loudly, over each other like they had something to prove.

I stood near the kitchen edge, pulling at my oversized jacket. I felt out of place, like I didn’t belong in any of this. My chest binder was tight, making it hard to breathe properly. Every second reminded me I had to stay careful. I had to stay with Asher.

My eyes moved through the crowd, scanning faces. That’s when I saw Daphne.

She was near the drinks table, wearing a dark dress that looked beautiful on her but made her look uncomfortable in this crowd. She looked like she didn’t know where to stand or what to do with herself.

I started to move toward her, but before I could reach her, someone stumbled hard into her from behind. A drunk player lost balance and hit her shoulder. Daphne gasped, slipping on something spilt on the floor. She was about to fall straight into a table.

But she didn’t hit the ground.

A strong hand caught her before she fell. Cassian Thorne.

Everything around them seemed to slow down. People stepped back without even noticing. Cassian held her firmly by the waist, steadying her easily. He didn’t let go right away. His grip was strong but careful, like he was making sure she was safe before he even thought of moving away.

Daphne looked up at him, shocked. Her face turned red almost instantly.

“Thank you again” she said full of smiles.

Cassian didn’t smile, but he didn’t step away either. He looked at her for a second longer than normal. Then he slowly released her waist but stayed close, blocking people from bumping into her again.

“Stay close tonight,” he said in a low voice. “This place is too crowded.”

It wasn’t his usual cold tone. It was calmer. Almost protective.

I just watched them, confused. Cassian Thorne acting like this was something I never expected. Before I could think more about it, the crowd shifted.

Kieran was moving through the room.

He looked different tonight. Not relaxed. Not joking. His jaw was tight, his eyes sharp. Something was clearly bothering him. He ignored everyone calling his name and pushed through the crowd like he needed air.

He didn’t stop for anyone. He walked straight towards the stairs. Something in me pulled me forward without thinking. I followed him.

Upstairs was quieter. The noise from the party faded the higher I went. Kieran kept walking until he reached a door at the end of a hallway. He pushed it open and went inside.

I followed him in before I could stop myself.

The room was big and quiet. A bed sat in the middle. Large windows showed the dark forest outside. The door clicked shut behind me.

Kieran didn’t turn right away. He walked to the window and placed his forehead against the glass. His shoulders dropped slightly, like he was finally letting go of something heavy.

“This is my room,” Milo and Landon kept this room strictly reserved for me. He said quietly. “When things get too much downstairs… or when my father starts again… I come here.”

His voice was rough. Not confident like usual.

“Whenever he yells at my mother,” he continued. “or they argue.". He paused, breathing out slowly. “This is the only place I can breathe.”

Something in my chest tightened. I didn’t know he carried all that. I knew his father was a monster who projected his failed NHL dreams onto his son, but hearing Kieran admit his weakness so vulnerably threw me completely off balance.

“Kieran…” I said softly. He turned suddenly. In two steps he was right in front of me. "I’m keeping your secret because I’m losing my goddamn mind, Aveline,” he whispered.

His eyes held mine.

You think I’m looking for an angle? You think I’m trying to manipulate you? I’m keeping quiet because watching you put yourself in danger every single day is tearing me apart from the inside out.”

My breath got stuck.

Then he said it. I’m in love with you. Violently in love with you. I tried to fight it. I told myself it was insane, that you’re supposed to be my teammate, that everything is too messed up right now for you. But I don’t care anymore. I want you. The real you. I need you to trust me".

The absolute honesty in his voice was what I admired,There were no games in his eyes, just a boy who was completely, entirely consumed by me. The relief of being seen as me, not as Asher’s shadow.

Before I could even find the words to answer, Kieran leaned down and slammed his lips against mine.

The kiss was desperate, and electrifying. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, throwing my mouth back into his as the spark completely consumed us. He groaned deep in his throat, his hands moving down to grip my waist, lifting me slightly off the floor as he guided me backwards until we both collapsed onto the mattress.

We stopped for a second staring into each other's eyes and breathing heavily then Kirean smiled

“Be my girlfriend,” he said quietly.“No more hiding from me. No more pushing me away or pretending we’re enemies. Date me, Aveline.”

I let out a small laugh, shaky but real. the first real, happy sound I had made since my brother fell into that coma. “You’re completely insane, Hampton.”

I’m crazy about you,” he corrected softly, leaning down to kiss me again, "Say yes.”

Something in me finally gave in. “Yes,” I whispered, my heart racing "Yes, Kieran. I’ll date you.”

We both laughed, sharing a quick, ecstatic kiss before the playfulness melted back into pure heat. Kieran’s hands became frantic but incredibly gentle, pulling my oversized jacket off my shoulders and tossing it carelessly onto the floor.

I helped him, tearing at the buttons of his shirt, desperate to get closer, desperate to get rid of the heavy problems of our daily lives.

When my shirt was gone, his fingers reached for the clips of my chest binder. He paused, looking up into my eyes, deliberately, he unclipped the tight fabric. I let out a deep, ragged breath as it finally lifted,

Kieran caught my mouth again, his hands sliding up to my body, He treated me like I was something precious, something to be protected at all costs.

When he slid his body over mine, everything else I was thinking completely vanished. The sex was fierce, passionate, and completely consuming. Kieran moved with a possessive, desperate hunger that drove every single lingering doubt from my mind. Every touch felt like an unbreakable promise.

His fingers locked tightly into mine, pinning our hands against the pillows as we moved together in the dark room, entirely losing ourselves in the pull of each other. In the safety of his arms, I wasn't a substitute. I was just Aveline. And that was more than enough.

Hours later, I lay with my head resting on Kieran’s bare chest, His arm stayed around my waist like he was afraid I would leave.

But what was outside the bedroom door was still waiting for us to step back onto the ice. But as I looked up at the boy holding me, I realised I wasn't fighting alone anymore.

I had him. And he had me