Chapter 62

KAIA

The next day, I walked into the library expecting a quiet little study group session. I had my laptop tucked under one arm, a notebook in hand, and the half-hearted hope that maybe, just maybe, I'd retain something about macroeconomics today.

But the second I stepped through the door, I froze.

The entire hockey team was inside, scattered around the library tables like it was their damn clubhouse. Voices murmured, heads turned, and it only took two seconds for the heavy door to bang loudly shut behind me.

Every single one of them looked up—including the coach standing at the front, arms folded like a drill sergeant, brows raising sharply at me.

Shit.

I looked around, feeling the weight of their stares like spotlights on my skin. This was clearly not a regular study session.

Whatever was happening in here, I'd clearly just walked into something important. Something I had absolutely no business being part of.

Slowly, I started to turn back around, my fingers already gripping the door handle. Just as I was about to slip out, the coach's voice rang out across the room.

"You here for the three o'clock study session?"

I paused, turned halfway, and gave him the most awkward smile I could manage.

"Uh... yeah."

He glanced at his watch, then nodded.

"You're early. That's fine—our debrief's almost done. You can stay and wait."

Fantastic. Just what I needed.

I gave another tight smile, mumbled a quiet "okay," and made my way to the farthest corner of the room—away from the athletes, away from the weird tension, and hopefully out of sight.

But of course... Adrien was sitting front and center, right near the coach.

And of course... he saw me.

He was leaning back in his seat, arms folded across his chest like he was some smug prince of sarcasm, a knowing smirk stretching across his face as our eyes met.

I rolled mine and settled into a chair on the other side of the room, flipping open my laptop and pulling out my notes. I pretended to study. Pretended not to feel his eyes on me. But the heat on the back of my neck said otherwise.

Then, my phone vibrated.

I glanced down and saw his name pop up on the screen.

Adrien: How nice of you to join us.

I stared at the text, scoffing out loud. Sarcasm practically oozed off the screen.

I quickly typed back, Me: You should focus.

A beat later, another message popped up.

Adrien: I am.

I looked up—and there he was, still watching me from across the room, that same annoying smile tugging at his lips. The way he stared at me... it wasn't teasing anymore. It was something else. Something that made my pulse do that annoying little skip.

Tension curled in my chest, low and slow and hot.

I couldn't help it—I smiled, just a little, and shook my head, trying to force myself to look back down at my notes.

But then my phone buzzed again.

My smile instantly faded.

Callum.

The screen lit up with his name and the first few words of his message:

Hey, can we please talk? I miss you and I—

I didn't even finish reading it. I flipped the phone over on the table and stared blankly at my laptop screen, heart sinking.

I'd been trying to ghost him for a week now—dodging texts, ignoring calls, ducking behind vending machines when I saw him across campus. Subtlety wasn't working, and he wasn't getting the hint. The more persistent he became, the worse I felt. But what was I supposed to say?

Sorry, I caught feelings for someone else. Also, that someone is Adrien—your enemy and my best friend's brother.

Yeah. That'd go over real well.

I sighed and pushed the phone further away, dragging my laptop closer and forcing my attention back to my notes. My eyes scanned the words, but they weren't sticking. Not with Adrien's gaze still burning into me from across the room and Callum's message sitting like a heavy stone in my stomach.

Still... I didn't look back at either of them.

I just kept my head down and my mind focused, reminding myself over and over that I knew what I wanted now.

And it wasn't Callum.

Even if things were still messy and uncertain, for the first time... it felt like the mess was worth it.

A few minutes later, I heard the unmistakable sound of chairs scraping across the floor and voices rising all around me. I glanced up from my laptop just in time to see the hockey team wrapping up their meeting and starting to file out of the library.

Perfect. Maybe now I could finally focus.

But then, before I could even refocus on my screen, Adrien slipped into the seat directly across from me, blocking my view completely.

I blinked. "Seriously?"

He grinned, leaning back in the chair like he had all the time in the world.

"Miss me?"

I let out a light laugh, settling back into my own chair.

"I'd say I was surprised, but this feels extremely on brand for you."

He smirked. "You looked lonely. Thought I'd keep you company."

"You mean distract me from studying," I muttered, gesturing to the open textbook and highlighted pages in front of me.

He glanced down at the table, pretending to inspect my notes.

"You call this studying? It looks more like chaos with a hint of panic."

"Thank you for your unnecessary commentary," I said dryly. "What do you want?"

He shrugged. "Just had a question."

"About what?"

"What size are you?"

I blinked at him. "Excuse me?"

He gave me a straight look.

"Your size."

I narrowed my eyes.

"What size? Like... my shirt?"

He chuckled. "No, your bra."

I made a face. "You're such a creep."

"Okay, okay," he laughed, holding up both hands. "Yes, your shirt. Just your shirt."

I stared at him, suspicious. "Small. Why are you asking?"

"There's a big game coming up," he said casually, like it was no big deal. "Thought I'd get you and Amy some free merch."

I tilted my head at him.

"Wait... are you doing something nice right now? Like... voluntarily?"

He gave me a look. "Don't make a big deal out of it."

"Too late," I said, smiling. "I'm already impressed. Thoughtful and irritating? You're really growing as a person."

He rolled his eyes, but I could tell he was enjoying himself.

Before he could respond, a throat cleared behind him.

We both looked up to see Nate and three other guys from the team standing nearby, all wearing amused expressions. One of them was already grinning like he had walked in on something juicy.

Adrien sighed loudly. "What?"

"You driving or what?" one of them asked. "We've got hockey practice in thirty minutes."

Another one nudged Adrien's shoulder and looked directly at me.

"Sorry about this, Kaia. Didn't mean to interrupt the little moment."

My eyebrows shot up a little.

How did he know my name?

The other guy chimed in, smirking.

"He gets like this sometimes. Time management goes out the window when there's a girl involved."

Adrien groaned. "You're done?"

But they were already laughing as they started dragging him away.

"Ignore them," he muttered to me, standing up. "I'll see you around."

"Mmhmm," I replied, fighting the smile threatening to spread across my face.

As he walked away, two of them clapped him on the back, one of them saying loudly, "We'll make sure he won't be too busy next time, Kaia, so you can have all the time you need!"

The way they said my name again sent a jolt of surprise through me. I hadn't even met those guys before. When exactly did Adrien mention me?

I watched them leave—Adrien shooting a warning glare over his shoulder while the others just kept teasing him—and then I slowly turned back to my notes, biting back a grin.

Of course, Adrien would casually ask for my size. Of course, he'd act mysterious about it. And of course, he'd somehow bring his whole hockey squad into this weird... whatever it was between us.

But now I couldn't stop thinking about it.

Sure, he said it was for team merch. But something about the way he asked, the smirk on his face, the way he was clearly plotting something—

It didn't feel like just merch.

And now I was officially curious... and just a little bit excited to find out what he was up to.