Chapter 189 A Good Win

Chapter 189 A Good Win
For a split second, nobody moved.

Then the final whistle sounded.

The arena exploded. Students flooded the aisles.
The substitutes jumped over the boards.

Nathan dropped to one knee, breathing hard. Ryan reached him first. They hugged so fiercely they nearly fell over.

"We did it."

Ryan laughed. "We actually did it."

The scoreboard glowed brightly above them.

HOME — 3

AWAY — 1

For the first time in university history, their hockey team had qualified for the national championship.

Nathan looked toward the stands again.

Amelia was already running down the steps. Security barely had time to react before she reached the barrier separating spectators from the rink.

"Nathan!"

He skated over without thinking. She threw her arms around him the moment he climbed over the boards.

The entire arena erupted again.

Nathan lifted her completely off the ground.

She laughed through tears. "I told you!"

Nathan smiled. "Told me what?"

"I told you you'd win!"

He rested his forehead against hers. "You were right."

"I'll always be your biggest fan."

Nathan looked into her eyes. "And I'll never stop looking for you in the crowd."

Around them, his teammates celebrated the greatest victory the university had ever seen. History had been made.

And somehow, Nathan knew that sharing that moment with Amelia made the victory mean even more.

The celebration did not end at the sports arena.

Someone suggested dinner. Another teammate suggested a party.

Ryan dismissed both ideas with a wave of his hand.
"We're going to the captain's apartment."

Nathan looked at him. "Who made that decision?"

Ryan grinned. "I did."

"You don't live there."

"I celebrate there."

The team burst into laughter.

An hour later, Nathan's apartment was filled with familiar voices. Music played softly from the speakers. Pizza boxes covered the dining table.

Someone had brought soft drinks. Someone else had somehow convinced Ryan to attempt making milkshakes, an idea everyone regretted after the first sip.

One teammate frowned into his glass. "What exactly did you put in this?"

Ryan looked offended. "My passion."

"I think your passion has expired."

Laughter echoed through the apartment.

Nathan barely noticed any of it. His attention kept drifting toward Amelia. Or perhaps, it never really left her.

Whenever she walked past him, his hand found the small of her back almost instinctively.

Whenever she stopped to talk to someone, he somehow ended up standing beside her.

At one point, she was laughing with Mira near the dining table when Nathan quietly slipped an arm around her waist.

She looked up. "When did you get here?"

"I've been here."

"I didn't even notice."

"You were busy laughing." Nathan leaned closer until only she could hear him. "I like this smile."

Amelia felt warmth spread across her face. "You've been teasing me since we got here."

"I've just been admiring you."

She nudged him lightly with her elbow. "You make it very difficult to stay composed."

"I wasn't trying to help."

Amelia blushed.

Ryan looked over from across the room and groaned dramatically. "There they go again."

One teammate followed his gaze. "What happened?"

"Our captain has forgotten he owns an apartment."

Nathan looked up. "I can still hear you."

Ryan shrugged. "That's better."

The apartment filled with laughter once again.

Later in the evening, Amelia offered to help clear the table. Mira joined her without being asked.
Together they carried empty plates into the kitchen while the others remained in the living room arguing over which goal from the match had been the best.

The kitchen was quieter. Only the sound of running water and clinking dishes filled the room.

Amelia rolled up the sleeves of her sweater. "You don't have to help."

Mira picked up a dish towel. "You're acting like the woman of the house.”

Amelia smiled. "Stop it."

For a while, they worked in comfortable silence.

Then Mira looked sideways at her. "You know..."

Amelia glanced up. "What?"

Mira smiled to herself before drying another plate.
"I've been waiting a long time to see this version of you."

Amelia frowned slightly. "What version?"

"The one that laughs without forcing it." She placed another plate carefully into the cupboard. "The one who stops checking over her shoulder before smiling."

Amelia became quiet.

Mira continued softly. "After everything Connor put you through." She paused. "I used to worry you'd stop believing someone could genuinely care about you."

Amelia looked down at the plate in her hands. "I worried about that too.

“But then Nathan happened."

A small smile appeared on Amelia's lips. "He did."

Mira laughed. "He really did." She turned fully toward her friend. "I am genuinely happy for you."

Her voice carried none of its usual teasing. "You deserve to be loved like this."

Amelia's eyes became suspiciously bright. Before she could answer, strong arms wrapped gently around her waist.

She gasped softly.

Nathan rested his chin against her shoulder. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

Amelia leaned back against him almost automatically. "You've been without me for, what?"
She looked toward the clock. "Seven minutes?"

Nathan nodded thoughtfully. "The longest seven minutes of my day."

Mira pinched the bridge of her nose. "Oh, this is becoming unbearable."

Nathan smiled without letting Amelia go. "I missed her."

"You saw her five minutes ago."

"That's long enough to miss her."

Amelia laughed, covering one of his hands with hers. "You are unbelievable."

Nathan turned his head slightly until his lips brushed her hair. "I've had to share you with an entire hockey team."

"They're celebrating with you."

"I know." He smiled. "But I'd still rather have you to myself."

Mira pointed toward the living room. "I suddenly remember Ryan needs help."

Nathan looked at her suspiciously. "He definitely doesn't."

"I know." She picked up the empty dish towel anyway. "But if I stay here any longer, I'm going to develop cavities from all this sweetness."

Amelia laughed. "Mira..."

Her friend winked. "I meant what I said." She squeezed Amelia's hand as she walked past. "I've missed seeing you this happy."

With that, she disappeared into the living room.
The kitchen became quiet again.

Nathan gently turned Amelia until she was facing him. For a moment, he simply looked at her.

"What?" Amelia asked, smiling.

He shook his head. "Nothing."

"You're staring."

"I like looking at you."

She laughed softly. "You've become very bold."

Nathan smiled. "I've spent too much time pretending not to." He brushed an escaped strand of hair behind her ear. "I think I'm done pretending."

Amelia's heartbeat quickened.

Outside the kitchen, Ryan's voice suddenly echoed through the apartment. "Captain!"

Nathan sighed dramatically. "What now?"

Ryan shouted again. "Stop hiding in the kitchen with your girlfriend and come celebrate!"

Nathan closed his eyes briefly. "I was enjoying the peace."

Amelia smiled. "You should probably rescue them before Ryan burns something."

Nathan looked genuinely concerned. "That's actually possible." He took Amelia's hand. "Come on."

She intertwined her fingers with his. Together, they walked back into the noisy apartment, where laughter, teasing, and the warmth of people who had become family waited for them.



The semester finally came to an end.

With examinations behind them and the campus gradually becoming quieter, students began leaving for internships, family vacations, or much-needed rest.

Amelia's phone rang just after breakfast one Monday morning. She glanced at the unfamiliar number before answering.

"Hello?"

A pleasant female voice greeted her. "Good morning. Am I speaking with Miss Amelia Hartley?"

"Yes, speaking."

"My name is Grace. I am calling from SportsLine Media House."

Amelia straightened immediately. "Yes, ma'am."

"We received your application for our internship program."

Her heartbeat quickened.

"We also received a recommendation from Dr. Victor Grant."

Amelia blinked.

Dr. Victor.

Despite everything that had happened, he had still written her a recommendation letter after publicly clearing her name.

The woman continued. "We've reviewed your academic work and interview assessment." A brief pause followed. "We would be delighted to have you join us."

For a moment, Amelia forgot how to breathe.
"I..." She laughed softly in disbelief. "Does that mean I got it?"