Chapter 25 Priority
Phoebe
“To ignore the way they look at you? The way Adonis—”
I thought something was off here. I needed to explain Adonis’s behavior—how he acted when he was just being himself—to Hayden. As much as possible, I had to remain neutral for the sake of the team. Hayden’s attitude earlier had been rather arrogant, even for someone in his role as team captain.
At the same time, I had to maintain my identity in front of Adonis and Finley. They were the only two who still didn’t know the truth about who I really was. Hayden’s tendency to be possessive was beginning to make me uncomfortable.
I took a deep breath. Was this one of the challenges that came with being in a relationship? If it was, then I needed to approach it rationally—especially with Hayden. He held the authority to influence my actions, and I was the only one capable of calming him down.
“Stop it,” I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended. “This is ridiculous. That moment had passed and it was truly him. They’re my friends, and I won’t let you ruin that.”
His expression darkened for a moment, but he exhaled deeply, as if reigning in whatever storm was brewing inside him. “I’m not trying to ruin anything, Phoebe. I just…” He hesitated, running a hand through his hair. “I want you to focus on us. On what we’re building here. The rest of them, they’re fine for the game, but outside that…”
I took a step back, his words settling uncomfortably in my chest. “Outside of that, what? They’re not allowed to be my friends?”
Hayden didn’t answer, but his silence spoke volumes. I felt a pang of frustration, mixed with something I couldn’t quite identify. Disappointment? Sadness? Whatever it was, it made me feel small and caged, like my world was being redrawn without my consent.
“I’ll make this clear to you, Hayden. Of course, I’ll prioritize you. I like you. I’ve liked you since the first time we met. You don’t have to worry about that. Do you feel better now?”
Without warning, Hayden pulled me into his arms, quickly drawing me into a corner of the corridor where no one could see us. I felt the tension in his shoulders ease as I rubbed his back, even though I struggled a bit because of my short arms. It didn’t matter—I was happy my feelings were returned.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured softly. “I’m just afraid that you don’t think about my feelings for you. It’s hard for me to express everything clearly. I’m not good with words.”
“I understand. Are we okay now?” I asked, meeting his gaze.
“Yes,” he said with a small, genuine smile. “I just want to have all of you, Phoebe.”
When we entered, the others were already there. Adonis leaned back in his chair, spinning a pen between his fingers with practiced ease. Finley was fiddling with the game settings on the large screen, and Zion sat cross-legged on the couch, scrolling through his phone. They looked up as we entered, their faces lit up in greeting.
“Hey, Mathews, Grey,” Finley said, giving us a casual wave.
I forced a smile, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt. “Hey, guys. Ready to crush some bots?”
“Always,” Adonis said, flashing me a grin that made my stomach twist—not because of him, but because I could feel Hayden’s eyes on me, watching, waiting.
We settled into our usual spots, the gaming humming to life. The room was filled with the familiar sounds of clicking taps and banter as we loaded into the MOBA. For a while, I managed to lose myself in the game, coordinating attacks and calling out strategies. But Hayden’s earlier words lingered at the back of my mind, a constant distraction.
And then there was Zion. He played with a quiet intensity that I found magnetic. Sometimes, our eyes would meet, and I’d feel a flutter of something I couldn’t quite name. It was dangerous, exhilarating, and entirely unwelcome given the tension with Hayden.
By the time we wrapped up the session, I was a bundle of nerves. My movements felt stiff, my laughter forced. I caught Finley’s concerned glance a couple of times, but I couldn’t bring myself to explain. How could I, when I wasn’t even sure what I was feeling?
As we packed up, the door to the training room opened, and a girl walked in. She was striking, with long, blonde hair, a Barbie-look and a confident stride that drew everyone’s attention. She made a beeline for Hayden, her smile warm and familiar.
“Hayden,” she said, her voice smooth. “I’ve been looking for you. We need to talk.”
Hayden’s expression shifted—surprise, then something softer. “Lily,” he said, her name rolling off his tongue like a secret. “What are you doing here?”
“Pack business,” she replied vaguely, her gaze flicking briefly at the rest of us before settling back on him. “Can we go somewhere private?”
My heart sank. Pack business? Why hadn’t he mentioned her before? And why did it feel like I was suddenly on the outside looking in?
Hayden hesitated, his eyes darting at me for a fraction of a second before he nodded. “Yeah, let’s go.”
As they left, the door closing softly behind them, the room felt colder somehow. I could feel the others’ eyes on me, but I didn’t look up. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, the emotions swirling inside me too chaotic to name.
What was Lily to Hayden? And why did it feel like she had just walked in and claimed a part of him I hadn’t even realized I wanted to keep for myself?
The uncertainty gnawed at me, and for the first time in a long while, I didn’t know where I stood—not with Hayden, not with the team, not with myself. The only thing I was sure of was this: whatever came next, it wasn’t going to be easy.