"You're meant to hate me." I say, but it comes out more like a question than a truth.
"I'm gonna fuck you as hard as I hate you." He says and the next second his mouth crashes onto mine.
____
They don't like each other. Like at all.
Alex Black and...
"You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice."
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Nadia's POV
"And that's another win for the Greyhounds!" One of the commentators shouts, his mic barely heard over the noise from the crowd.
The boys on the ice erupt, throwing their arms up, sticks flying into the air. Dean tackles Alex into the boards with a whoop, and the two of them start slamming their gloves against the glass like maniacs. Celebrating with us.
I can't help but smile. My friends around me are already screaming. Chris jumps out of her seat, her drink sloshing dangerously close to the edge of the cup. Diana grabs Sam by the arm, shaking him like a rag doll as they both yell. Both of them laughing and screaming like lunatics.
They won.
The whole arena feels like it's vibrating, the noise echoing off the walls of the arena, bouncing back ten times louder. The cold of the ice doesn't matter—everyone is burning hot with excitement, with pride. People stomp their feet, bang on the boards, clap, cheer, and throw their hats in the air.
Even grumpy Coach Jensen is on his feet, clapping his hands with a rare grin, shouting something into the crowd.
Alex smashes his hand against the glass right in front of me, his face lit up with that big, reckless grin he always wears after a win. His hair is damp under his helmet, curling at the edges, and his cheeks are flushed from the game. Dean is right beside him, yelling something we can't hear through the plexiglass, but it is probably dumb and overly dramatic—so, normal Dean.
We stay like that for a while, riding the high. Eventually, the energy starts to die down. Players are herded back toward the locker rooms by tired but smiling officials, and the crowd begins to thin. Our little group and others trickle outside the locker room. We always wait for the boys to come out after games. It's our thing. Win or lose, we're always there.
Chris pulls her phone out and types something quickly, her nails tapping the screen with precision.
"Jake wants me to come over." She says, tucking her phone back into her coat pocket. "He's like five minutes from here."
"I'll drive." Sam offers, already fishing for the car keys.
Diana nods. "We'll drop you. No point in walking."
I smile. "You guys go ahead. I'm just gonna head home."
"You okay?" Diana asks.
"Yeah, just tired," I say, brushing it off. "I came straight from work."
She gives me a look—one of those soft, knowing ones—but doesn't push. I'm glad she doesn't because I don't really have an answer to give her.
The truth is, I even dressed in some going-out attire before I left the house, ready in case we all wanted to go out. But I don't know, I have this gut feeling I need to head home.
