C23 Twenty three

Adrian's POV

Before I could understand what they were doing.. She rushed past me.

Her coat swayed, her bag nearly slipped off her shoulder, and she didn't even look at me.. not even a glance, and there was not even a stutter in her steps to acknowledge my presence. She just brushed past me like I was nothing more than a wall.

"Sel," I called.

She didn't stop.. she didn't even slow.

She answered her call as she past me and said, "I'll be there in a couple of minutes," and kept walking toward the emergency exit like I had no right to exist in her space.

She disappeared behind the glass doors and then it was just me..

And him.

That nosy, goody two shoes godson of hers... Raymond.

He stepped out from the hallway shadows. Calm. Collected. Smiling.

"Bad timing," he said, with his hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets.

"And.. What are you doing here?" I asked without blinking.

He chuckled.

"No greeting? No handshake? You've gotten colder my dear Alpha."

"You didn't answer," I said again.

He shifted his weight his grin never fading from his annoying face.

"It's been a while. Thought someone would be glad to see me.. I mean you kinda ignored my presence all this while."

"Nobody is," I replied.

He shrugged, amused.

"Except your stepmother, possibly. She seemed... thrilled, I mean each time she sees me she has a beautiful smile on her face."

Heat climbed up my skull.

"Don't call her that."

"But that's what she is, isn't she?"

He tilted his head.

"Your late father's woman I mean wife.. so she is technically your step mom.."

"I said don't."

He lifted his eyebrows like I was being dramatic.

"She's my godmother, Adrian. I can call her whatever pleases me. And she.. " he pointed toward the exit where she had vanished, "calls me family as well so..."

Something twisted in my chest.

"That still doesn't answer what you're doing here Raymond."

Raymond smiled, slow and deliberate, like he had been waiting to say it.

"You really want to know? Fine."

He spread his arms slightly.

"The big game won't be my last game you see.. I'm not leaving anymore."

The words felt like a blade.

"What?"

"I'm staying here, I'm not going back," he continued.

"Because I signed a permanent contract this afternoon. Your rival team wanted talent. I'm the talent. So.. win-win."

"You're joining Thunderholm full time."

It wasn't a question.

"Oh, very much full time," he replied.

"Games.. Travels.. Public events. Full roster position."

My fists tightened.

Of course he would stay.

Of course fate would throw him in my lane.

"Does she know?" I asked sharply.

"She does now.. I just told her and you see."

He smirked.

"She congratulated me. We'll be celebrating tonight."

Ice crawled through my veins.

"What do you mean celebrating?"

"A small party my teammates are hosting I'm sure you and your teammates were invited," he said casually.

"And since she's free later, I invited her. She said we'll 'definitely spend time.' Her words."

I stepped closer.

"You invited her to a Thunderholm event?"

"Yes. Why? Is she forbidden from attending her godson's party?"

Raymond leaned forward slightly, voice lowering.

"She looked relieved that I'm staying. Happy, actually."

"She was not.."

"Oh, she was," he cut in.

"You arrived late. You didn't see her face. But I did."

My patience snapped.

I grabbed his shirt and slammed him backward against the wall.

He didn't flinch.

He smiled.

"You always get violent when you can't handle the truth."

"And you always get arrogant when you're hiding something," I said.

He exhaled.. not scared, not threatened, almost entertained.

"Go ahead, hit me and break my jaw. Let's see what Selena says. She already told me, and I quote 'We'll definitely spend time together now that you're staying.'"

My fist lifted..

Raymond didn't even blink.

"I wonder what she'll think of you," he said gently, "if you land a punch."

We stared at each other.

I wasn't scared of hitting him..

I wasn't terrified of what she would say afterward either but for some weird reason I let him go.

He straightened when I lowered my hand.

"You still can't control yourself huh? You're still a teensy bit jealous she prefers me over you you've always been that way ever since we were kids," he murmured.

"That's why she avoids you."

I froze.

He knew.

He knew she ignored me just as I ignored her back then.

He knew she left without acknowledging me.

He knew that stung more than anything physical ever could.

He tapped his jaw lightly.

"You wanted to hit me.. It's fine. You're predictable."

"What do you want, Raymond?"

"Oh, I already have what I want," he said softly.

"A team. A contract. And my godmother.. she was annoyingly spending too much time with you."

He walked past but paused beside me.

"You should show up tonight," he whispered.

"As what?"

"As entertainment," he smirked.

"There will be a surprise for her. I think you'll love watching."

He continued walking, hands in pockets.

"And Adrian..." he called over his shoulder,

"Don't choke on jealousy before you arrive I wouldn't want her stressing herself to bring you back to life."

He exited the hallway.

Doors shut behind him.

Silence.

Cold.

Heavy.

Suffocating.

I turned toward the exit Selena had rushed through.

Her scent still lingered like sterile cotton and winter warmth.

I walked outside.

Snow flurries drifted, catching the arena lights like silver dust.

Her car was still there and her ID card was on the dashboard.

Her white coat folded.

She wasn't far.

She was still in the building.

She was still mine, even if she walked like she wasn't.

Even if she looked at him with warmth she never gave me.

I inhaled deeply.

Raymond was wrong about one thing..

I wasn't predictable.

Tonight would not be his celebration.

Tonight..

she would look

at me.. only.

And Raymond would learn that staying was not an advantage...

It was a mistake.

A very dangerous mistake.