Veiled Echoes

C H A P T E R 2 2

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HANA

"So when were you and Ethan going to tell me about this trip with Aiden's team?" I threw my top towards Rae.

When I had called her to ask her about the tournament, she had practically squealed and hung up, promising to meet me up at my apartment. When she did arrive, I had paused to stare down at her giant, pink suitcase and then back up at her. One would think she was going on a month trip rather than just five days.

And now we were packing my bag, which, to Rae's frown, was smaller and apparently did not reflect the enthusiasm for this tournament. Not that I knew what she was talking about.

"Today?" She effortlessly dodged my shirt before picking it up and packing it in my small bag. "It's for our psychology experiment. I have to write a report on how male athletes express emotion differently in private vs when observed by peers."

I arched my brows, squeezing my toiletries in my mini pouch. "So you're just going to be observing them for five days?"

Rae shrugged, sighing. "At least I'll be around hot volleyball players who are strong enough to throw me around."

"Rae!" I swung my gaze to my brother, who sat on my bed playing with the car we bought.

"What? Don't tell me you have never imagined Aiden practically being able to lift you with one hand and manhandle you."

"W-What the hell? Why are you spinning it my way?" I spluttered, turning around so she couldn't see how quickly heat had crept up to my face.

It was not lost on me that Aiden's last bidding was where he had claimed to have me on his lap at least once in the five days. Nor was my mind letting me forget about it. Ever since I stepped a foot in the house and got the message from him—be at the dome around 7:00 i'll see you there and hopefully you'll sit next to me as well—I have not been able to do anything with a sane state of mind.

Perhaps it was because my period was close by and I was acting like a thirteen-year-old teenage girl. Not that I had a chance at experiencing that; I was too busy trying to prove myself.

But now, Aiden consumed my thoughts. As well as the image of me practically in his lap, doing God knows what.

And just the thought of it sent a jolt of heat down my body.

Dear God, I had to get a grip.

Rae did not probe and I didn't turn around. My heart was still ramming against my ribcage, robbing me of my capability to speak.

"Do you think my going is right?" I asked, staring down at the clothes in my bag.

Rae stopped assorting through my clothes and walked out of my closet, her hands on her hips. "If the captain's girlfriend does not support him, then who will?"

"But I'm not actually his girlfriend."

"Yeah, but in this shenanigan you are. So strut there like you own him." She dropped a black mini dress into the bag.

She then gazed at my bag, her jaw working.

"You have to get your suitcase, Hana," the girl huffed, throwing my top in the bag that was on the brink of overflowing. "You're packing like we're heading to Milan." Rae tossed a second club dress in. "We're going out at least three times.

I threw her a blank stare. "Why do I need two club outfits? "

"Because we are going with men?" She looked at me as if I were some millennial who did not understand the simple process. "They're going to be hitting the club three out of the five days."