𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭

five

Kaiden

I toss my bag down on the table in the quad, and Ethan follows suit, the usual grin plastered on his face as we settle down. The lunch rush is in full swing, and I lean back in my chair, watching the chaos play out like a show for my entertainment. Ethan's talking about Eliza again, which has been his favorite topic since they started dating.

"She's different, man," Ethan says, shaking his head with this goofy smile that honestly makes me want to laugh. "Like, she's not like the rest of them, you know?"

"Sure, sure," I say, giving him a smirk. "What's that, the fifth time you've said that this week? Sounds like someone's whipped."

He punches my shoulder lightly, rolling his eyes. "Shut up. You'd get it if you met the right girl. I swear, all you do is hook up with people you can barely stand." 

"What can I say? I'm not looking for a 'right girl.' I'm just looking for a fun girl." I lean back, arms crossed, and glance around, casually checking out the crowd. "Anyway, you're probably the only guy who'd willingly fall for a figure skater. They're intense."

Ethan just shrugs, unfazed. "That's what I like about her, though. She's got drive. And she's not afraid to call me out on my shit. You could use a little of that." He nudges me with his elbow, grinning.

I scoff. "Yeah, right. I don't need someone telling me what to do."

Ethan chuckles, clearly finding it amusing. "No wonder you're single, McAllister. You've got the charm, but you're impossible to handle."

I grin, shrugging. "I'm not impossible. Just... selective."

Across the quad, I spot Eliza sitting on a bench with someone next to her—slim, sharp-featured, dark hair pulled back in some kind of low messy bun.

Delphine Beauford.

Hard not to notice her; she's got that striking look that turns heads and that cold, "don't mess with me" attitude that keeps people at a distance.

I've seen her at the rink early in the mornings when our team's warming up. She's usually gliding across the ice, graceful but intense, like she's got something to prove.

Ethan follows my gaze and smirks. "Don't tell me you're interested in Delphine. She'd chew you up and spit you out, man."

I laugh, though I can't help but watch her for another second. "Not interested. Just curious. She's got that whole ice queen thing going on. I'm surprised she's friends with someone as nice as Eliza."

He shrugs. "They've been friends forever, or something. I think Delphine keeps people at a distance on purpose. Eliza says she's tough to get to know, but once you do, she's not as bad as she seems."

I snort. "Yeah, sure. She looks like she'd rather be anywhere else than talking to people." 

Ethan just grins, clearly entertained. "And I think that's exactly why you're curious, Kaiden. You like a challenge, don't you?"

I roll my eyes. "Don't start with that. Just because you're all wrapped up in this love story doesn't mean I'm about to go chasing after someone who'd probably freeze me out the second I opened my mouth."

We spend the next half hour talking, mostly about practice and the upcoming games, with Ethan throwing in the occasional story about Eliza. The guy's got it bad, but I can't really blame him. Even if I'm not interested in getting serious with anyone, it's kind of nice to see someone who actually cares.

When I glance over at Delphine again, she's still sitting there with that bored, indifferent expression on her face, barely listening as Eliza talks. And maybe Ethan's right; maybe I do like a challenge. Not that I'd admit it to him, though.