A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Twenty-Three

Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven,and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

To Kayla's surprise, Louis had taken it upon himself to care for her wounds throughout the entire exam period. Every day after school, he would show up at her room to ensure she had taken her prescribed medicines. He helped her where she struggled, his patience unwavering even when she protested, insisting he leave her to her own devices. She told herself it was guilt driving him, he didn't truly care about her. She didn't need him to do any of this; she had survived worse, enduring the horrors of her father's beatings, and she was more than capable of managing on her own. Trusting him felt like a risk, a crack in her armor she couldn't afford. He could turn on her at any moment, using her vulnerability as a weapon. So, she took his actions with a grain of salt, refusing to read too much into them. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't deny, at least to herself, how much she had come to appreciate the gentle care he'd shown her over the past week.

He didn't bring up the fact that she was a girl. He still called her Kingston, and their dynamic hadn't fundamentally changed, but she noticed a hesitance in him, a restraint. He seemed more cautious around her now. She saw it in the way he played with her on the ice: less rough, more measured.

Although Kayla appreciated his concern, she didn't want him to hold back or be any less competitive with her just because of her gender. She caught his worried glances whenever one of the other guys shoved her into the boards, and she absolutely hated it. She wasn't any less capable of handling the boys than she had been before he discovered the truth about her identity, and she didn't need his pity or his protection.

Kayla stared out her window, an indescribable gloom settling over her. The question of how she would spend the Christmas break loomed heavy in her mind. For the next two weeks, she was essentially homeless. She had a bit of money saved, just enough to afford a few nights in a cheap motel, but the thought of spending Christmas alone in a dingy room filled her with dread. Below her, cars lined up at the school gates, parents and chauffeurs ready to whisk away their eager wards, who were undoubtedly exhausted from the pressure of exams. In her room, she was utterly alone. Ishaan had dashed out the door moments ago, brimming with excitement, leaving behind an emptiness that seemed to echo in her chest. A bitter mixture of envy and sadness bubbled within her, and she couldn't stop herself from resenting him. Ishaan had a loving, doting family to return to, a warmth she could only dream of. She, on the other hand, had nowhere to go. Returning to her small hometown wasn't an option; the odds of escaping alive or unscarred were slim if she ever dared to go back. Her lips curved into a deep frown as she crossed her arms tightly over her waist, trying to hold herself together against the crushing weight of isolation.

"I've been looking everywhere for you," Louis's voice broke the silence. Kayla swallowed hard, turning toward him. He was out of breath, as if he'd been running.

Her brows knit together. "I've been here the whole time."

"I just assumed you'd be downstairs with your bags, waiting for your driver."

"How generous of you to assume I have a driver." She couldn't hide the bitter edge in her tone. Louis's perfectly arched brow lifted in surprise at her coldness.

"I was just asking a simple question," he said, shaking his head, clearly annoyed.

"I know." She sighed, rubbing the space between her brows. "I'm sorry."

"Why haven't you packed?" He stepped further into the room, his gaze sweeping over the disarray. She didn't have much, her uniforms were carelessly laid out on the bed, hockey gear scattered across the floor, and a few other basic items cluttered her study table.