A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Twenty-Five

"1st Corinthians 1:4-5 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—"

For the next couple of days after that startling revelation, Kayla's mind couldn't focus on anything else. Her thoughts raced in endless loops, replaying every word, every detail of her conversation with Louis. There were so many missing pieces to the story and it drove her crazy.

Where did Edward fit into all of this? Why did he treat Nolan the way he did? What was his motive? Was Louis forced into hockey to fulfill his father's broken dreams? What was the root of the rivalry between Mr. Scott and Mr. Auclair? And where did Louis and Edward stand now? And Jojo...how did he fit into the picture? 

It felt like an endless maze, every turn leading to more questions than answers. Every mental corner she turned smacked her into another dead end, the walls looming over her like they were laughing at her confusion.

What made it worse was how normal Louis acted afterward. As if he hadn't bared his inner most thoughts to her. He didn't bring it up, and neither did she. They carried on as though everything was perfectly fine, all sunshine and roses, but Kayla knew better. Those unanswered questions lurked at the edges of her thoughts, just as she suspected they did for him.

Her bed became the unfortunate victim of her restless nights, creaking beneath her as she tossed and turned, unable to quiet her buzzing mind. More than once, she found herself on the verge of stomping over to his room in the dead of night and shaking the answers out of him. No matter what he said, she was sure he knew more than he let on. And it was maddening.

Kayla stood with her hands on her hips, staring at the bundle of clothes on her bed. The familiar rotation of the same few outfits had worked well enough for day-to-day life but tonight was different. There was a formal dinner with some of the Auclair family's close friends, and she needed to look the part. She couldn't afford to look out of place, especially when she already felt the weight of being an outsider.

Her cheeks flushed at the thought of anyone noticing her limited wardrobe. Back at school, the uniform had been her saving grace, there was no need for variety. But now, faced with this situation, she felt woefully unprepared. She bit her lip, pacing back and forth as uncertainty gnawed at her.

What was she supposed to do?

The idea of asking Louis for help crossed her mind. His wardrobe might offer a solution, though she doubted his clothes would fit her properly. Still, it was worth a shot. Shrugging her shoulders, she resolved to take her chances. It wasn't like she had a better option.

With a resigned sigh, she turned and headed toward Louis's room, silently bracing herself for whatever awkward conversation might follow.

She knocked on his door, hesitating for a moment before stepping inside when she heard his light . "Come in."

"Oh."

Louis glanced up from the book he was reading, casually lounging on his bed, shirtless. The room was dimly lit, with a soft, golden hue from the bedside lamp highlighting his relaxed posture.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone as casual as his appearance.

"Nothing," Kayla replied, smiling sheepishly as she plopped down on the chair opposite him with a heavy sigh. It wasn't like she hadn't seen him shirtless before, locker rooms made sure of that, but this felt different. More personal. She was in his room, his private space, a place that felt distinctly him.

She crossed her legs and placed her hands on her lap, resolutely staring at the wall. The soft blue paint had never seemed so fascinating before.

"What's the dress code for tonight's dinner?" she asked, her voice deliberately casual.