A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Twenty-Eight

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV):

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

Louis had woken her early that morning, practically dragging her out of bed while she was still half-asleep. He had insisted on taking her to his favorite spot, bundling her into his car like a sleep-deprived zombie. They had driven far out of town, the morning sky just starting to glow as they arrived at the lake. The sight took her breath away.

The water shimmered in hues of gold and pink as the sun kissed the horizon. Louis had promised it would look ethereal, and he hadn't exaggerated. It was the most beautiful thing Kayla had ever seen. Standing beside him then, she felt a warmth spread through her, soft and unfamiliar. Her chest felt lighter. Her thoughts quieter. 

"Kingston? Is everything okay?"

Louis's voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to reality. Her smile faltered as she turned to face him.

"Yeah," she replied, her voice quieter than intended. Louis didn't push further. Instead, his grin widened. 

"Let's go for a swim," he said casually. Kayla blinked, frowning. 

"I don't have anything to wear," she protested.

Louis's smirk deepened as he reached into his bag, pulling out a neatly folded one-piece swimsuit and holding it up triumphantly.

"Don't worry," he said, a playful glint in his eyes. "I came prepared."

It was only then that Kayla noticed he was already wearing swimming trunks, his casual demeanor making her sigh in reluctant acceptance. She took the swimsuit he handed her, glancing around for a place to change. Spotting a large tree with enough cover, she started walking toward it but paused when Louis's voice called after her.

"Where are you going?"

"To change," she said over her shoulder.

"You can just change here," he offered, his tone annoyingly casual. "There's no one else around. I'll close my eyes."

Kayla turned to narrow her eyes at him. "I trust you not to peek."

Louis raised his hands in mock surrender, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Come on, you know me better than that. I wouldn't do that to any girl... especially not you."

Her eyes narrowed further, but she couldn't stop the small smile that crept onto her face. 

"Sure," she drawled lazily, shaking her head as she turned back toward the tree.

Despite her teasing tone, she knew she believed him.

A light breeze danced across Kayla's bare skin, sending a shiver of both anticipation and nervousness through her. She glanced down at her form, momentarily impressed by what she saw. Kayla rarely took the time to truly look at herself, refusing to critique the body that so many others had scrutinized her entire life. Her body functioned. It allowed her to walk, eat, breathe. That alone was worthy of gratitude.

Her appreciation didn't stem from society's shallow standards but from a deep respect for how far her body had carried her. It had stayed strong, even when she pushed it beyond its limits. Women were so often forced into molds that demanded they hate the parts of themselves that didn't conform. Kayla, too, had once felt the weight of those impossible expectations. She had always had wide hips, but years of hockey had toned her waist with relentless exercise and discipline.