He Choose Her, I Choose his Rival

CHAPTER 1.

~LUCY POINT OF VIEW~

I still can't believe Owen Brooks kissed me at the charity fair last night.

It wasn't his usual friendly peck, and it definitely wasn't an accidental brush of lips. It was intentional. When he was dared to kiss someone at the charity kissing booth, out of everyone there, he chose me.

My mind flashes back to last night, I still remember the way my toes curled inside my shoes and my glasses slipped off my face.

I've replayed that moment at least a hundred times, analyzing the way his fingers lingered against my skin and how I ended up cuddling him to sleep afterward because he was going through a breakup.

I squeal, holding on to the one memory I'll never forget.

I've been in love with Owen Brooks—my best friend— since we moved into the same neighborhood ten years ago.

I've packed his bags, done his laundry, and held him through six breakups with the same girl.

Today, he hasn't just set a personal record of nineteen hours without crawling back to Ivy after she cheated on him again. He has also shown the whole school and ivy that he's moved on by kissing me in front of hundreds of students.

What better way to show he's over his cheating girlfriend than by publicly kissing someone new?

He hasn't announced anything yet, but it's obvious. Owen has never kissed me like that before, especially not in public. We always respected each other's boundaries... well, not that I've ever had many when it came to him.

Grinning from ear to ear, I sling my bag over my shoulder, eager to rush back to the dorm.

Right now, I feel like I'm on top of the world. Ten years of loving him from the shadows is finally paying off.

I tuck my wireless lavalier mic into my bag, zipping it shut. It's almost four p.m.—time to head to the arena for Owen's last game of the season. I already packed his hockey bag last night after cuddling him to sleep.

Even though I've never told him how I feel, I knew the signs were obvious and I'm glad he finally realized it and made a move last night. Ever since the kiss, we've been all over the campus gossip blogs, school website, and countless group chats.

A few minutes later, I reach the dorm and adjust my glasses before heading toward Room 35.

We planned to go to the game together.

I also need to make sure he's in the right state of mind and isn't still obsessing over his ex-girlfriend, Ivy.

He needs to be at his best today. Otherwise, Tyler Holt—his annoying rival,will probably walk away as the Player of the Season.

And I'd hate to see that happen.

I hate Tyler Holt. Actually... I don't really hate him. Owen hates him so that makes me hate him by default. Besides Tyler's a womanizing, arrogant, rude playboy... and everything under the…..

A familiar sound coming from Owen's room stops me in my tracks.

Low moans slip through the crack beneath the door. I freeze.

My stomach drops as realization slowly sinks in. I swallow hard hoping it's coming from the next room but the sounds grow louder,Wet and Rhythmic.

I shake my head, desperately trying to convince myself I misheard, praying it's anything but what I know it is.

My stomach twists painfully. Without giving myself a chance to think, I shove the door open.

The loud bang startles them and Owen quickly grabs the sheets pulling them over his naked body.

I look to his side. It's Ivy—his supposed ex-girlfriend.Naked.Flushed and Smirking.

The world stops the moment my eyes lock with hers,the air leaving my lungs like I've just been punched in the gut.

He's back with her?

No,I shake my head. It can't be that he's back with her after what we did yesterday?

We kissed at the charity fair last night, and he promised he'd moved on.

Now he's back in bed with the same girl who's broken his heart more times than there are Mondays in a month.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Ivy snaps before I can even process what I'm seeing.

I just stand there, my eyes darting from Ivy to Owen. He drags a hand over his face,looking away.Embarrassed and Guilty.Of course he is.

"Please tell me I'm hallucinating," I whisper, my voice cracking.

"Lucy—" he starts.

"No." The word slices out sharper than I intended."Tell me I'm hallucinating, Owen. We just kissed last night, and you said..."

The words get stuck in my throat, and all I can do is gasp.

"Owen... six times. She cheated on you six... freaking... times!" My voice rises. "Six times, and I was there for every single one. Holding you. Picking up the pieces. And now you run straight back into her arms?"

Ivy rolls her eyes. "Oh my God. Why are you acting like his wife or fiancée caught him cheating? You're not his wife, his girlfriend, or even his mother…..though with those baggy hoodies and glasses, you could probably pass for one."

The words hit like a slap and my stomach twists, but I refuse to let it show. Instead, I try to sidestep her, but she quickly blocks my path.

"You really think Owen would start dating you after that kiss at the booth?"

She laughs, hard and loud, "Gosh, you're such a fool, Lucy, for even harboring thoughts like that."

"Owen is way, way, way out of your league. You need to understand that. You're just his little friend—the one who's always there to clean up his mess and help build his hockey career."

She steps forward, and I stop breathing.

She reaches out, slowly brushing her fingers across my shoulder, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. "Know your place, dear."

The words sink in, and it feels like my heart is being ripped apart.

The kiss meant nothing to him?

I refuse to believe that.

Swallowing hard, I lift my gaze to him. "Is it true?"My voice barely comes out. "The kiss... meant nothing to you?"

"Look, Lu'..." I watch his Adam's apple bob up and down. "We can... talk about this later."

"No." I manage to snap, heat burning behind my eyes, but I blink the tears back. "I want to talk about it right now."

"The kiss really meant nothing to you?" I ask deliberately, my eyes fixed on him.

"Come on, Lu'." He hisses. "You know it was just the pressure from the crowd. Nothing more."

My heart shatters right there.

My legs feel wobbly, and when I glance to my left, I'm met with Ivy's mocking eyes and triumphant smirk.

Pain shoots through my chest. My eyes sting, but I blink the tears away. He and Ivy aren't worth crying over.

A few seconds pass before I sniff and force my brain to reset.

I need to be at the arena to interview the hockey players, and I also have a job to do as his personal manager—making sure Owen stays on track until he makes it to the NHL.

"It's past four." I force my voice to stay firm. "We need to leave for warm-ups. The article's ready. I just need photos before Tyler—"

"He's not going anywhere," Ivy cuts in, slumping back onto the bed. "Leave, Lucy. We need to finish what we started."

"Owen...?" I choke out.

Owen tries to stand, but one glare from her makes him sit back down like a trained dog.

He avoids my eyes. "Lucy, just step outside. Give me a little more time. We'll leave by five. Please. I promise we'll leave by five."

"Okay, then." I force the words out as though I'm not one step away from breaking down. "I'll be back by five."

I leave, the door clicking shut behind me.

But I barely make it five steps before the moans start again.

Each sound feels like a knife carving through my chest.

For one stupid moment, I let myself imagine it was me in her place. Being wanted. Being chosen.

Then reality crashes back down.He chose her, Not me. I'm done babysitting him,I'm also done trying to make him love me. From this moment on, it's strictly professional.

About forty minutes later, I sling my bag onto my back and start heading back to the dorm.

It’s 5:10 p.m. I gave him an extra ten minutes,he should be done with her by now. As I walk down the stairs of the cafeteria I remind myself it's just a few more weeks and I'll be done managing him.

A message chimes into my phone as I walk down, at first I didn't want to check it but I have a last minute change of mind, it might be my supervisor giving me instructions so I check it.But once I see it’s from Owen, I stop in my steps and open it.

“Hey Lu, I’ve left with Ivy. She wants to watch the games and cheer me on from the audience. I told Finn to pick you up from the gas station. His car is a blue Audi.”

I stare at the message. Then I read it three times. I blink, Wow…. Wow…. Just wow.

My fingers tighten around my phone.I spent my entire day preparing for this trip. I did his laundry. I packed his bag and everything he needs. The only thing I didn’t do was breastfeed him and now he's leaving with ivy?

I release a long sigh, contemplating whether I should go or not. But I have to go, I’m the representative for the Rink report media. I have a job to do. This is my job. I can’t ditch it because my crush ditched me.

No. I can’t. I won’t. For a moment, I want to cry. I want to scream out my pain and disappointment but this is public so I hold it back in and find my way to the gas station.

I shove my phone into my pocket and continue toward the gas station. The evening air feels colder than before,Or maybe that’s just me.

A few minutes later, I reach the curb. Cars pass by. Students walk around laughing.

Everyone seems happy.

Except me.

Minutes later, I spot a blue Audi. I quickly cross and hop climb the front seat.

I exhale deeply, turning to Finn who's wearing a ski mask and staring at me like he’s seen a ghost.

“Please hurry up, Finn,We have to be there before Tyler Holt.”

“That jerk shouldn’t get there before us.”