Blue Ticks

Seven: Victory Party

The victory party was loud, chaotic, and exactly the kind of distraction I didn’t know I needed. Music pulsed through the large lakeside house as Maya and I stepped inside. The hockey team had won their game in dramatic fashion, and the entire senior class seemed to have shown up to celebrate.

I tugged nervously at my black sweater, feeling out of place among the dancing bodies and red solo cups. Maya, however, looked completely in her element, she wore a cropped top, high-waisted jeans, purple streaks glowing under the colorful lights.

“You promised you’d actually try to enjoy yourself tonight,” Maya said, linking her arm with mine. “No hiding behind your camera.”

“I’m here, aren’t I?” I replied with a small smile.

We made our way toward the kitchen. My eyes immediately found Kai. He was leaning against the counter, talking with a few teammates, but the moment I entered the room, his stormy gray-blue eyes locked onto me. A slow, genuine smile crossed his face, making my stomach flutter.

Before I could overthink it, Tyler Brooks appeared, his tall, muscular frame cutting through the crowd with ease.

“Maya Chen,” Tyler said, grinning widely. “You finally decided to bless us with your presence.” His gaze swept over her appreciatively. “You look incredible tonight.”

Maya raised an eyebrow, but I didn’t miss the way her cheeks flushed. “Flattery won’t get you far, Brooks.”

Tyler stepped closer, voice dropping playfully. “Won’t it?” He offered his hand. “Dance with me. Just one song.”

To my surprise, Maya took his hand without hesitation. “One dance. Don’t get cocky.”

They disappeared into the crowd. I watched them for a moment Tyler’s hand resting low on Maya’s back, her body pressed close to his as they moved to the beat. There was undeniable chemistry between them.

I grabbed a soda and wandered toward the living room, trying not to think too hard about Kai.

A few minutes later, he found me near the edge of the room.

“You came,” Kai said, his deep voice cutting through the noise. He looked unfairly attractive in a simple black shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and chest.

“I did.” I took a sip of my drink. “Congrats on the win tonight. You played really well.”

“Thanks.” He moved closer, the party noise fading into the background. “Been thinking about you since the darkroom the other day.”

My heart skipped. “Kai…”

Before I could say anything else, someone bumped into me from behind, pushing me forward. Kai caught me easily, one strong arm wrapping around my waist. We were suddenly chest to chest, his warmth cutting through the chaos around us.

“You okay?” he murmured, not letting go immediately. His breath brushed against my temple.

“Yeah,” I whispered. The scent of his soap and the faint trace of victory sweat made my head spin. His gaze dropped to my lips for a heartbeat. The tension between us felt electric.

Across the room, I caught sight of Maya and Tyler again. They had moved to a darker corner. Tyler had her pressed against the wall, one large hand cupping her face while the other rested on her hip. They were kissing intensely deep, hungry, and completely lost in each other. Maya’s fingers gripped the front of his shirt as she pulled him closer. It was steamy enough that I quickly looked away, my own cheeks burning.

Kai followed my gaze and let out a low chuckle. “About time those two stopped pretending.”

“You knew?” I asked, still very aware of his arm around me.

“Tyler’s had it bad for her since last semester. Guess the win gave him courage.” Kai’s hand lingered on my lower back for another moment before he reluctantly let go. “Come on. It’s too loud in here.”

He led me out to the back porch. The cold night air felt refreshing after the stuffy house. Light snow had started falling, dusting the railing and the ground below. We leaned against the wooden railing side by side, the party noise muffled behind us.

“You’ve been quiet lately,” Kai said softly, turning to face me. “Is everything alright at home?”

The guilt from the recent sabotage note twisted in my chest. “Just family stuff. Nothing I can’t handle.”

He nodded, understanding in his eyes. “I get it. Things have been rough at my place too.” He hesitated, then added, “That note in my locker the other morning really messed with my head. About my dad…”

“I’m sorry,” I said quietly, meaning it more than he could know.

“Not your fault.” Kai turned fully toward me. “But being around you… it makes things feel lighter. I don’t know why, but I keep wanting to talk to you.”

The air between us thickened. He reached up slowly, brushing a snowflake from my hair. His fingers lingered on my cheek, warm against my cold skin. My pulse raced as he leaned in slightly.

“Lila…” he whispered.

For a moment, I thought he might kiss me. I wanted him to. The pull was so strong it scared me.

But the fear of my secret stopped me. I stepped back gently, breaking the spell.

“I should go check on Maya,” I said, voice unsteady.

Kai looked disappointed but nodded. “Yeah. Find me later if you want?”

I escaped back inside, heart still pounding.

Maya found me shortly after, lips slightly swollen and eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Okay… that was intense,” she admitted with a breathless laugh. “Tyler really knows how to kiss. I wasn’t expecting that at all.”

I smiled despite everything. “You two looked really into it.”

“We’ll see where it goes,” she said, grinning. “But enough about me. What’s happening with you and Kai? I saw you two on the porch. It looked… charged.”

“Nothing,” I lied. “Just talking.”

Maya didn’t look convinced, but she didn’t push.

The rest of the night passed in a blur of music, laughter, and stolen glances across the room. Kai kept finding reasons to be near me, and I kept fighting the growing attraction I felt toward him.

By the time Maya and I left the party, my head was spinning with conflicting emotions.

My secret was getting harder to keep.

And Kai Rivera was getting harder to resist.