Chapter 12 — The Rival Team Captain
721 Words
Ethan Hayes
Ethan was in an unusually good mood.
Which immediately made Noah suspicious.
“You’re smiling at your phone like an i***t,” Noah commented during morning swim practice.
Ethan glanced down at the message Lena had sent ten minutes earlier:
If you skip today’s leadership meeting again, I’m reporting you personally.
A second message followed almost immediately:
Also bring me coffee.
Ethan smirked automatically.
Gone.
Absolutely gone.
“No idea what you’re talking about,” he answered.
Noah looked unconvinced. “You’re terrifying when you’re happy.”
Practice ended an hour later, and Ethan headed toward the gym carrying two coffees because apparently Lena Carter had become capable of ordering him around now.
Honestly?
He didn’t mind.
He found her sitting cross-legged on the bleachers reviewing tournament schedules, glasses sliding slightly down her nose.
Ethan stopped walking for half a second.
Because seeing Lena relaxed like this still caught him off guard.
No sharp attitude.
No walls.
Just her.
Dangerous.
“You look old with glasses,” he announced casually.
Lena looked up immediately. “You’re late.”
“But I brought coffee.”
“That almost makes up for it.”
Almost.
Ethan handed her the cup before sitting beside her.
Their knees brushed instantly.
Neither moved away anymore.
That was becoming normal now too.
Another dangerous development.
Lena opened the coffee carefully before narrowing her eyes suspiciously.
“You remembered my order.”
“Unfortunately I remember everything about you now.”
Her cheeks warmed slightly.
Ethan noticed.
Obviously.
“What?” she muttered.
“You’re blushing again.”
“You’re annoying again.”
He grinned lazily.
Then the gym doors opened loudly.
Both of them looked up.
A tall girl walked inside wearing the uniform of Easton Academy—their biggest sports rivals.
Dark ponytail.
Confident posture.
Annoyingly attractive.
Sophia Reed.
National-level swimmer.
And Ethan’s ex-girlfriend.
Fantastic.
Lena immediately straightened beside him.
Ethan quietly cursed under his breath.
Sophia spotted him instantly and smiled.
“Well,” she said smoothly. “Still causing trouble, Hayes?”
Lena’s expression cooled immediately.
The infamous Ice Queen returning in seconds.
Ethan stood slowly. “What are you doing here?”
“Joint training event.” Sophia’s eyes flicked briefly toward Lena. “Didn’t know you came with company now.”
Lena crossed her arms.
“And you are?”
Sophia smiled politely.
Too politely.
“Sophia.”
“Lena.”
The tension between the girls became obvious immediately.
And somehow Ethan wanted to laugh.
Because Lena looked jealous.
Very jealous.
And honestly?
That was kind of adorable.
Sophia turned back toward Ethan casually. “Still swimming nationals this year?”
“Planning to.”
“You disappeared after regionals last season.”
The smile faded slightly from Ethan’s face.
Lena noticed instantly.
Something uncomfortable passed through his expression before he shrugged it away.
“Been busy.”
Sophia studied him carefully like she knew he was lying.
Which irritated Lena more than expected.
Because she hated the idea of someone understanding Ethan too well besides her.
Ridiculous thought.
They weren’t even officially together.
Still—
the jealousy burned anyway.
“Well,” Sophia said finally, “see you around.”
She walked away toward the courts, leaving silence behind her.
Lena took a slow sip of coffee.
Then—
“So that’s your ex.”
Ethan immediately smirked.
“Jealous?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I’m serious.”
“You looked ready to fight her.”
Lena glared. “Maybe I just don’t like her face.”
Ethan laughed softly.
God, he liked this version of her too much.
“She’s not important.”
Lena tried to ignore how relieved those words made her feel.
Instead she focused on her notes again.
Unfortunately Ethan wasn’t finished teasing her.
“You know,” he murmured closer, “you get possessive when you’re jealous.”
“I am not possessive.”
“You absolutely are.”
“I barely tolerate you.”
“And yet you hate when other girls look at me.”
Her heartbeat stumbled.
Because annoyingly—
he was right.
Ethan leaned closer slowly.
“Relax, Captain.”
His voice dropped lower.
“You’re still my favorite problem.”
And somehow—
that stupid sentence stayed in Lena’s head for the rest of the day.
- Writer
