Westmore Obsession

Chapter Six

My pulse vibrated violently in my throat long after Cole walked away.

“You seem to forget, little Lily… you belong to me, and I do not like to share.”

The heat of his breath lingered against the shell of my ear, making my skin prickle with a terrifying warmth. I stared at his retreating back, his broad shoulders disappearing beneath his black hoodie until the heavy double doors swallowed him whole.

“Holy… s**t,” Maya breathed beside me, breaking the suffocating silence. She grabbed my arm, her painted black nails digging into my jacket. “Lily. What the hell was that?”

I swallowed hard, forcing my shoulders to relax as I slipped my trembling hand into my pocket.

“Nothing,” I lied. “He’s just… Ethan’s best friend. He thinks he needs to play bodyguard.”

“Bodyguard?” Maya snorted. “Girl, that was not bodyguard energy.” Her eyes widened as she reenacted the scene. “That man looked ready to commit a felony on Caden’s face just for touching your hand! And did you hear him?” She lowered her voice into a dramatic imitation. “In the car, Emily.” She fanned herself. “I almost fainted for her. That was brutal.”

Beside her, Katy wasn’t laughing. She adjusted the black and gold Westmore lanyard around her neck, her light brown eyes quietly studying my flushed face.

“Are you okay, Lily?” she asked softly. “He was really aggressive. You looked… shaken.”

“I’m fine,” I answered a little too quickly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. My hands were shaking, and I prayed neither of them noticed. I had to give them something, they’d seen far too much.

“Cole’s just an arrogant asshole,” I said with a shrug. “He likes playing mind games.”

“If those are mind games, sign me up,” Maya muttered. Then she caught the look on my face and immediately softened. “Seriously though… if he bothered you…”

“He didn’t,” I interrupted, perhaps a little too fast. “I’m just tired. The game was intense.”

Before Maya could push any further, the heavy metal doors of the home locker room burst open with a loud metallic clatter.

Ethan strolled out with a massive duffel bag slung over his shoulder. His dark hair was still damp from the shower, and a deep purple bruise had already begun blooming across his cheekbone from the fight earlier. Despite that, he looked annoyingly relaxed, chewing on a half eaten protein bar.

“Hey,” Ethan called, his eyes sweeping over the three of us. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Coach had us doing a post game breakdown.” He glanced over his shoulder. “I think Alex is around somewhere. We’re heading out together.”

“Shouldn’t you be with Cole?” I asked before I could stop myself.

Ethan shrugged. “I had a one on one with Coach after. Cole and Alex left before that.”

Almost on cue, Alex appeared, strolling through the doors with both hands tucked into the pockets of his hoodie.

Maya practically lit up. “You guys were incredible out there! That right hook in the second period?” She clutched her chest. “Ethan, that was iconic.”

Ethan simply nodded, then his attention settled on me. “You okay, Lils? You’re quiet.”

I looked into my brother’s familiar hazel eyes, and guilt crashed over me so suddenly it almost hurt. He had no idea. Absolutely no idea that five minutes ago, the man he trusted like a brother had pinned another player against a wall before whispering a possessive threat into my ear.

“I’m fine,” I murmured, leaning lightly against his side. “Just hungry. And cold.”

“Then let’s fix both.” He smiled. “Let's get you some chinese takeout"

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in the back of Ethan's SUV with chinese takeout boxes balanced across our laps while he drove through downtown Westmore. Alex occupied the passenger seat, scrolling absently through his phone.

“I’ll drop you and Maya first,” Ethan said, keeping his eyes on the road. “Then I’ll take Katy back since her dorm’s closer to our apartment.”

“She’s sleeping over,” I replied.

Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “Because?”

“Because there’s this revolutionary thing called a sleepover, sweet brother,” I said sarcastically.

Maya snorted into her food.

“And besides, we have plans,” I paused. “By the way… can you get us into tomorrow’s party?”

I already knew the answer.

“No.” He didn’t even hesitate. “Absolutely not.”

Maya groaned dramatically.

I smiled to myself. I had another plan.

“Alex?” I asked, leaning forward and tapping his shoulder. Alex absolutely hated being touched, everyone knew it. But I’d somehow always been one of the very few people who got away with it.

Without even turning around, Alex sighed.

“I’ll get you three invites, Lily.”

I settled back into my seat with a smug grin. Ethan said nothing, but I knew he hated how Alex never seemed capable of telling me no.

As we took the final curve toward the freshman dorms, Katy suddenly spoke up.

“How did you know where my dorm is, Ethan?”

The SUV fell quiet. Her voice remained soft, but firm. “I never told you where I lived.”

Ethan’s expression didn’t change. “You’re Lily’s friend.”

Katy frowned. “And? That answers absolutely nothing.”

“It answers enough.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

Even Maya stopped eating.

“The only interesting thing about you to me is that you’re Lily’s friend,” Ethan replied dismissively. “So yes, it does.”

I stared at him, anger flaring in my chest.

“What the hell is your deal, Ethan? Why are you being so mean?”

But Katy wasn’t even done. This was out of character for her, it made me proud “Isn’t it kind of weird,” she asked evenly, “that you go around stalking your little sister’s friends?”

The SUV rolled to a stop outside our dorm building. Maya wasted no time jumping out. “I’ll… meet you guys inside,” she mumbled, sensing the thick tension.

Ethan ignored Katy completely. “Take care, Lils.”

Alex leaned over slightly and gave us a small wave. “Night, girls.”

I stepped out of the car but didn’t close the door, glaring at Ethan with every ounce of annoyance I could muster. He held my gaze for a moment, then his eyes shifted to Katy. They lingered on her for just a heartbeat too long before returning to me.

“Tell your little friend I didn’t stalk her,” he said calmly. “I saw her coming out of her dorm Thursday morning while I was driving past.”

Then he pulled away, the red taillights disappearing around the corner.

I turned to Katy immediately. “I’m so sorry.”

She smiled, surprisingly unfazed. “no, no, no, Lily, you did nothing wrong. you actually stood up for me. Thank you”

I smiled back. “He might be my brother, but that doesn’t excuse him from being an asshole.”

Maya burst into laughter, Katy joined in a second later, and the awkwardness melted away as we headed toward the entrance of the dorm.

My phone vibrated in my hand. I glanced down.

Unknown Number: Wear something warmer next time. I don’t like other guys looking at your legs.

My breath caught. There was only one person this could be. I opened the profile it wasn’t a picture of his face, just the back of him in a black hockey jersey. the bold white #19 spanning his broad shoulders. I’d recognize those broad shoulders anywhere.

Lily: Delete my number, Cole.

The reply came back almost instantly.

Unknown Number: I’m looking at you now. Your legs are smooth and perfect.

My heart stopped. Looking at me? From where?

I slowly lifted my head. Across the street, a sleek, matte black BMW sat idling beneath the glow of a streetlamp. The windows were tinted far too dark to see inside, but I knew without an ounce of doubt, it was him.

Before I could even think of replying, two more messages appeared.

Unknown Number: See you tomorrow, little Lily. And if you let another boy touch what belongs to me again, I’ll have to punish you.

Unknown Number: Go inside.

I swallowed hard and slipped my phone back into my pocket without replying. Giving the sports car one last look, I hurried after Maya and Katy into the building, my heart beating wildly against my ribs.