EMBERASSMENT
1828 Words
RYAN’S POV
Logan composed himself as quickly as he could before offering an apologetic smile to the guests, especially the coach and the sponsors.
He was nothing here, just a newbie who did everything to get to the national hockey team and people's attention.
Both Logan and Nyra smiled stiffly at the guests before walking toward the coach. They seemed to be in a serious conversation. But Logan’s attention was on us. I could see it by the way he kept staring at Mia and me, his fists clenched at his sides, his jaw tight.
“He would not cause drama, right?” Mia asked beside me.
I turned to stare at her big green eyes. They were now wide. She looked scared.
“He would not dare,” I assured her with the soft smile I realized she liked. She nodded.
“Why then did he have to shout at the entrance?” Mia swallowed hard, her eyes not leaving mine. Even though I could see two pairs of eyes glaring at us.
“He was just stupid and wanted people's attention.” I turned to Logan and our eyes locked.
“But he remembered his place and calmed down.” I smiled, mocking him, then turned to Mia.
“Why don't we get ourselves a drink?” Mia just nodded and I called a passing waiter and took a glass for her then mine.
“Allow me to introduce you to my friends.” I said, pulling her closer possessively. The crowd’s eyes were still on us but not like before.
“Where did he get such a beautiful girl?” I heard a whisper behind me, but I just smiled.
“I do not know. I thought he just hooks around.” Mia stiffened beside me, and I turned to nod at her.
“I think he is just trying to clear his name,” another person said, and this time, it was a woman.
That caught me, and I slowly turned. And there she was, Cynthia, the girl I rejected.
“After all, a w***e is a whore.” She saw me, and she smiled as she murmured at the boy toy she managed to get who was one of my teammates.
I did not know what I was doing but I moved opposite of Mia, then pulled her closer so that I could hear her beating heart. Our eyes locked. Then what I did next made everyone gasp.
Enough.
If they wanted proof, I would give them proof.
I leaned closer, then closer, my hand grabbing her waist and pulling her to me possessively. Then I lowered myself to her, our heads touching.
“Just for the cameras.” And I locked our lips and claimed her into a light but possessive kiss.
She gasped, but she did not move back. She flowed with the moment.
Oh God. She was sweet. But I knew I had to pull back before I lost control.
“Looks like our boy is really in love.” I heard the words from one of my sponsors. I could recognise that voice at any time as it paid me.
“Wow.” Another person spoke with pure surprise.
I was about to pull away when someone grabbed me by the shoulder, pulling me away from Mia harshly.
I pulled back and there he was, foolish Logan. His eyes burned like fire, his chest rising and falling. His glare was on Mia. I could see how angry he was, hus teeth gritting.
He really would dare do this in front of everyone?
“How dare you kiss my girlfriend?”
What? I smiled, already pulling Mia behind me. Well, it was just an instinct of protection, nothing else.
Mia grabbed my sleeve lightly, making me look at her and a satisfied smile formed in my face. At least she was starting to trust me.
"Logan!" Coach Titus looked horrified.
“Who is your girlfriend again?” I forced back softly, ignoring Titus' fear, my smile there. But deep down, I wanted to kick this bastard for even daring to touch me.
I could feel gasps and flashes of shock around us. The crowd was now moving toward us. The camera people were happy to capture such a scene. Well, Logan was stupid not to know where we were.
I looked past his shoulders and saw the devastated Nyra.
“I thought your girlfriend is behind you.” This made Logan drop his gaze, his grip on me loosening and he pulled off.
Behind him, I could see Nyra swallowing hard, her eyes also down, her fists clenched.
She then composed herself and stepped closer to Logan and locked her hand with his.
“Coach?” I called to my coach who looked as though he was going to explode with furry.
“What type of people do you include in the National respected hockey team?” I questioned, still calm, but that was only a facade.
Beside me, I could feel Mia’s eyes on me. She was also stunned with all of this that she couldn't utter a word.
But her eyes looked satisfied. She must be enjoying Logan’s stupidity.
“I respect your decision coach, but as the captain,” I continued, the sponsors staring at me with admiration.
“I do not feel like Mr. Brooks here,” I pointed at Logan.
“Is fit to join our…”
“Please captain, forgive Logan, he… he was just stressed with all this.” Nyra cut in, coiling into herself and her eyes already filled with moisture.
Well, she was acting.
Her teary eyes were already shifting from me to the coach and to the sponsors.
“H-he is not used to a big and respected team like the national hockey team.” At that, people laughed in the room, making Logan shift in embarrassment.
“B-but he will learn. I am sure.” Nyra continued, shaking, her face pulled together, her eyebrows creased. She was looking for sympathy for Logan.
“If… if you give him another chance.” Her eyes were now moving across the crowd, shamelessly.
“I forgive him.” I said, my voice grounding, Mia now composed beside me, her eyes not leaving mine.
“For today, but teach him how to have basic etiquette.” I wanted to break into a victorious laugh, seeing how coiled like a rained on kitten Logan looked, but I could not do that here.
“Logan Brooks, see me in my office right now.” Coach Titus blurted out, then turned to the guests with an apologetic look.
“Apology for this,” he pointed at Logan.
“You may continue with the party.” With that, Titus walked away followed by the embarrassed Logan who looked as though he had been harassed and humiliated, and Nyra rushing after them, not after glaring at Mia though.
But Logan turned at the entrance, giving me a look that said this was not over and he walked away, teeth gritting.
“That?” Mason, my best friend, said, walking toward us with his girlfriend in hand.
“Was something.” He laughed as he hugged me lightly, tapping my shoulder.
“And who do we have here?” He turned to Mia, and she quickly composed herself.
“This is Mia, my girlfriend.” I introduced and Mason looked at her as if not believing his eyes.
“What? Y-you…” I pushed him away before he could say something else. Well, Mason was not good at hiding things.
“Leah, watch over Mia.” I gave an apologetic gaze at Mia before turning to Mason’s girlfriend.
“We will be back.” With that, I grabbed Mason and walked away with him.
“When did you get a girlfriend?” Mason could not even wait for us to go far.
“And that girl…” he pointed at Mia who was now smiling at Leah.
“She used to be Logan’s girlfriend, right? I remember seeing her at one of his matches.”
“s**t man. Get yourself together.” I growled at him, glaring hard that he waved his hand in surrender.
“Fine, okay… but you have to tell me what happened.” Mason calmed down and I was about to say something when someone else chimed in.
“Yes, gee… you have to explain what the f**k is going on.”
Holy s**t! I turned to see my other boys staring at me with those “You are lying” eyes.
“Okay, fine.” I raised my hand, staring at the floor then back at them.
“I will, but not here.” All this time, my eyes were watching Mia attentively. I remembered something and I turned to the boys.
“Enjoy the party. I have to take her home.”
“What? Do not tell me you care that…”
“Bye.” I did not wait for Josh to finish before cutting him off and walking back to Mia.
“Thank you, Leah for being with her.”
“I can take care of myself you know that.” Mia spoke, after a long time and I smiled at how her lips were pouting. I should have kissed her more earlier.
“I know, but we now have to go.” I smiled, clearing my throat.
Leah looked confused but I had already taken Mia’s hand and guided her to the exit.
“Thank you Leah.” I said then paused, “and take care of Mason, we do not want him dying with a heart attack.” I smiled, my eyes at Mason who looked as though he wanted to murder me and I laughed.
“That was not necessary.” Mia blurted out as we got into the elevator and moved away from me.
“What was not?” I knew what she meant with the way she was blushing but I just wanted to tease her.
“Do not do that again.” She lashed out, her big round eyes wide and God, I loved them that loud.
“I am your boyfriend.” I moved closer, running my hand in her hair and she stiffened, her heart beating hard.
“Y-you… you are a jerk.” She pushed me away, annoyance covering her face.
“We are in a business. And you should know that.” She pointed with her little finger and I felt like laughing.
“People point with this finger.” I pointed at her with the right finger, while smiling and she rolled her eyes.
The elevator door opened and she rushed out, leaving me following behind.
God! I was enjoying all of this.
“Do not tell me you did not enjoy how I dealt with that jerk inside there!” I shouted after her but she did not look back.
- Writer
