Pucking contract

Chapter 4: The Rules change

“You don’t have to skate,” Maya finished. Eli tilted his head. “That sounded suspiciously like you were about to say something else.”“I was.” “What?” “That I don't trust you.” He smiled. “That's probably healthier.” Maya folded her arms.

They were standing at the entrance of the university arena, surrounded by the quiet hum of the building. The stands were empty. The ice stretched beneath the overhead lights, smooth and untouched except for the faint marks left by the morning practice.

Eli stepped backward onto the ice. “You're still coming.” “I said I don't skate.” “You don't have to.” “Then why are you asking?” “Because you're my girlfriend.” Maya's eyes narrowed. “Fake girlfriend.” “Right. He paused.

“Fake girlfriend who is supposed to look like she actually likes spending time with me.” “I do like spending time with you.” Eli's eyebrows rose. Maya immediately regretted saying it. “I mean—” “I heard you.” “You heard nothing.” “I definitely heard something.”

She grabbed the nearest pair of rental skates. “Fine.” His smile widened. “But if I fall, I'm blaming you.” “Deal.” Maya sat on the bench and began struggling with the laces. She had never understood why people voluntarily put blades beneath their feet and then decided to move around on ice.

It seemed unnecessarily dangerous. Eli crouched beside her. “Here.” “I can do it.” “You're tying them wrong.” “I am not.” “You are.” He reached toward her skate. Maya pulled her foot away. “I said I can do it.” He stopped. For a second, neither spoke. Then Eli nodded. “Okay.” Maya looked at him. There was no teasing in his expression anymore. No smugness. Just patience.

She tied the skate again. This time correctly. “Happy?” “Very.” She stood. Immediately, her ankle rolled sideways. Eli caught her arm. “Whoa.” “I've got it.” “You almost fell.” “I was testing the ice.” “Of course.” “I was.” “Very scientific.”

Maya glared at him. He laughed. She tried to step forward. Her foot slid. She grabbed his jacket. He caught her around the elbow. “Slowly.” “I know.” “Bend your knees.” “I know.” “Keep your weight centered.” “I know.” “You don't look like you know.” Maya stared at him. “You're enjoying this.” “Maybe a little.” She pushed away from him. “Then watch me.”

She took one step. Then another. Then three. Her confidence grew. She turned. And immediately slipped. Eli caught her before she hit the ice. His hand tightened around her arm.

Maya looked up. He was closer than she expected. For one strange second, the arena seemed completely silent. Neither of them moved. Then Eli cleared his throat. “You okay?” Maya nodded. “Yeah.”. “Good.” He slowly released her. She looked away. “Don't tell anyone.” “Tell them what?” “That I almost fell.” “I would never.” “You're smiling.” “I smile when I'm nervous.” “You're nervous?” “No.” “Then why are you smiling?” He looked at her. “I don't know.”

Maya suddenly became very interested in the ice. They continued skating. Or, more accurately, Eli skated while Maya attempted not to die. By the time they reached the other side of the rink, she was breathing hard. “This is terrible.” “You're getting better.” “I've been doing this for ten minutes.” “And you're still standing.” “Barely.” He laughed. Maya smiled despite herself.

Then she remembered the cameras. “Are they filming?” “No.” She stopped. “No?” “No cameras today.” “Why?” Eli shrugged. “I asked them not to.” Maya stared at him. “You can do that?” “Sometimes.” “Why would you?” He looked toward the empty stands. “Because I wanted one place where we didn't have to perform.”

Maya's smile disappeared. “What do you mean?” Eli leaned against the boards. “I mean everyone is watching us now.” Maya nodded. “I know.” “People analyze everything.” “I know.” “And the show wants us to look perfect.”

Maya looked down. “That's what we agreed to.” “Yeah.” “But?” Eli hesitated. “But I'm getting tired of pretending every second of my life.” Maya studied him.

For the first time since the arrangement began, she wondered what it felt like to be Eli Carter. Everyone saw the hockey player. The star. The controversy. The arrogant guy. Nobody seemed interested in the person underneath. “Is that why you chose me?” she asked. He looked at her “What?” “Because you thought I wouldn't care about the image.”

Eli nodded slowly. “Partly.” “And the other part?” “You don't treat me like I'm special.” Maya laughed softly. “That's because you're not.” “I know.” He smiled. “And that's why I trust you.”

The words caught her off guard. Maya looked away. Trust. It was a word she rarely allowed herself to use. Her father had taught her that people could leave. Eli was teaching her something more complicated. Sometimes people stayed. Her phone suddenly buzzed. She checked it.

A message from Vanessa. We need to talk. Now. Maya frowned. “What?” Eli looked over. “What's wrong?” She showed him the message. They left the ice. Ten minutes later, they were sitting in Vanessa's office. The producer looked more serious than usual.

“I need you both to understand something.” Maya sat upright. “What happened?” Vanessa slid a tablet across the desk. A video played. Maya recognized the footage immediately. The press conference. Their answers. Their smiles. The moment Eli had looked at her. Then the video changed. A different clip appeared.

It showed Maya and Eli outside the arena earlier that morning. The footage had been taken from a distance. They weren't speaking. Eli had his hand on Maya's arm as she learned to skate. The camera angle made them look intimate. The clip ended. Vanessa paused it. “This is already circulating.”

Maya's stomach tightened. “Who recorded that?” “We don't know.” Eli leaned forward. “How many people have seen it?” “Enough. Maya stared at the screen. There was something about the footage that made her uncomfortable. Not because it was embarrassing. Because whoever recorded it had been close enough to know where they were.

Someone had been watching them. Vanessa continued. “There's another problem.” She opened a second file. A social media post appeared.

MAYA BENNETT IS USING ELI CARTER TO BUILD HER OWN CAREER.

Maya's face went cold. “That isn't true.” “I know.” Another post appeared. She planned the relationship before the incident. Maya's heart skipped. “That's impossible.” Eli looked at her. “You didn't.” “Of course I didn't.”

Vanessa raised a hand. “I believe you.” “Then why show us this?” “Because the story is growing.” She placed another document on the table. A headline.

HOCKEY STAR'S GIRLFRIEND HAS A SECRET AGENDA.

Maya stared at it. “What secret agenda?” “That is what we're trying to find out.” Eli's expression hardened. “Someone is deliberately targeting her.” Vanessa nodded. “Yes.” Maya felt a chill. “Why?” “That is the question.”

The room became quiet. Then Vanessa said something that made Maya's heart stop. “Someone leaked part of your production agreement.” Maya stared at her. “What?” “Not the entire contract. Just enough to make people suspicious.”

Eli stood. “Who had access?” “Production staff. Athletics administration. Legal. And both of you.” Maya shook her head. “I didn't leak anything.” “I know.”

Eli's phone buzzed. He looked down. His face changed. “What?” Maya watched him read the message. “Eli?” He handed her the phone. It was an anonymous message. You should have chosen someone else. Maya looked at him. “Who sent that?” “I don't know.”

Another message appeared. The truth about what happened that night is coming out. Eli went still. Maya noticed. “What truth?” He didn't answer. “Eli?”

He looked at Vanessa. “I need to go.” “Eli—” He was already walking toward the door. Maya followed him. “Wait.” He stopped in the hallway. “What?” “What did that message mean?” “Nothing.” “Don't lie to me.” “I said it's nothing.” “You're doing that thing.” “What thing?” “The thing where you pretend everything is fine when it obviously isn't.”

Eli looked away. Maya stepped closer. “Tell me.” He finally looked at her. “I can't.” “Why?” “Because I don't know who I can trust.” The words hurt more than Maya expected.

She stepped back. “Fine.” Eli's expression softened. “Maya—” “No.” She walked away. Behind her, Eli didn't follow. For the first time since the fake relationship began, Maya wondered whether they had made a terrible mistake.

Not because people were watching. Not because the cameras were everywhere. But because there were secrets between them. And secrets had a way of destroying even relationships that were real.

Especially fake ones. That evening, Maya returned to her dorm. Priya was sitting on the bed. “You're trending again.” Maya dropped her bag. “I don't want to know.” “You should. “Why?”

Priya turned the laptop around. A new video was playing. The title made Maya's stomach twist.

THE NIGHT ELI CARTER LOST CONTROL — WHAT THE CAMERAS DIDN'T SHOW.

Maya stared at the screen. The video began with footage from the hockey game. But this angle was different. It showed the moments before Eli's collision. Maya watched. Once. Twice. Then a third time.

Something was wrong. Eli hadn't started the confrontation. Someone had moved toward Marcus first. Someone had deliberately pushed him. And Eli had reacted. Maya's eyes widened. “That's not what the original video showed.” Priya shook her head. “No.”

Maya leaned closer. At the edge of the frame stood a player. Someone wearing the opposing team's jersey. But just before the video ended, the player turned.

Maya recognized him. Her heart began pounding. She had seen him before. Not at the game. Not on campus. Somewhere else. She whispered his name. “Jordan Vale.”

Priya frowned. “Who?” Maya didn't answer. Because suddenly she understood. Someone hadn't simply been trying to ruin Eli's reputation. Someone had been trying to make sure nobody discovered what really happened.

And whoever was behind it had just made a mistake. They had given Maya a clue. A clue that could change everything.