Ava's POV

The arena was almost empty by the time I finished my last email. I looked at the clock on the wall and sighed 9:47 pm. I had been sitting behind the media desk for almost three hours after everyone else had left, trying to finish a report that should have taken me less than an hour but my mind had been somewhere else.

Or rather, someone else.

I stared at my laptop screen without reading a single word I hated when this happened.

I had always been good at separating my personal life from my work. That was one of the reasons I had gotten the job with the New York Wolves in the first place.

I didn't want anyone thinking I was there because of my brother. Ethan Bennett had been with the Wolves for years. He was one of their best defensemen, and because of that, everyone already knew my name before I had even started working there I wanted my own career my own identity.

I didn't want to be known as Ethan Bennett's little sister. Unfortunately, working for the same hockey team as my brother came with another problem Cole Bennett I closed my eyes.

Even thinking about his name was enough to make me annoyed with myself Cole was Ethan's best friend they had known each other since they were teenagers. They had played hockey together before either of them became professional, and over the years, their friendship had only become stronger.

Which meant Cole had been around my family for a very long time he had seen me grow up he had teased me when I was younger. He had annoyed me whenever he came over and somehow, somewhere along the way, he had stopped seeing me as Ethan's little sister.

So as I picked up my phone there were three unread messages I already knew who they were from Cole

I opened the first one

Cole: Still working?

I ignored it the second message appeared almost immediately

Cole: Ava

I rolled my eyes then came the third.

Cole: Come to the locker room.

I stared at the screen absolutely not I typed a response

Me: No

His reply came almost instantly

Cole: Why?

Me: Because this is my workplace

Cole: It's my workplace too

I shook my head

Me: Ethan could still be around

There was a pause then his response appeared

Cole: He's gone

I frowned how did he even know? I looked around my desk the media department was completely empty. I checked the hallway nothing I should have stayed where I was I knew that Instead, I closed my laptop I picked up my bag and I walked toward the locker room. I hated myself already the closer I got, the quieter the arena became. The lights above the hallway were dimmed, leaving only a few bright ones near the locker rooms.

I stopped outside the door for a few seconds, I simply stood there then I knocked

"Come in"

I pushed the door open. Cole was standing beside his locker he had already showered after practice, and his dark hair was still slightly wet. He wore a plain black T shirt and gray sweatpants he looked up when he saw me.

A small smile appeared on his face "You came"

"I almost didn't"

"But you did"

I closed the door behind me "Why did you ask me to come here?"

He shrugged "I wanted to see you"

"You saw me at the game"

"That wasn't enough"

I folded my arms "You're impossible"

He smiled "You say that every time"

"Because it's true"

He walked toward me I immediately stepped back "Don't"

He stopped his smile disappeared "What?"

"We're at work"

"So?"

"So, someone could walk in"

"The team left almost an hour ago"

"Almost isn't the same as completely"

He looked at me for a few seconds then he sighed "You're always worried"

"Because someone has to be"

He leaned against the wall "Do you regret this?"

I knew exactly what he meant I looked away "No"

"Then why do you keep acting like you do?"

"Because this isn't simple, Cole"

"I know"

"No, you don't"

He stared at me "Try me"

I took a breath "You are my brother's best friend"

"I know"

"You are also the captain of this team"

"I know"

"And I'm working for the same organization"

"I definitely know that"

I glared at him "This isn't funny"

"I wasn't joking"

I looked down at my hands three months It had been three months since everything between us changed three months of secret meetings, secret phone calls secret conversations.

Three months of making sure Ethan never noticed anything and somehow, the secrecy was beginning to feel heavier

"I don't like lying to Ethan," I said

Cole's expression softened "Neither do I"

"But you keep doing it"

"Because I don't want to lose you"

I looked at him he walked closer again, stopping just a few steps away "I don't want this to end because we're scared of what your brother might say"

"You don't know what he'll say"

Cole laughed quietly "Ava, I know Ethan"

"You do"

"Exactly"

I smiled despite myself then my smile disappeared when I heard something outside footsteps.

Cole heard them too he immediately straightened "Did you hear that?"

I nodded the footsteps came closer someone was walking down the hallway

Cole looked toward the door "Stay here"

"Who is it?"

"I don't know"

The footsteps stopped neither of us moved I could hear my own heartbeat then someone walked past the door I released the breath I had been holding

Cole looked at me "See?"

"What?"

"You're always worried"

I rolled my eyes "Shut up"

He laughed then his phone vibrated he reached into his pocket his expression changed when he looked at the screen

"What is it?"

"Nothing"

I frowned "You don't look like nothing"

He turned the phone over "I said it's nothing"

Something about his voice made me uncomfortable "Who was it?"

He looked at me "Nobody"

I didn't believe him before I could ask again, the locker room door opened

We both turned Ryan Carter stood in the doorway my stomach dropped. Ryan was one of the Wolves' veteran players he was also one of the few people on the team who had never really liked me his eyes moved from me to Cole then back to me.

"What are you doing here?"

I opened my mouth nothing came out.

Cole answered first "She was dropping something off"

Ryan looked at me "At ten at night?"

I forced a smile "I forgot some documents"

He stared at me "What documents?"

I swallowed "Media reports"

Ryan nodded slowly "Right"

His tone made it obvious he didn't believe me

Cole stepped forward "Do you need something?"

Ryan looked at him "I came for my stick"

He walked past us toward his locker I suddenly felt uncomfortable I picked up my bag "I'm leaving"

Cole looked at me "Ava"

"I'll see you tomorrow"

I didn't wait for him to answer I walked out my heart was still racing by the time I reached the hallway I could hear Ryan and Cole talking behind me I didn't stay to listen.

I hurried toward the employee exit when I stepped outside, the cold New York air hit my face I pulled my jacket tighter around myself I had barely taken three steps when my phone vibrated.

I looked down a message from Cole

Cole: You okay?

I smiled slightly

Me: Yes

Another message came

Cole: You're lying

I shook my head

Me: Goodnight, Cole

He replied

Cole: Goodnight, Ava

I put my phone away for the first time that night, I felt calm maybe I was overthinking everything maybe Ryan really had not noticed anything maybe our secret was safe.

I reached my car and unlocked it then I stopped something was lying underneath the windshield wiper a folded piece of paper.

I looked around the parking lot there were a few cars scattered around no one was nearby I slowly walked toward my car I pulled the paper from underneath the wiper my name was written across the front.

AVA BENNETT

My stomach tightened I looked around again nothing I opened it there were only four words inside

I KNOW ABOUT COLE

I stopped breathing I read it again then again my hands began to shake someone knew But who?

I quickly looked toward the arena the lights were still on I thought about going back inside then I remembered Ryan his expression.

The way he had looked at me and Cole my phone suddenly vibrated I nearly dropped the paper I looked at the screen unknown number.

I opened the message you should stay away from him my heart began beating faster another message appeared this is your only warning.

I stared at the screen then I heard a sound behind me a car door closing. I turned around a black SUV was parked across the street.

The windows were dark I couldn't see who was inside for a few seconds, neither of us moved then the SUV started I watched it drive away.

My fingers tightened around the paper I didn't know who was watching me I didn't know how they knew about Cole and I definitely didn't know what they wanted but there was one thing I knew.

Our secret wasn't a secret anymore and whoever had discovered it was willing to threaten me.

I looked back at the arena somewhere inside that building was Cole the man I wasn't supposed to love the man my brother trusted more than anyone and suddenly, I wasn't sure whether keeping our relationship hidden was protecting us anymore.

Maybe it was putting us in danger. I quickly got into my car and locked the doors, then my phone vibrated one more time. Another message, this one was different.

There were only three words

ASK COLE WHY

I stared at the screen. Why?

Why did this person think Cole had something to do with it? and what exactly was I supposed to ask him?

I looked at the arena one last time then I realized something that made my blood run cold whoever had sent those messages hadn't just been watching me tonight.

They had been watching Cole too and they knew exactly where we were they had been inside the arena with us.