Nate’s POV
“Are you ready for this?” I ask Kat as we approach the main dining hall, my hand finding the small of her back with practiced ease.
The gesture looks natural, protective, exactly what people expect from a new boyfriend.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replies, though I can hear the nervous tremor in her voice. “Just remember what we practiced.”
The main dining hall at Ridgeview is designed to impress and long tables arranged in a careful hierarchy that everyone understands but no one openly acknowledges.
The athletes’ table sits perfectly in the center, visible from every angle, commanding respect and envy in equal measure.
As we walk through the entrance, conversations pause. Heads turn. Eyes track our progress with laser focus.
“There’s the table,” I say, nodding toward the center where my teammates are already gathered. “Remember, just be yourself. They’re going to love you.”
I guide her through the maze of tables, acutely aware of the whispered conversations that follow in our wake. Kat keeps her chin up, her posture perfect.
“Nate!” Marcus Chen calls out, our goalie grinning as he waves us over. “About time you showed up. We were starting to think you’d forgotten how to eat.”
“Just had some important business to take care of,” I say with a grin, pulling out a chair for Kat.
It happens to be right next to where Liam usually sits, which is perfect for maximum impact. The reaction is immediate and exactly what I’d hoped for.
Conversations around our table stutter to a halt as my teammates take in the sight of Kat settling gracefully into the chair, her designer sweater and confident smile marking her as someone who belongs in their world.
“Guys, I’d like you to meet Kat,” I say, taking the seat beside her and casually draping my arm around her shoulders. “Kat, these are the animals I have the privilege of playing hockey with.”
“Animals is right,” laughs Jessica Martinez, captain of the soccer team and Marcus’s girlfriend. “Though some of them are house-trained.”
Kat smiles, and I’m impressed by how natural she looks despite what I know has to be nerves.
“It’s nice to meet you all. I’ve heard so much about the hockey team.”
“All good things, I hope,” says Tyler Ross, our right wing and notorious flirt.
His eyes linger on Kat with obvious appreciation, and I feel a sudden spike of something that might be jealousy.
Which is ridiculous, since this is all fake anyway.
“Mostly good,” Kat replies with a laugh that sounds genuinely amused. “Though Nate did warn me about the locker room humor.”
“Hey, that’s not locker room humor,” protests Jake Morrison, our left wing. “That’s just my charming personality.”
The banter continues, and I watch with growing satisfaction as Kat seamlessly integrates herself into the group dynamic.
She laughs at Tyler’s jokes, compliments Jessica on her recent tournament win, and asks intelligent questions about our upcoming season. Within minutes, it’s like she’s always been part of our circle.
More importantly, I can see the effect our little performance is having on the rest of the dining hall.
The whispered conversations, the pointed looks, the way other students are reassessing Kat now that she’s clearly under my protection.
“So Kat,” Jessica says, leaning forward with obvious curiosity, “how long have you and Nate been together? I feel like this came out of nowhere.”
I feel Kat tense slightly beside me, but her smile never wavers.
“It’s still pretty new,” she says, glancing at me with what looks like genuine affection. “We’ve been getting to know each other before I started here.”
“And he finally worked up the courage to ask you out?” Tyler grins. “That’s not like our boy Nate. Usually he’s smooth as silk with the ladies.”
“Maybe I just needed to meet the right girl,” I say, squeezing Kat’s shoulders gently.
The words come out easier than I’d expected, and for a moment I almost believe them myself.
“Aw, that’s actually sweet,” Jessica coos. “I love a good romance story.”
“Speaking of romance,” Marcus says with a wicked grin, “wait until Liam sees this. He’s going to lose his mind.”
I feel Kat stiffen at the mention of my brother, though she tries to hide it.
“Why would Liam care?” she asks, her voice carefully neutral.
“Because he’s been in a mood all week,” Tyler explains. “Even worse than usual, which is saying something. And now his little brother is dating the hottest new girl at school? His ego’s going to take a serious hit.”
“Liam doesn’t control my dating life,” I say firmly, though part of me is secretly pleased at the idea of getting under his skin. “Besides, he’s too focused on hockey season to care about my personal life.”
“Don’t be so sure about that,” Jake says, nodding toward the dining hall entrance. “Speak of the devil.”
I turn to see Liam walking through the entrance, his usual confident stride faltering as his eyes sweep the room and land on our table.
Even from across the dining hall, I can see the exact moment he processes what he’s seeing—Kat sitting in his usual spot, my arm around her shoulders, the easy way she’s laughing with our teammates.
His jaw clenches. Something dark flashes across his face before he manages to school his expression back to forced neutral.
“This should be interesting,” Marcus murmurs, following my gaze.
Liam makes his way across the dining hall with deliberate slowness, stopping to chat with other students, clearly trying to project an image of casual indifference.
“Hey everyone,” he says as he approaches our table, his voice perfectly pleasant. “Sorry I’m late. Got held up talking to Coach about the game Friday.”
“No problem, bro,” I say, making sure to keep my arm firmly around Kat’s shoulders. “We saved you a seat.”
Liam’s eyes flick to Kat, then back to me, and I see something dangerous flash in their green depths.
“I see we have a guest at our table.”
“Actually,” I say, meeting his gaze steadily, “I’d like you all to officially meet my girlfriend, Kat.”
The word ‘girlfriend’ hangs in the air like a challenge.
I feel Kat’s subtle intake of breath beside me, see the way Jessica’s eyes widen with delight, hear Tyler’s low whistle of appreciation.
But it’s Liam’s reaction that holds my attention. For just a moment, his carefully constructed mask slips, and I see something raw and unguarded in his expression.
Pain, maybe. Or rage. Or something else entirely that I can’t quite identify.
“Congratulations,” he says finally, but the word sounds more like a threat than a blessing. His smile is sharp enough to cut glass. “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Kat.”
“I think I can handle it,” Kat replies smoothly, though I can feel the tension radiating from her body. “Your brother’s been nothing but wonderful to me.”
“I’m sure he has,” Liam says, his tone making it clear that he means the exact opposite. “Nate’s always been good at making people feel… welcome.”
The conversation continues around us, but I’m focused entirely on the silent battle of wills happening between Liam and me.
This is more than just brotherly rivalry—this is war. And Kat is caught right in the middle of it, whether she realizes it or not.
“Well,” Liam says finally, pulling out the chair across from Kat, “I guess I’ll have to get used to having a sister-in-law around.”
The casual cruelty of the comment—implying that our relationship is serious enough for marriage while making it clear he thinks it will never last—is so perfectly Liam that I almost have to admire it.
“We’ll see how it goes,” Kat says lightly, but I catch the flash of anger in her eyes.
Let the games begin, indeed.
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