Page 65 of Fractured Faceoff

“I’m right here, you know,” Isla said, her voice steady but with an edge that hinted at her frustration.

Ava shot her a look that could’ve melted steel. “You never even liked Jared.”

“Yeah, well,” Isla replied, clearing her throat like she was about to dive into deeper waters. “I realized I was… wrong about him.”

“Oh, really?” Ava’s smirk returned, more mocking than playful. “That’s a revelation.”

“Listen, Ava.” I straightened up and took a step forward. “I appreciate your opinion on the matter, though I never did ask for it, and I'm sure your response is due to your natural sisterly instincts kicking in, but I can assure you that I care very deeply for your sister.”

“Oh, really?” she asked again, crossing her arms defiantly. “You care? How long have you been seeing each other?”

“A few days,” I admitted, trying to keep my tone light even though I felt the weight of scrutiny from both of them. “But I’m a very passionate person.” I met her gaze with a steady look. If anyone would know that about me, it was Ava.

Her glare hardened. “This isn’t funny.”

“We aren’t trying to be,” Isla chimed in softly but firmly. “We wanted to tell you. I know this isn’t the time or the place. We aren’t trying to steal your thunder here. Butit’s true.”

Ava shook her head slowly, skepticism etched across her features. “You just got out of a relationship,” she said flatly. “And now you’re rushing into things with him?”

I opened my mouth to respond but caught myself. No amount of explaining would ease the emotions rolling off Ava in waves. Instead, I focused on Isla—her resolve shone through even as uncertainty flickered in her eyes.

“We’re not rushing,” Isla asserted quickly, taking a small step closer to me as if drawing strength from my presence.

Ava held up a hand like she was warding off an approaching storm. “Look, this all sounds great in theory,” she said, voice clipped and cold. “But?—”

I slid my arm around Isla’s waist, feeling the warmth radiate from her. The contact felt right, solidifying what I hoped to convey.

“Look, Ava,” I began, my voice steady as I met her incredulous gaze. “I know this seems sudden, but there’s something about Isla that’s always drawn me in.”

Isla glanced up at me, surprise flickering in her eyes. It felt strange to lay it all out there, but the words flowed.

“We’ve known each other since we were kids. Remember when we used to play street hockey in your driveway?” I chuckled at the memory. “You always picked the best teams and left me on the bench half the time. But Isla? She never backed down from a challenge. Which… you mentioned that's what I like in a girl, right?"

Ava rolled her eyes, crossing her arms tighter across her chest.

“She had this fire,” I continued, focusing on Isla now. “Even back then, she was fierce and focused. I admired that about her.”

Isla's expression softened slightly, as if she hadn’texpected to hear those memories surface after all these years.

“Honestly,” I pressed on, my heart racing a bit as I vocalized these thoughts that had been simmering for too long, “after everything with my brother and that mess with—” I hesitated for just a moment but pushed through. “With everything that went down last year, I realized I want someone who sees me for me. Not just as an NHL player or some joke.”

“Well,” Kash said casually while putting a couple of more burgers on the grill. He had a knowing smile on his face. “If you’re both happy, then I'm happy for you.”

Ava shot him a look of disbelief as if he’d grown a second head. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not?” Kash shrugged. “Seems legit to me.”

Ava threw her hands up in exasperation. “Well… I mean… it’s weird.”

Isla stepped forward slightly as if bracing herself for whatever was coming next. “And why is it weird?” she challenged Ava.

I held my breath, watching the exchange unfold like a game of high-stakes poker—the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

Ava’s gaze darted between Isla and me, her brow furrowed in disbelief. “You two are serious? Just like that?” She gestured wildly, as if the whole world had flipped upside down.

Isla squared her shoulders, a fire igniting in her eyes. “I know it’s not conventional,” she said, her voice steady despite the tremor of uncertainty lurking beneath. “But after Brody… I wasn’t looking for anything. And then Jared just happened to be there after everything went down.”

I squeezed Isla’s hip gently, trying to convey mysupport without words. She hated lying; it gnawed at her like a dog with a bone.

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