Lucas Kingston walked into school like he owned it.

Same confident stride. Same easy smile. Same way of looking at me like I was still his.

I saw him before he saw me. He was standing by the front entrance, talking to some guys from the hockey team. Laughing at something. Running his hand through his hair like he didn't have a care in the world.

My stomach turned.

Then he spotted me. His face lit up. He walked over like we were still together. Like the past year didn't happen.

"Mia." He pulled me into a hug before I could step back. His arms wrapped around me like he had every right.

I stood there stiff as a board.

He pulled back and looked at me. "I missed you."

I didn't say anything.

"Come on," he said. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?"

"Cold. You're always cold when I first get back."

I crossed my arms. "Maybe because you leave."

He laughed. Like I was being cute. "I told you. I had to go. Hockey. School. You know how it is."

I knew exactly how it was. He chose hockey over me. He chose everything over me.

"Lucas," I said. "We're done. We've been done for a year."

He waved his hand like he was brushing away a fly. "You just need time. I get it. I was gone. But I'm back now."

"You're back for two weeks."

"Two weeks is enough."

I shook my head. "It's not going to happen."

He stepped closer. Lowered his voice. "Don't do this, Mia. Not in front of everyone."

"Don't do what?"

"Make a scene."

"I'm not making a scene. I'm telling you the truth."

His jaw tightened. He didn't like being told no. He never did.

I walked away before he could say anything else. My heart was pounding. My hands were shaking.

I hated that he still had that effect on me. Sophie found me by the lockers.

"I saw Lucas," she said. "He looked pissed."

"Good."

"He hugged you."

"I know."

"And you just stood there."

"I didn't know what else to do."

Sophie tilted her head. "You could have pushed him."

"I was in shock."

"Sure you were." She didn't look convinced. "Mia, you need to be careful. Lucas doesn't give up easily. And Cole..."

I looked up. "What about Cole?"

"I saw him watching from across the courtyard when Lucas hugged you. He looked like he wanted to break something."

My stomach flipped. "Why would he care?"

Sophie gave me a look. "Don't play dumb. You're not dumb."

"I'm not playing anything."

"You're avoiding it."

I slammed my locker shut. "I'm not avoiding anything. I'm trying to survive senior year. I'm trying to focus on skating. I don't have time for Kingston brothers."

Sophie held up her hands. "Okay. Okay. I get it. But just so you know, Cole's not Lucas. He's different."

"Everyone says that."

"Because it's true."

I didn't respond. I didn't know what to say.

Because I knew Sophie was right.

And that scared me more than Lucas ever did.

School dragged on forever.

I couldn't concentrate in class. I kept thinking about Lucas. About his arms around me. About the way he acted like nothing changed.

I kept thinking about Cole too. The way he looked at me from across the courtyard. The way his jaw tightened when Lucas hugged me.

Why did I care?

I shouldn't have cared. Cole was just another hockey player. Just another Kingston. Just another guy who would leave when things got hard.

But I couldn't stop thinking about him.

That night I couldn't sleep.

I tossed and turned for hours. My brain wouldn't shut off. So I did what I always did when I couldn't sleep.

I went to the rink.

The doors were unlocked. They always were. The night guard knew me. He let me in whenever I needed to clear my head.

I walked inside and froze.

The lights were on.

Someone was on the ice.

Cole.

He was alone. No teammates. No coaches. Just him and a bucket of pucks.

He was shooting. Hard and fast. Slamming pucks into the net like they personally offended him. His shirt was soaked with sweat. His jaw was tight. His movements were sharp and angry.

I watched from the shadows. I should have left. I should have turned around and gone home.

But I couldn't move.

He shot another puck. Then another. Then he stopped and bent over, breathing hard.

"Are you going to stand there all night?"

I jumped. "I didn't mean to"

"Spy on me?" He straightened up and turned around. "What were you doing?"

"I couldn't sleep."

"So you came here?"

"Same reason you did, I guess."

He stared at me for a long moment. Then he skated over to the boards where I was standing.

"You saw Lucas today," he said.

"Everyone saw Lucas today."

He nodded slowly. "He hugged you."

"I know."

"You just stood there."

"What was I supposed to do?"

He shrugged. "Push him. Kick him. Something."

I laughed. It came out bitter. "You sound like Sophie."

"Sophie's smart."

"She is."

There was a long pause. The ice creaked beneath Cole's skates. The lights hummed above us.

"Why are you really here?" I asked.

He looked away. "Couldn't sleep."

"That's what I said."

"I know." He turned back to me. "But you didn't answer my question."

"Which one?"

"Why are you really here?"

I opened my mouth. I closed it. I opened it again.

"I don't know," I said finally. "I guess I just needed to be somewhere cold."

He nodded. Like that made perfect sense.

Then he skated toward me. Closer and closer until he was right in front of me. His face was inches from mine. I could see the sweat on his brow. The tension in his jaw. The storm in his grey eyes.

"You know Lucas was never good enough for you, right?"

I couldn't breathe.

"He didn't deserve you," Cole said. "He never did."

"He was your brother."

"I know what he was. I also know what he did." His voice dropped. "He chose hockey over you. He let his dad bully him into breaking up with you. He didn't fight for you. Not once."

My chest ached. "How do you know all that?"

"Because I was there. I watched him walk away. And I hated him for it."

"Why?"

Cole looked at me. Really looked at me. The kind of look that made me feel like I was the only person in the world.

"Because I would never have let you go," he said. "Not for hockey. Not for anything."

My heart stopped.

And for one crazy moment, I forgot how to breathe.

Then Cole stepped back. His jaw tightened. He looked away.

"Forget it," he said. "Forget I said anything."

I reached out without thinking. My fingers wrapped around his wrist.

"I can't," I said. "I can't forget it."

He looked down at my hand on his wrist. Then back up at my face.

"Then what do you want me to say?"

"I don't know." My voice was barely a whisper. "I don't know what I want."

He stared at me. For a long moment, neither of us moved.

Then he pulled his wrist away gently. "You should go home. It's late."

"Cole"

"Please. Just go."

I wanted to argue. I wanted to stay. But something in his voice told me to listen.

I walked out of the rink. My heart was pounding. My mind was spinning.

I didn't know what was happening between us.

But I knew it was something.

And that scared me more than Lucas ever could.

I didn't sleep that night. I just lay in bed staring at the ceiling, replaying everything Cole said. Every word. Every look. Every moment.

He said Lucas never deserved me. He said he would never have let me go.

What was I supposed to do with that?

I showed up at the rink the next morning at 5 AM. I didn't know why. I should have stayed home. I should have taken a break. But I couldn't stay away.

Cole was already there when I walked in. He was stretching on the ice. He looked up when he heard the door open.

"You came," he said.

"You asked."

"I didn't think you'd actually show up."

I shrugged. "I have practice."

"At 5 AM?"

"Coach said I need extra work."

"Sure." He smiled. That small, crooked smile that made my stomach flip. "Whatever you say."

I stepped onto the ice. The cold hit my face. I welcomed it. It helped me think.

Cole skated over to me. "You okay?"

"I don't know."

"That's honest."

"I'm trying to be more honest."

He nodded. "Good. That's good."

We stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Just existing in the same space.

Then he looked at me differently. His face got serious. "I need to tell you something. About Lucas."

My stomach tightened. "What about him?"

"You should sit down. What I'm about to tell you... it's not easy to hear."

I didn't sit. I leaned against the boards instead. "Just say it."

Cole took a breath. Then he started talking.

"Lucas didn't break up with you because of long distance."

I blinked. "What?"

"He lied. He told you it wouldn't work. That you were too far apart. That hockey was too demanding."

"Yeah. I remember."

"That wasn't the truth."

My heart started pounding. "Then what was?"

Cole looked at me. His grey eyes were soft but serious. "His dad made him do it."

I felt like the air got knocked out of me. "What?"

"His dad. Mr. Kingston. He sat Lucas down before graduation and told him you were a distraction. He said if Lucas wanted to make it to the NHL, he needed to focus. No girl. No relationship. Just hockey."

"That's insane."

"I know."

"And Lucas just... listened?"

Cole nodded. "He was scared. His dad controls everything. Money. Connections. The college scouts. Lucas didn't have a choice."

I shook my head. "Everyone has a choice."

"He was eighteen. His dad threatened to pull his funding. No college. No hockey. Nothing."

"So he chose hockey."

"He chose his dream."

"Same thing."

Cole didn't argue. He just watched me. Waiting.

I felt something crack inside me. Something I thought I had buried a year ago. The anger. The hurt. The confusion. It all came rushing back.

"He didn't even tell me the truth," I said. My voice was shaking. "He let me think I wasn't enough."

"Because he was ashamed."

"Good. He should be."

Cole didn't say anything to that.

I pressed my palms against my eyes. I didn't want to cry. Not here. Not in front of him.

But the tears came anyway.

"I spent a year thinking I did something wrong," I said. "A year wondering why I wasn't good enough. Why he didn't fight for me."

"He wanted to."

"Then why didn't he?"

Cole stepped closer. "Because he's weak. That's the truth. He's weak, and he's selfish, and he doesn't deserve you."

I looked up at him. "Why do you care so much? Why does any of this matter to you?"

He didn't answer right away.

I pushed. "You keep showing up. You keep saying things. You paid for my skating fees, and you didn't even tell me. Why?"

Cole looked away. His jaw tightened. His hands curled into fists at his sides.

"Because I've been watching you for years, Mia. I've been watching you skate and laugh and work so hard you collapse at the end of the day. I've been watching Lucas take you for granted. I've been watching him break your heart. And I've been wanting to punch him in the face the whole time."

I stared at him.

"I couldn't say anything," he continued. "He was my brother. My best friend. You were his girl. I had no right."

"But now?"

"Now he's gone. Now he's made his choice. And I'm tired of being quiet."

The air between us was thick. Heavy. I could feel my heartbeat in my throat.

"Cole," I said. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." He stepped back. Gave me space. "I just needed you to know the truth. The whole truth. What you do with it is up to you."

I nodded slowly. My brain was spinning. Too many thoughts. Too many feelings.

"I should go," I said.

"Same time tomorrow?"

I almost laughed. "You're asking me that now?"

"Just checking."

I shook my head. But there was a small smile on my face. I couldn't help it.

"I'll see you tomorrow," I said.

And I walked out of the rink with my heart in my throat.

The next morning I showed up at 5 AM again. I didn't know why. I should have stayed home. I should have taken a break.

But I couldn't stay away.

Cole was already there when I walked in. He was stretching on the ice. He looked up when he heard the door open.

"You came," he said.

"You asked."

"I didn't think you'd actually show up."

I shrugged. "I have practice."

"At 5 AM?"

"Coach said I need extra work."

"Sure." He smiled. That small, crooked smile that made my stomach flip. "Whatever you say."

I stepped onto the ice. The cold hit my face. I welcomed it. It helped me think.

Cole skated over to me. "You okay?"

"I don't know."

"That's honest."

"I'm trying to be more honest."

He nodded. "Good. That's good."

We stood there for a moment. Just breathing. Just existing in the same space.

Then the doors slammed open.

I turned around.

Lucas walked onto the ice. His face was cold. His eyes were fixed on Cole.

"I see you couldn't wait to move in on my girl, Cole."

Cole straightened. "She's not yours. She hasn't been yours for a year."

"She's always been mine."

"That's not how it works."

Lucas took a step closer. "Stay away from her."

"Or what?"

Lucas's jaw tightened. "Don't test me."

"I'm not testing anything. I'm telling you the truth. You lost her. You gave her up. You don't get to come back and act like nothing happened."

"You don't know anything about what happened."

"I know everything." Cole's voice was calm. Steady. "I know about Dad. I know about the threats. I know you chose hockey over her. And you know what? That's fine. That's your choice. But don't come back here acting like you deserve a second chance."

Lucas's face went pale. "You told her."

"Someone had to."

"You had no right."

"She deserved to know the truth."

"I'm her ex."

"And I'm the one who actually cares about her."

The words hung in the air like a slap.

I stood there frozen. Watching them. Two brothers. Fighting over me like I was a trophy.

"I can't do this," I said.

They both turned to look at me.

"Not here. Not now." I started skating toward the exit. "I can't be in the middle of this."

"Mia, wait." Cole reached for me.

I pulled away. "Please. Just... give me some space. Both of you."

I walked off the ice. Grabbed my bag. Left the rink without looking back.

The cold air hit me outside. I took a deep breath. And then another.

My phone buzzed. A text.

Sophie: "You okay? Heard what happened at the rink."

I stared at the screen. Then I typed back.

"No. But I will be."

I didn't know if that was true.

But I had to believe it was.

I walked out of the rink with my heart pounding. My hands were shaking. I couldn't think straight. All I could hear was their voices. All I could see was the look on their faces.

Lucas. Cole. Two brothers. Both angry. Both hurt. Both looked at me like I was something to win.

I didn't want to win.

I walked all the way home. It was a thirty-minute walk. I didn't care. I needed the cold air. I needed to clear my head.

But nothing cleared my head. The thoughts just kept coming. Lucas and his lies. Cole and his truth. The way they looked at each other like they were about to kill each other.

I was inside my house for maybe ten minutes before my phone buzzed.

Sophie: "Lucas and Cole are fighting at the rink. For real this time. Coaches are breaking it up."

I stared at the screen. My stomach dropped.

I should have stayed out of it. I should have let them handle it. But I couldn't. I grabbed my keys and ran back.

The rink was chaos when I got there.

Coaches were shouting. Players were pulling them apart. Lucas was on the ice, his lip bleeding. Cole was on his feet, his jersey torn at the collar. They were both breathing hard. Both looking at each other like they wanted to finish what they started.

"What are you doing?" I screamed.

They both turned to look at me.

I walked onto the ice. Straight toward them. "What is wrong with you two? This isn't a game. You're brothers."

Lucas wiped the blood from his lip. "He started it."

"Liar," Cole said. "You threw the first punch."

"Because you were looking at my girl like she was yours."

"She's not yours. She hasn't been yours for a year."

"She'll always be mine."

"No. She won't."

I stepped between them. "Stop it. Stop it right now."

Lucas ignored me. He kept staring at Cole. "You think you're better than me? You think she'd ever choose you? You're the backup. You've always been the backup."

Cole's face went cold. "Is that what you think?"

"I know it."

"Then you don't know anything."

I pushed them apart with my hands on their chests. "I said stop."

Lucas looked at me. "Mia, just walk away. This is between him and I."

"No. It's not. You two are fighting over me like I don't have a choice. Like I'm a prize you get to win."

"Mia, I'm trying to protect you."

"From what? From your brother? From the truth? From all the lies you told me?"

Lucas flinched. "That's not fair."

"Fair? You lied to me. You let me think I wasn't good enough. And now you show up like nothing happened and expect me to fall back into your arms?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay?"

"Sorry isn't enough."

I turned to Cole. "And you. You kept secrets too. You paid my skating fees and never told me. You watched me cry over your brother and didn't say a word."

Cole's jaw tightened. "I was trying to protect you."

"I don't need protection. I need the truth. From both of you."

Silence.

Everyone was watching us. Coaches. Players. The night guard. I felt their eyes on me. It made me want to disappear.

I stepped back. "I'm done. I'm done being the reason you two tear each other apart."

"Mia, wait." Lucas reached for me.

I pulled away. "No. You don't get to touch me. You don't get to talk to me. Not until you figure out what you actually want."

And I walked away.

I walked out of the rink. Out of the chaos. Out of all of it.

I didn't look back.

I sat on my bed for an hour. Maybe more. I didn't check the time. I just sat there and stared at the wall.

Everything felt broken. I thought I was over Lucas. I thought I had moved on. But hearing the truth about what happened just brought all the pain back.

And then there was Cole. The boy who was always there. Always watching. Always helping. The boy who looked at me like I mattered.

Why didn't I see it before?

Why did it take his brother showing up for me to realize what was right in front of me?

The doorbell rang.

I didn't move.

It rang again.

Then my phone buzzed.

Sophie: "Open the door. I have ice cream."

I got up and opened the door. Sophie stood there with two pints of ice cream and a look on her face that said she wasn't leaving.

"I heard what happened," she said, walking past me into the house. "Everyone heard what happened. It's all over school."

"Great."

"Don't care about school. Care about you." She plopped down on my bed and held out a pint of ice cream. "Here. Chocolate. Because everything is terrible."

I took it. Sat down next to her. Opened the lid and took a bite.

"I hate them," I said.

"You don't."

"I want to."

"Same." Sophie scooped some ice cream into her mouth. "But you don't. You never do."

I didn't argue. Because she was right.

"Can I say something?" Sophie asked. "And you can't get mad?"

"I can't promise that."

"Fine. I'll say it anyway." She turned to me. "Cole is better for you."

"I know."

"Like, actually better. He shows up. He stays. He doesn't make excuses."

"I know."

"He's always been the one who cared. Even when Lucas was with you, Cole was the one who helped you carry your bags. The one who drove you home. The one who checked on you when you were sick."

"I know, Sophie."

"Then why are you still choosing Lucas?"

I looked at her. "I'm not choosing Lucas."

"Then what are you doing?"

"I don't know." My voice cracked. "I don't know what I'm doing. I'm scared."

"Of what?"

"Of getting hurt. Of choosing wrong. Of giving him my heart and having him leave like everyone else."

Sophie put her hand on mine. "Cole isn't everyone else."

"He's a Kingston."

"He's not Lucas."

I didn't have an answer for that.

My phone buzzed again. I looked at the screen. My heart stopped.

Cole: "I'm outside. Can we talk?"

I stared at the screen. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to do.

Sophie leaned over. "Is that him?"

"Yeah."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know."

"Look out the window."

I walked to the window. I pulled the curtain back. And there he was. Standing in the rain. His hair was wet. His clothes were soaked. He looked up at my window and held his hands out like he was saying please.

"Sophie," I said. "He's not leaving."

"Then go talk to him."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. You can do hard things, Mia. You do them every day."

I looked at her. She nodded.

"He's been waiting for you for a long time," she said. "Go see what he has to say."

I took a deep breath.

And I walked downstairs.