Chapter 4 Serious girlfriend required!!
ARABELLA
“Callahan, coach wants you. Now.”
The room went quiet, not completely because the kettle was still hissing softly in the kitchen and Rowan was still standing there with a towel thrown over one shoulder, but something definitely shifted the second those words left Ziven’s teammate’s mouth.
I looked at Ziven almost immediately and he was frozen.
Just for a second, like his brain had paused before deciding what version of himself to show next.
Then he pushed away from the counter, grabbed his jacket, and acted like nothing had happened, which unfortunately was exactly how people acted when something had happened.
“Ziven,” I said immediately, sitting up straighter as my hands tightened around the edge of the couch, “what did you do?”
His eyes flicked toward me briefly.
“Nothing.”
“That sounded guilty,” I added quickly, because it did, and I wasn’t going to pretend it didn’t.
“It wasn’t guilty.”
“It was very guilty.”
Rowan made a sound behind us like he was already tired of this conversation before it even started and Ziven rolled his eyes as he shoved one arm into his jacket while grabbing his phone from the counter.
“Coach probably found out I was at a party the night before training,” he said casually, like that was the most normal explanation in the world.
Rowan, without looking up, muttered, “That’s actually believable.”
Ziven turned his head slightly. “Thank you for your support, man.”
“Anytime.”
The teammate who had come to deliver the message shifted awkwardly near the doorway, scratching the back of his neck like he regretted being the messenger.
“Uh…”
All three of us looked at him at the same time.
“What?” Ziven asked.
“I don’t think it’s about the party,” the guy added slowly.
Ziven frowned immediately, pausing mid-motion as his jacket hung loosely off one shoulder.
“Why?”
The guy hesitated again, clearly choosing his next words carefully.
“Because he looked really angry.”
That made the air feel different. It wasn’t dramatic or loud, just heavier in a way nobody commented on.
Oh.
That wasn’t good.
Apparently Ziven thought the same thing because his expression changed slightly, not enough for most people to notice, but enough for me.
“Great,” he muttered under his breath and my stomach dropped instantly.
“Wait,” I said quickly, standing up a little now, “angry angry?”
Nobody answered me.
“Like a normal coach angry or throwing-things angry?” I asked again and Rowan finally looked at me. “Arabella.”
“What?” I said fast, already spiraling, “there’s a difference.”
“There shouldn’t be,” he replied.
“There is,” I insisted.
Ziven shook his head slightly, like this entire conversation was becoming unnecessary, then grabbed his jacket properly and headed toward the door.
I stood up immediately.
“Should I come with you?”
He stopped and then turned his head slowly toward me.
“Why would you come with me?” He looked confused and I felt heat creep up my cheeks.
God I was whipped.
“I don’t know,” I said, because I really didn’t, “moral support?” I added.
“It’s a meeting with my coach, not surgery, Belle .” Ziven sighed.
“Well, what if—”
“Arabella,” he cut in, tired already.
“Fine,” I muttered, crossing my arms.
“Relax.” That was easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one sitting here imagining every possible version of disaster.
He pulled the door open slightly.
“I’ll be back.”
Then he disappeared into the hallway and I turned straight to Rowan.
“What do you think happened?” I asked and Rowan let out a long groan like he physically regretted being alive at this moment.
“Here we go.”
“What?” I asked quickly.
“Do you think it’s because of me?” I added before he could even respond properly.
“No,” he said immediately.
“The pool?”
“No.”
“The party?”
“No.”
“The—”
“Arabella.”
I snapped my mouth shut for exactly two seconds.
“Stop spiraling.” He added and I started fiddling with the sleeve of my hoodie without realizing it, rolling it between my fingers.
“Maybe it is because of me,” I muttered.
“It isn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because Ziven’s been getting into trouble long before you showed up.”
That made me pause. Because… that was fair but still.
I opened my mouth, then closed it, then opened it again.
“Should we go check?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Rowan gave me a look. That specific look, the one that always meant I was losing it.
Finally, he pushed himself off the wall.
“Stay here.”
“I don’t like that sentence, Rowan.”
“Stay here anyway.”
“Rowan—”
“Arabella.”
I sighed loudly and dramatically, dropping back onto the couch.
He ignored me completely and he headed for the door.
“I’m going to find out what’s going on.”
“Can I come?” I asked immediately.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’ll somehow make it weird.”
“That is offensive.”
“It’s also true.”
Then he left and I was alone for what felt like thirty seconds.
Then I started pacing back and forth, then I sat down and stood up again.
I then grabbed my phone which was a very big mistake because the very first thing I saw was a picture.
Ziven carrying me after the pool incident with my face against his shoulders and his arm around me.
The headline underneath made my stomach twist.
NRU HOCKEY CAPTAIN INVOLVED IN ANOTHER PARTY SCANDAL
“Oh, come on,” I muttered but I clicked it anyway, another mistake.
Comments were already everywhere.
“Another week, another girl.”
“Isn’t he supposed to be team captain?”
“Poor Tiffany.”
My chest tightened slightly but I kept scrolling even though I shouldn’t have.
“Tiffany deserves better.”
“That brunette isn’t even in Tiffany’s league.”
That one made my fingers pause and then I locked my phone before tossing it onto the bed.
I couldn’t continue reading those comments.
A few minutes later, the door opened and I was already on my feet before they fully stepped in.
“What happened?” I asked but neither of them answered and somehow that was worse.
“What happened?” I repeated faster and Rowan rubbed the back of his neck slowly while Ziven looked… annoyed.
“Guys.”
Still nothing.
“Can somebody please stop acting like we’re in a crime documentary?”
Ziven dropped into a chair finally.
“Coach says I’m becoming a PR problem.”
I blinked.
“A what?”
“A PR problem.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means the university is tired of cleaning up after me.”
“That sounds dramatic.”
“Apparently not.” He shot back and I frowned.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“Really?” he said, and pointed at my phone.
“The internet disagrees.” I looked away quickly.
Oops.
“You checked,” he added.
“I was curious.”
“You were stalking.”
“I was concerned.”
“Same thing.”
“Not the same thing.”
“Very close.”
Rowan snorted quietly, already exhausted with our bickering.
“So what exactly did your coach say?”
Ziven leaned back slightly.
“Apparently I’m reckless.”
“You are,” Rowan added immediately.
Ziven looked at him. “Not helpful.”
“Apparently I’m irresponsible.”
“Debatable,” Rowan said.
“Apparently I spend too much time partying.”
“Definitely true.”
“Apparently I sleep with half the female population.”
Rowan immediately pointed at him. “That one is true.”
“Oh my God,” I groaned, dropping my head into my hands.
“What?” Rowan and Ziven echoed.
“Can you guys just tell me what happened?” I replied and the air shifted.
Because Ziven wasn’t joking anymore.
“So,” I said carefully, lowering my hands, “what happens now?”
Neither of them answered and my stomach dropped again.
“What?”
Nothing.
I looked between them, Rowan then Ziven and then back at Rowan.
“Why are you both doing that?”
“Doing what?” Rowan asked quickly.
“That thing where people know something and are acting weird about it.”
Rowan immediately looked away.
Which was basically confirmation.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
“What is it?” I asked again.
Finally, Ziven looked at me properly.
“Coach thinks I need a serious girlfriend.” Ziven answered and I blinked.
“…okay?”
“And since everybody already thinks we’re together…”
My chest stopped for a second.
“Ziven?”
He leaned forward slightly.
“So, Arabella…”
His eyes stayed on mine.
“Would you be my girlfriend?”
