The whistle cut through the autumn air, sharp and demanding.
"Again!" Coach's voice thundered across the field.
The Ridgewood football team groaned but got back in position. Helmets clashed, sneakers dug into the turf, and the faint scent of sweat and grass hung heavy in the crisp breeze.
Lila bent into her stance, focused, her eyes narrowed on the ball. Tyler's voice rang clear as quarterback, calling the play.
But even as she sprinted forward, dodging Lukas's block and leaping for the ball, she felt it again—his stare.
Ethan Cole.
Quarterback. Captain. Senior.And the bane of her sanity.
The ball smacked against her palms, smooth and perfect, and she landed on her feet before Zane could tackle her. Whistles blew. Another perfect catch.
She should have felt proud. She should have been grinning, showing Tyler she wasn't just the "little sister" he wanted to keep off the team.
But no. Instead, her gaze was dragged—like gravity itself had shifted—to the far side of the field.
Ethan, helmet tucked under his arm, smirk sharp as a blade, watching her like a predator.
Like he knew.
Her heart stuttered.
"Nice catch, Hart," Coach barked, scribbling on his clipboard.
"Thanks, Coach," she muttered, jogging back to position. Tyler fell in step beside her, his brows furrowed.
"You okay?" he asked quietly.
"Fine."
"Lila—"
"Drop it," she cut him off, eyes fixed forward. The last thing she needed was Tyler's big-brother instincts going nuclear.
Still, she could feel his suspicion radiating off him. Tyler had been watching Ethan too. And Tyler didn't like what he saw.
Water break came. Players scattered toward the coolers, guzzling down relief. Lila wiped sweat from her forehead, breathing deep.
"Need a drink, sunshine?"
Her pulse jumped. She turned slowly. Ethan stood way too close, smirk in place, a bottle extended toward her.
She glared. "Stop calling me that."
"Why?" He tilted his head, dark hair damp with sweat, eyes glinting. "It suits you."
"I don't need your water."
"Mm." He twisted the cap, took a long drink, and smirked wider. "Guess you weren't thirsty after last night's ride?"
Her stomach dropped.
Every muscle in her body froze, but she forced her face into a mask of ice. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, nothing." He leaned down, close enough that she could feel the heat of his breath. "Just… you look good in leather."
Her chest squeezed. He knew. He had to know.
But before she could spit back a retort, Tyler appeared, glaring daggers.
"Cole. Back off."
Ethan's smirk didn't falter. He straightened, but his eyes stayed locked on her. "Relax, Captain. Just being friendly."
"Yeah? Find someone else to 'be friendly' with."
Lila grabbed her bottle, shoving past both of them, heart thundering in her ears. She didn't look back. Couldn't.
Because if she did, Ethan would see the panic she was fighting to hide.
After practice, the locker room chaos blurred into background noise. Lila tugged her jacket on, shoving books into her bag, desperate to escape.
"Lila!"
She stiffened. Harper jogged up, Ryan trailing behind.
"You've been off all day," Harper said, concern etched on her face. "What's going on?"
"Nothing," Lila muttered.
Ryan frowned. "Nothing? Hart, you almost bit Lukas's head off when he asked for a pencil. That's not 'nothing.'"
"Drop it," she said, sharper than she meant to.
Harper's brows rose. "Okay, whoa. Fine. But if this is about Cole—"
Her head snapped up. "It's not."
The look they exchanged said they didn't believe her.
"Fine," Harper said finally, crossing her arms. "But you're telling us when you're ready. Got it?"
Lila exhaled, nodding once before hurrying off.
Her secrets were piling up, and they were going to bury her alive.
The halls were mostly empty when she pushed out the side doors. She tugged her jacket tighter against the cool evening air, pulling her bike keys from her pocket.
"Leaving without me?"
She spun, heart leaping into her throat.
But it wasn't Ethan.
It was Liam.
Her second-oldest brother leaned casually against the brick wall, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on his face. His leather jacket gleamed under the flickering light, the chain at his neck glinting.
"Liam?" she hissed, glancing around. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Checking up on my baby sister." He shrugged, pushing off the wall. "Ty said some guy's been looking at you wrong."
Her stomach clenched. Of course Tyler ran his mouth.
"I can handle it."
"Not the point." Liam's gaze darkened, protective fire burning there. "If he touches you, Lila, I'll break his hands."
Her chest tightened. She hated how her brothers always treated her like she couldn't fight her own battles. But a small, traitorous part of her… felt safe.
"I don't need saving," she muttered.
"Too bad," he said simply, reaching over to ruffle her hair. "You've got five brothers. Saving you is the family business."
She scowled, shoving his hand away. "You're impossible."
He smirked. "Runs in the family. Get home safe, Phantom."
Her blood ran cold.
She whipped around. "What did you just—"
But Liam was already walking away, hands in his pockets, whistling.
Her fingers tightened around her keys.
He knew.
Of course he knew. Her family always knew.
But if Ethan Cole had really seen her too… then it wasn't just her family she had to worry about.
It was him.
Ethan watched from across the lot, hidden in the shadow of the bleachers, eyes narrowed.
He'd meant to corner her after practice, maybe push her a little harder, watch her squirm. But then that guy showed up.
Not just a guy. Her brother.
He'd seen the resemblance in the jawline, the same protective glare Tyler had, just sharper, older. And the way Lila softened—annoyed, but not afraid—confirmed it.
Ethan's jaw clenched.
Her brothers were a problem.
But problems had solutions.
And Ethan Cole always got what he wanted.