Be my girlfriend

US—Silver Creek. May 2026.

Camila's POV

There's just a minute left in the third period. Everyone is tense as we watch the game with our eyes wide open to see how it'll end. The Ravens and the Wolves are currently tied 2–2; this last minute will determine how everything ends. I don't stop clutching the railing in the VIP section as I watch my boyfriend steal the puck, and suddenly everything changes as he dekes one defender and beats another. My heart swells with pride and anxiety as he finally makes it to the opponent's line, and with one swift move, the puck crosses the goal line and into the opponent's net.

Then the goal horn blasts throughout the arena as the PA announces the goal.

"Silver Creek goal! Scored by Dave Scott!"

The whole arena erupts in cheers as we celebrate the victory. But I notice one person beside me who isn't celebrating. Actually, he hasn't really reacted since the game began. He's been watching the game with the same stiff posture for all three periods.

Is he on the wrong side of the arena? I can't help but wonder, but soon, I ignore him and hug the young woman who's been screaming non-stop beside me.

"We did it! We won!" She screams and jumps happily.

I hold her hands and jump with her.

We're still screaming and celebrating when I notice the man rise to his feet. Then he tucks his hands into his hoodie pockets and slowly starts to make his way out of the section.

His movements cause me to pause again, but my eyes slowly return to the rink as I watch the Ravens team members run to Dave.

I don't stop the huge smile that settles on my face as I watch them parade him. Happy tears slip down my cheeks, and I wipe them away with the back of my hand.

A few minutes later, I'm racing toward Dave, who is surrounded by the media and happy fans as he answers their questions.

"Dave!" I call, my eyes shining with excitement as I wave at him.

But he doesn't notice me, or rather, he ignores me and keeps speaking into the mics.

I don't stop smiling as I wait for him to finish his interview. He finishes a few seconds later and starts to leave. I hurry toward him again.

"Dave! Dave!" I call, struggling past his many female fans to reach him. But he doesn't stop and keeps walking until...

Until someone calls out to him.

"Dave!" The voice is soft and filled with familiarity.

He stops. Then his eyes find her in the crowd.

I follow his line of sight and see her too.

It's Ivy. His female best friend since childhood, the woman I've been jealous of for the past few months. She's standing a little distance from him, her hands folded behind her back and a gentle smile on her face as she stares at him.

"Hey." I watch as a huge smile appears on his face, and he starts to make his way toward her.

"Excuse me. Please excuse me," he says to his many fans as he makes his way to Ivy. Once he gets to her, he doesn't hesitate to throw his arms around her. Then he kisses her on the forehead.

A huge scream of excitement erupts when he does this, and camera flashes immediately go off.

"Is that his girlfriend?" I hear people murmur as they stare at the duo.

"You came?" I hear Dave ask Ivy after he pulls away from the kiss.

"I did. You asked me—"

I don't wait to hear the rest of her sentence and immediately start making my way toward them. Angrily this time.

I'm almost on him, almost, when my arm is suddenly yanked, and I'm pulled back into a broad chest.

A wince leaves my lips at the impact, and when I look up, I see the culprit.

A frown settles on my face the moment I recognize him, and I hurriedly take a step back.

It's the man from the game. The one who didn't show much excitement when our team won.

"Excuse—"

I'm about to speak when he beats me to it.

"What are you trying to do? Embarrass yourself in front of everyone?" He asks, his jaw set in a straight line as he stares down at me.

His words force me to look at Dave again. He's holding Ivy more closely this time. I know it's just a hug, but it looks too intimate. What is he doing in front of these cameras? Dave has always been careful around the media. He says one wrong move in front of the cameras can either make you or ruin you, so why is he giving them the wrong impression?

Why is he acting like she's his girlfriend? I'm his girlfriend. He has never introduced me to his fans. But I'm his girlfriend. And I'm right here.

I dig my teeth into my lower lip and bite hard. My heart is beating fast, and I'm growing angrier by the passing minute. Before I know it, I'm ripping my arm away from the stranger's tight grip and making my way toward Dave again. But the stranger is faster, and he grabs me a second time.

I turn to him and angrily shove his chest. Angry tears stream down my cheeks as I glare at him.

"Leave me alone!"

The force of my shove makes him take a step back. His hoodie suddenly falls off, and his dark hair comes loose, part of it falling over his forehead.

Someone close to us gasps.

"Wait... Is that Blackwood?"

And just like that, a different kind of scream erupts beside me.

"It's Blackwood! Blackwood is here!"

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts. All attention moves away from Dave and settles on the very man who's still holding tightly onto my wrist as everyone chants his name.

"Blackwood! Blackwood!"

Camera flashes start going off around him, and before I know it, we're completely surrounded by the media. Even the Ravens team members make their way to him as they surround him.

The fans' and the Ravens' team members' behavior confuses me. I've never seen them this excited, even after a win.

They look so alive as they crowd around him and chant his name like he's their savior.

The media and fans start throwing questions at him.

"Did you watch the game?"

"Have you fully recovered from your injuries?"

"Should we expect a comeback announcement soon?"

Different questions are thrown at him, but he strangely doesn't pay attention to any of them and keeps his gaze on me.

Then, from my peripheral vision, I notice Dave walking away. His movement prompts me to look at him, and when our eyes meet, I see raw anger and animosity in them. But they aren't directed at me—they're directed at the stranger behind me.

That confuses me even more. I keep staring at Dave as he slowly disappears from sight. I attempt to go after him, but Blackwood is faster and stops me before I can.

He tightens his grip on me and leads me in the opposite direction while the Ravens team members block the fans from following us.

We enter a quiet area of the building, and he finally lets me go.

Once I'm free, I don't hesitate before slapping him across the face.

My action not only shocks him but surprises me as well.

My lips quiver after I realize what I've done, and I take a step back.

It takes him a full minute to recover from the slap, and when he looks at me, I immediately lower my gaze, feeling a little scared and anxious.

He brings his hand to his cheek and gently rubs the spot I slapped. Then a scoff leaves his lips.

"Since you can defend yourself so well, why do you let him treat you this way?" He asks.

His question confuses me at first, but it doesn't take long for me to understand what he means. I lift my chin and face him.

"You've got it wrong. My boyfriend loves me," I say in Dave's defense.

His lips curl into a smirk, and he takes a step toward me.

"It didn't look that way to me. He was clearly ignoring you. Probably because he doesn't want to be seen with you in public. He's ashamed of you and doesn't know how to say it to your face. And he's probably given you some excuse about being careful in public and whatnot. Well, the truth is, he doesn't care about you. He probably secretly hates you," he says.

His sharp words cause me to freeze for a few seconds, and when I finally regain my composure, I feel tears welling in my eyes.

"What... what do you know?" I mean to shut him up, but instead, my words come out low and broken.

He takes another step toward me, and a smile appears on his face.

"I'm right, ain't I? You've seen it. He doesn't like you. He takes you for granted. But you like him, and you want him to like you back. Do you want me to tell you how to fix the situation? I can tell you how to make him fall in love with you. Hard. So hard that he can't breathe without you," he says.

His words entice me, and before I know it, I'm taking a step closer to him, closing the remaining gap between us.

"R-Really?" I breathe. "Will it be possible?" I ask hopefully.

He slips his hands into his pockets and nods twice.

"Sure." He smiles.

"Just become my girlfriend, and all your problems will be solved."

The little hope in my heart disappears, and my face twists into a frown.

"What?" I scoff, immediately taking a step back.

He can't be serious.