Evermore || Connor Bedard

Chapter Ten: Ivy

       The arena erupted into a deafening roar as the buzzer sounded, signaling the end of the game. Sage leaped to her feet, her heart bursting with pride as she cheered for her friend, her voice lost in the sea of noise around her. She watched as Connor was mobbed by his teammates, their cheers and congratulations echoing through the air like music to her ears.

        As the crowd began to disperse and the excitement of the game faded into memory, Sage felt a sense of peace settle over her. She knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead for Connor, he would face them head-on with the same courage and determination that had carried him through his recovery. And she would be there every step of the way, cheering him on from the sidelines, just like she always had been.

       The air was thick with tension as Quince's brothers, Tyler and Ryder, arrived in town for a visit. Quince had been looking forward to spending time with her siblings, but she couldn't shake the knot of apprehension that had settled in the pit of her stomach. Ever since Ryder had broken Connor's jaw in a brutal hit during a hockey game, things had been strained between them.

         As Tyler and Ryder stepped into Quince's apartment, she plastered on a smile and greeted them warmly, but Sage's icy glare did not go unnoticed. Ryder's jaw tightened, but he tried to keep the peace as they exchanged pleasantries and caught up on each other's lives.

        Quince could sense the tension in the room, like a live wire waiting to snap. She desperately wanted to bridge the gap between her siblings and her best friend, but she knew that it wouldn't be easy. Sage's anger ran deep, and Ryder's pride was wounded by her cold demeanor.

        As they sat around the living room, making small talk and sipping on drinks, the conversation inevitably turned to the upcoming hockey game. Ryder's team was set to face off against Connor's team once again, and the anticipation hung heavy in the air.

       "So, are you ready for the game tomorrow?" Tyler asked, breaking the awkward silence that had settled over the room.

       Ryder's jaw clenched as he nodded, his eyes flashing with determination. "I'm ready," he replied, his voice tinged with defiance.

       Sage scoffed, unable to contain her frustration any longer. "Ready to do more damage, you mean?" she spat, her words dripping with venom.

      Ryder's gaze snapped to Sage, his expression darkening with anger. "It was an accident, Sage," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "I didn't mean to hurt Connor."

      Sage's eyes blazed with fury as she shot to her feet, her fists clenched at her sides. "Accident or not, you still broke his jaw!" she retorted, her voice rising with each words. " Stop making fucking excuses just because you can't get over yourself and apologize!"

      Ryder's nostrils flared as he struggled to contain his temper. "You have no idea what you're talking about, Sage," he said through gritted teeth. "Connor is a grown man. He made his choice to play the game, just like I did. And if he can't handle the consequences, then maybe he shouldn't be playing at all."

      Sage's eyes blazed with fury at Ryder's words, her hands trembling with rage. "You're unbelievable," she spat, her voice barely above a whisper. "You think you can just walk away from this like nothing happened? Like you didn't almost destroy someone's life?"

      Ryder's jaw tightened as he met Sage's gaze, his eyes burning with a fire of their own. "Maybe Connor should be more worried about breakingnyiur heart," he sneered, his words dripping with malice. "Because from where I'm standing, it looks like he's already halfway there."

       The room fell silent as Ryder's words hung in the air like a dark cloud, the tension between them thick and suffocating. Sage could feel the weight of their unresolved issues pressing down on her, threatening to tear her family apart.

       But even in the midst of the chaos, Sage refused to give up hope. She knew that deep down, her siblings loved each other, despite their differences. And she was determined to find a way to mend the rift between them, no matter what it took.

My house of stone, your ivy grows
And now I'm covered in you

Authors note

My outline had been fucking up so the story might be in the center instead of to the side like normal books..

Book 3 is about to come out!! Can anyone guess who it is going to be about??

Love you guys!!