Episode 20: Desire & Deception
Jaden leaned against the cold locker, his mind heavy.
The last 24 hours had been a blur—Blaine's trap, the failed ambush, and now the growing tension inside Iron Stride.
But right now?
Right now, none of that mattered.
Because his phone vibrated in his pocket.
Abby.
Abby: Can we call?
Jaden exhaled. Fuck, he needed that.
He typed back.
Jaden: Yeah. Give me a sec.
He grabbed his bag and left the locker room, heading toward his dorm. As he walked through the dimly lit hall, he felt eyes on him.
Not Blaine. Not his enemies.
Someone else.
Ava Sinclair.
She leaned against the wall near the medical wing, watching him like a cat studying a wounded bird.
Jaden didn't stop. He wasn't in the mood for her games.
But as he passed, she spoke.
"You look tense, Carter."
Jaden kept walking. "Not interested."
Ava chuckled. "Didn't say you were."
Her voice was low, teasing. She wanted a reaction.
Jaden didn't give her one.
Instead, he stepped into his dorm, locked the door behind him, and pulled out his phone.
He pressed call.
Abby picked up instantly.
"Hey."
Her voice was soft, familiar.
Jaden leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes. "Hey."
A pause.
Then—"Rough day?"
Jaden sighed. "Something like that."
Abby hummed, like she already knew. She always did.
"Wanna talk about it?"
Jaden hesitated. Did he?
He could tell her everything. About Blaine's games, the sabotage, the growing danger in Iron Stride.
But instead, he just said—
"Not right now."
Abby didn't push. She never did.
Instead, she simply said, "I miss you."
Jaden swallowed hard.
Because fuck. He missed her too.
More than anything.
But instead of saying it, he just whispered—
"Close your eyes."
Abby paused. "Why?"
Jaden smirked slightly. "Just do it."
A beat of silence. Then, softly—"Okay."
Jaden closed his eyes too.
"Now imagine I'm there," he murmured.
Another pause. Then—a small, breathy laugh.
"That's kinda unfair," Abby whispered.
Jaden smiled, even if she couldn't see it.
For a moment, Iron Stride didn't exist.
Just them.
The Lust That Lingers
The next morning, Jaden stepped onto the training field, stretching out the stiffness from last night's call.
He felt better. Lighter. Abby had that effect on him.
But as he walked toward the pitch, he caught sight of Ava again.
She was sitting on a bench near the medical staff, tying up her blonde hair, her sharp eyes already locked onto him.
Jaden sighed. He didn't need this today.
But Ava? She didn't let things go.
As he passed, she smirked. "You didn't text me back."
Jaden raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember texting you at all."
Ava chuckled. "You didn't. But I figured you'd come find me eventually."
Jaden didn't respond.
Because he knew Ava by now.
She thrived on attention.
And the more you ignored her?
The more she wanted to chase.
"Abby must be something special," Ava mused.
Jaden stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned to face her. His expression unreadable.
Ava simply smirked. "You're loyal. That's rare around here."
Jaden clenched his jaw. He knew where this was going.
Ava leaned back slightly, her voice dropping lower. "Most guys? They get a taste of what Iron Stride has to offer and… well."
She let the words hang in the air.
Jaden didn't bite.
Ava studied him for a second. Then—she laughed softly.
"Relax, Carter. I'm not gonna ruin your little love story."
Jaden exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Good talk."
He turned to leave—but then Ava said something that made him stop cold.
"Just be careful."
Jaden glanced back at her.
Ava's smirk was gone. Her eyes were serious.
"Iron Stride isn't just about football," she murmured.
Then she stood and walked away.
Jaden exhaled slowly.
For once, he believed her.
Because deep down, he knew.
Something was coming.
Something that would change everything.