Page 3 of Rival Darling

Mia started fanning her face. “That’s hot.”

I shoved my shoulder into hers. “You’ve clearly lived in the cold for too long,” I said. “You’re losing it.”

“What?” she protested. “’I like it a little rough.”

“Uh, Mia, are we still talking about hockey?”

“Of course!” She pressed her hand to her chest in a show of feigned shock and then waved her hand at the crowd around us, who were only cheering louder as the umpires struggled to end the commotion on the ice. “And I’m not the only one who likes it.”

All I could do was sigh in response. I really was out of my depth here.

“My poor, hockey-deprived Violet,” Mia continued. “How much you still have to learn about living in Sunshine Hills. It’s okay, we’ll get you there eventually.” She slung an arm over my shoulder and returned her attention to the game. The brawl had finally ended, and number twenty-three was making his way off the ice.

“Speaking of hot and rough,” Mia said. “That’s one of the Darling Devils. He’s going to the penalty box for the hit that started that fight.”

“The who?”

“The Darling Devils. You know, the Darling brothers.” She spoke like she was stating something painfully obvious.

“And who exactly are they?”

“You’ve really never heard of them?”

“I wouldn’t be asking if I had.”

“Well…” Mia drew the word out, and I could see she was only too happy to explain. “The Darling brothers are three of the best players in the state. They play for the Ransom Devils, and they’re lethal.” Her voice lowered slightly as she continued, but her eyes were still sparkling with excitement. “I’m not just talking about hockey either. They have a pretty bad reputation off the ice too. People around here have a lot to say about those boys.”

I frowned down at the Devils player who had just entered the penalty box. I could just make out the name “Darling” printed across the back of his jersey.

“That’s Reed Darling,” Mia said, nodding in his direction. “He’s the Ransom Devils’ captain. He’s destined for the NHL, but people say he’s an even bigger player off the ice.”

“Sounds like a great guy.” My voice was thick with sarcasm.

“Sure, if bad boy is your type,” Mia continued. “I heard he had to miss school last year because he got sent to juvie.”

“Lovely,” I replied. “I’m sure his mother is very proud.”

Mia smirked. “Well, his mother did something right; he is one fine specimen.” There was a slight smile on her lips, and she was gently tilting her head as she looked down at Reed. Despite the fact Mia clearly believed this guy was trouble, she still couldn’t help but check him out.

“Just because a guy fills out a hockey jersey well doesn’t make him hot,” I added.

Mia uttered a shocked laugh. “You’re only saying that because you haven’t seen his face. And he has this scar on his neck that he got from a bar brawl, which only adds to his rugged, rebellious appeal.”

I honestly didn’t think seeing Reed Darling’s face would make me feel any different. This was a guy who played hockey and got into bar fights? I was never going to find a boy like that attractive.

“His brothers are just as bad,” Mia added. “Someone told me they beat up a kid at a party last year just because he looked at Reed the wrong way.”

“Seriously?”

“You’re talking about the Darling brothers, right?”

We turned to look at the girl seated on the other side of Mia as she leaned toward us. Clearly, she’d been listening to our conversation and was eager to chime in. “That’s only the start of what happened at that party. Apparently, after they beat the guy up, one of the Devils made out with his girlfriend.”

Mia’s eyes widened before she turned back to me, a smug grin plastered across her face. “See. Everyone knows about the Darling Devils.”

I didn’t really feel comfortable gossiping about someone I didn’t know, but it certainly sounded like the Darling boys had more than earned their bad reputation, so I just nodded at my cousin. Besides, I didn’t have time to worry about how some degenerate hockey players got their kicks. I had bigger problems right now. “I should call Jeremy and check how his game went.”

“But I haven’t finished telling you all about the Darling Devils. In freshman year, Reed?—”

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