Page 13 of Rivals

His eyes harden in almost disbelief. “You’re over it? It’s out of your system?”

I nod my head. “Yup.”

I can feel Reign’s chest rise and fall with the breaths he’s taking. His eyes continue searching mine for a sign that I lied. “What if it’s not out of my system? I don’t know if it will ever be.”

“That sounds like a you problem, Thorn,” I challenge, my brow rising. It takes all my willpower not to let my stupid heart soak in his words. What does that mean? That he would want to keep seeing me? But it would all be for sex though, because Reign Thorn has made it very clear to everyone that he hates me.

This time his face shutters and up slides the cold, malicious mask I’m used to. The guy who has zero fucks to give and thinks of me as gum under his shoe. He backs away from me, nodding his head. Reign reaches around me and grabs the door knob. “See you around then Con-man,” he says, walking out the door, without even bothering to look at me again.

I watch Reign’s naked back from the open doorway as he walks farther and farther away from me. My eyes fill with tears and a sinking feeling I haven’t had in years fills my chest. A sense of shame lingers along with the taste of fear. What if Reign meant it? What if I just lost something that could have been monumental.

That night has plagued me all week. Every time I close my eyes, all I see is the way Reign closed himself off after uttering those words to me. I wish he would have explained. I wish I would have fought more for an answer. But I didn’t. And now here we are, a week back in the real world, and his arctic blue eyes are locked on mine across the backyard of the party.

This time he isn’t watching me and cataloging all the ways he can tear me down, but with the interest of a predator. My heart races and I have to glance away before my cheeks blush. I haven’t forgotten the way Reign’s body felt against me or the way his lips skillfully mastered mine. I can’t afford to let it cloud my judgment though. Even if he makes my breath hitch in my throat with his backward black baseball hat, his long hair fanning out around the edges.

Instead I glance around at everyone else at the party, checking on a few of my teammates who are here. It’s mostly a Public party, named for the kids who go to the public school, but, like always, groups of Saints are gathered around. I purposefully chose not to drink tonight, partly because I can’t afford another strike with Coach, and also because I knew Reign would be here. I wanted to be in full control of my senses should he try and start shit or spread anything about our time together.

“What did you do now?” Sam leans over to me and asks in a low voice. Emma hears and the question instantly perks her right up. Her head swivels around the party. Both have been digging for information from me since they witnessed the kiss at the beach between Reign and me. Plus the fact that he came to my cabin twice to find me.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrug and bring my bottle of water to my lips.

“Riley, Thorn is looking at you like he either wants to murder you or angry fuck you. So what did you do?” Sam clips out her words, her eyes growing bigger by the second.

“Oh, shit.” Emma jumps up and comes to stand at my other side. “They’re coming this way.”

I don’t even have to ask who they are. My body can feel the energy shifting around us, knowing Reign is moving closer. I refuse to look up and just keep faking that I’m fine; everything is fine.

“Con-man and her wing-women.” Leif’s deep voice jokes and I hear the underlying edge in it, meaning they aren’t here for a friendly chat.

I finally make myself glance up, looking from Leif to the other minion Carter and finally settling on their leader. Reign is waiting for me. His eyes light up and flicker with something I can’t name, but a hint of hostility is there as well.

“Did you come over here to just stare?” I tilt my head and give each of them a glare. I’m not in the mood to mess around tonight. Despite what Reign might think, my insides are still too raw and emotionally strung out. I don’t have the fight in me tonight, despite the bravado I’m holding on to.

Reign gives his signature smirk, that dimple in his left cheek ever prominent, while his eyes cut into me. “The coaches are meeting at the town hall tonight. Leif here seems to have accidently ended up with Coach Pipher’s keys as well as Coach Stone’s keys.”

“Why would I care if he has your girls’ team’s coach’s keys?” I ask, and try to ignore the pang of unease of them having our coach’s keys.

“Because I might have let it slip to the girls that you took them.” He bites the inside of his cheek like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever said. His eyes burning with sick enjoyment.

“Are they coming here?” I glance around, not wanting the party to be busted or for anyone on my team here to get in trouble.

Leif snickers and Reign shakes his head. “They’re waiting for you at the landing. Seems they want to issue their own challenge this time.”

“And if I say no?”

Reign clicks his tongue and shrugs his shoulders. “Then both coaches will find their cars in the lake and a crazy rumor running around that you were the one who took the keys.”

I clench my teeth. Any and all fuzzy feelings I was feeling for Reign this past week start to dissipate. How did I ever let my guard down around him? All he has done is solidify that I made the right choice not to share more of myself with him than I already did. Still, I hate the way my blood pumps full of adrenaline at the challenge he’s laid down. Or rather what he has orchestrated with the Saints’ girls’ team.

“Fine. I’m in.”

Reign’s eyes flare wide before darkening to the same color as the night sky. Leif makes a big theatrical show of ushering me, Emma and Sam away from the party and to the front of the house where our cars are. I grab my keys, intending to drive Emma, Sam and myself until I feel the heat of Reign’s hand on my arm.

“Oh no, my little puck-slut,” he whispers so close to my ear that shivers run over my skin. “You’re riding with me.”

I glance up and see Emma and Sam getting in a truck with Leif and Carter, both of them wearing grim faces and just a tiny mischievous smile. Well Sam mostly is wearing a smile because she thinks Reign wants more from me than to be sworn enemies.

Reign ushers me over to his car, a very suped up black Nissan GT-R. He opens the passenger door for me and settles me in before closing the door and rounding back to get in the driver seat. I’m instantly frozen, not used to sitting in a car that probably costs four times what my mobile home does. The leather feels cool against my heated skin and when he turns it on, the engine flares to life, creating a subtle vibration. “Into It” by Chasing Atlantic fills the small space and I inwardly sigh. This has been Reign’s favorite band for years. He used to obsess about me being their fan too when we were younger. And, of course, because I liked everything Reign did, they were one of my favorites too.

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