Page 23 of Rivals

Aaron rolls his eyes. At one time, before we entered high school, and things escalated between All Saints and the Pirates, Aaron had been a friend. We played on the same team before I had to switch to the all-girls’ team. Right after Reign dropped me as a friend, I often hung out with Aaron and Blade. Neither had been a fan of Reign’s so we got along well. They were part of the reason I was able to pick myself up and keep playing hockey. They also never cowered down to Reign’s ban on me. Until Blade moved away right as high school started and I never heard from him, even though I tried reaching out. He wrote us all off and I’ll admit it hurt more than I expected. Maybe because I felt so forgettable or maybe because the small kiss Blade had dropped on my lips the night before he left had made my heart feel the spark of something special. After he left, Aaron chose to distance himself from me on his own, and I suspected it had nothing to do with Reign; he was just a shitty friend. The fact that he is saying anything to me right now is surprising and also annoying as fuck.

“You hated him. We all did.”

I shrug. “Again. Not friends. I have nothing to say to you.” I move around him and make eye contact with Reign across the yard. He’s with his usual crew of All Saints students, but his focus is entirely on me and who I’m talking to. Aaron may not be a friend, but I don’t want the poor kid to end up in a cast either. I start to walk away when Aaron makes the stupid choice to keep talking to me.

“Blade would be upset to see you sink to his level.”

I turn back to him, against my better judgment. I can feel Reign’s eyes glaring at my back, sending shivers across my skin. “Blade lost his opinion as my friend when he left. He’s never been in contact and honestly, he gets no say in my life either.”

Helping spare Aaron his life, I take Emma and Sam with me, walking away. This night just keeps getting weirder. I glance at Reign again and he’s chatting with a friend. His eyes slide to mine for a few seconds before giving the guy his full attention again. I don’t know why but it feels like he’s keeping an eye on me even while he’s not. I’m not sure how I feel about it and again the mindfuckery is staying strong.

“So Reign stakes his claim and now all these guys come out of the woodwork to defend your honor against him?” Emma laughs, while we take a seat by the fire. I just keep drinking.

“Make it make sense,” Sam agrees with her before drinking her own drink.

“No more talking about him. He’s a thorn in my side.”

“Okay. Let’s just chill and have a night like old times,” Sam agrees, and I’m so thankful I want to hug her.

We spend the next hour catching up and filling each other in on pre-season. I make the mistake of telling them about my jersey and what Reign did, which only gets me more wide-eyed looks that I wish I hadn’t said anything at all. They give me more drinks and soon my chest feels warm and nothing seems as bad anymore. I let my guard down, which is a terrible thing to do at a Saints’ party. I’m not on my game at all when there is a shift in the air around me.

I glance up and find one of Quinn’s side-kicks standing over me. Apparently, she said something because her head is cocked to the side. I squint at her then look at Sam. “Did the bimbo talk?” The girl huffs while Sam and Emma snicker.

“Just because you got into All Saints doesn’t make you a Saint,” the girl sneers and I snort with laughter.

“Actually, that is exactly what it means. Do you need something?” I twirl my finger at her. “You’re ruining my atmosphere.”

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. She’s practically wearing a bikini top in late fall but who am I to judge. “I thought I’d issue a challenge tonight.”

My brow rises. “Why?”

“Last time you got off easy after stealing the car keys and our coach’s car still ended in the lake. I think it will be good for you to remember where you come from, even though you wear gold and black now.”

I feel heat rise in my chest, the same competitive edge I get whenever I play. She must be stupid to come over here. Reign is the one who took on the heat of the last challenge and she thinks she’s protecting his honor. The crowd around us goes silent, but she keeps standing here, thinking she’s hot shit. Getting to my feet, I’m happy I don’t sway from the slight buzz I have going. It’s enough to make me a little reckless but nothing that I can’t handle.

“What’s the challenge?”

The words are barely out of my mouth when I feel it. The intense presence that only Reign can seem to carry. A few of the girls who were championing their friend a minute ago, step away from her, and more guys move closer to the drama.

Reign’s arm slides around my waist, pulling my back to his front. “You doing a challenge without me, babe?”

This dumb chick’s face falls, her eyes on Reign’s arm around my waist, and she bites her lip. “No Reign, it’s not for you. Riley needs to earn her spot as a Saint. She screwed you over in the last challenge, this one is just for her.”

“What’s the challenge?” I ask, snapping my fingers at her so she looks at me only, not him. I can feel Reign’s lips smirk against my hair before he places a kiss on the back of my head.

The girl’s eyes narrow further in confusion. “Well, I...” She shakes her head before pulling herself back together. She hands me a slip of paper with an address on it. “The home address of the athletic director of the Eagles. His son is the star player on their football team. He lives in the Saints’ area code and uses a fake address. I challenge you to let him know we know.”

Now I recognize her. She’s a cheerleader. “Let him know how?”

She snaps her fingers and another girl, I’m assuming another pom-pom girl, hands her a bag. She throws me a can of orange spray paint.

“Absolutely not.” I shake my head and hand it back to her.

Her lips pull up in a sneer. “Are you turning down a challenge.”

I shake my head. “No. But fuck will I use one you purchased. I’ll get my own and take a picture as proof.”

“One of our guys will follow you to take the picture as proof.” She snaps again and some random guy steps forward. I feel Reign’s grip on my waist tighten.

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