Page 28 of Rivals

“Are your classes going okay here?”

Her deep brown eyes glance up at me, and she tucks a stray stand of hair behind her ear. “Yeah. I think so anyways. I seem to be keeping up with the material.”

She does. I would know firsthand since we’re in the majority of her classes together except the one. The one time of the day where I don’t get to have eyes on her because I know her stomach is sensitive to dissecting animals.

“Were you worried you wouldn’t be able to keep up?” I push more, just wanting to creep my way under her defenses and find out what is going on.

Riley’s lips fall down and her forehead does that cute crinkle when she’s concentrating. “I wouldn’t say I was worried but it was a thought in the back of my mind. I’m as far along as I can be at Public. I knew the material, could almost teach it. Things are just different here at All Saints, but I’m handling it.”

Well okay. Then it’s not school bothering her. “Have the girls on the team calmed down after the last prank night?”

Her head tilts to the side. “Why do you have so many questions?”

“I’m just making conversation. I want to make sure you’re adjusting. Besides, don’t girls always moan and complain when their guys don’t care to ask about their lives?” I raise my brow and take a sip of my beer.

Her lips crack a small smile and she sets her pen down. “I guess. I wouldn’t really know though. Some asshole always blocked my shot at having a guy to experiment on.”

She sasses and I feel my heart jump in my chest. My dick stirs from the way her eyes darken. I lean forward until I’m a breath away from her lips. I can feel her little breaths against my skin. “And you’ll never have another guy but me, Riles.”

She scoffs and rolls her eyes, her hand coming to my chest to push me back into my seat. “To answer your question, the team is fine. I’m not worried. They’ll all see on their own.”

“Damn straight they will. You’re talented, babe. They’ll see you as an asset soon enough.”

Riley laughs and jots down another note on her post-it. I start to settle back in when she glances up at me. “How about you? How is school and things?”

My lips quirk. Fucking finally. She’s starting to take an interest and it feels amazing that she cares enough to ask. “School is easy. I’ll be happy to graduate though.”

I slide forward in my seat again, watching her closely. She gets anxious when I bring up the future. “I think I’m just ready for the next step. Get to college and have some freedom.”

“I can see that,” she responds and goes back to her notebooks.

Not happening. Riley usually tries to deflect when I talk to her about the future, especially when I bring up things like college. I refuse to let her hide from me. She’s already impossible to read, unless I get my hand around her neck, feeling her pulse flutter, or when she’s naked and under me. “You ready for college? Where are you hoping to go?”

I like to think I’m good at reading people; it’s a skill I harness both on and off the ice. So when Riley tenses and her cheeks flame red, I guess one of two things. She doesn’t have an idea or two, she’s embarrassed by her choice.

“I’m thinking of going to a state school after doing community college for a few years.”

My mouth drops open. That is not at all what I expected from her. I mean I know she’s always gone to public school, and she didn’t have money growing up. Her dad was concerned about the cost of her going to All Saints and if he could afford it, but I assured him it was a scholarship. Now Riley has the world in her hand and more chances to get a scholarship, and she’s not even raising her hopes.

“Riley, you came to All Saints in order to finish your top-notch education. Between your grades and hockey, you could easily get a scholarship to play at a D1 college somewhere.”

She shakes her head. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t try, but I’m not placing all my eggs in one basket. I would need a scholarship, Reign. There is no other way. But there are thousands of other kids who are just as smart or smarter than me who also kill it on the ice. My chances aren’t that great.”

Like hell will I allow her not to get the opportunity she deserves. She’s fucking perfect and she deserves the world. The whole point of getting her here is to also get her with me in Michigan and keep her forever. Riley has never been great at looking at the big picture though. She thinks she’s safer if she lives in her limitations. Unless it’s a prank or a bet. My girl is fearless when we’re competing.

“I don’t think you should limit yourself, babe. You can do it; I know you can.”

Riley rolls her bottom lip between her teeth, her eyes flicking to mine before they look back down at her work. “Thanks, Reign. I am going to try; I’m just not trying to get my hopes up too much.”

“So hockey, how is your team doing?”

I lift my beer to my lips and take a sip before answering. My stomach warms just from her asking me questions. I love this interaction we’re having. “Team is doing good. I think we’re ready for our pre-season game next week. Are you coming to watch? The girls’ team usually does.”

She sits back on her knees and spins her pen in her fingers. “Am I coming to the game?”

I nod. “Yeah, the girls’ team usually comes to our first game and we go to theirs. Even though I’m not playing because Coach Stone is still upset about her car.” I chuckle, thinking about that night. The night everything changed for me. If I’m honest, it started at camp but that night solidified it. I’ve been chasing her ass since.

Riley is quiet, and when I meet her eyes, I flinch a little. There’s that old edge of caution in her gaze that I haven’t seen for a while. “Are you mad about not playing because of what happened with the challenge?”

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