Page 34 of Rivals

“Reign doesn’t exactly do relationships,” I remind them and myself. The latter being one of the things that has made sleeping peacefully so difficult lately. Reign has never had a long-term girlfriend or even been publicly linked to someone for longer than a few weeks. Even when we were young and girls wanted his attention, he shrugged them off. These days I’ve heard he’s meaner about it. Once he’s had his fill, he is just done, and these girls apparently know the score before getting with him.

“What if he wants one with you?” Emma pushes.

I set my drink down and pick up my chicken tender, dragging it through the ranch dip and ketchup, unsure how to answer the question. I can tell Reign is feeling some way toward me and I have feelings for him. I also can admit that I’m terrified to put a label on anything we could be together because being even more vulnerable with Reign Thorn could set my heart up to break. My lips part to answer Emma’s question when the bells on the door clank, and a rowdy cluster of kids from Public come flooding in. Sam’s eyes widen for a second and she shoots a glance at me. My brows rise questioningly, my head turning to see what she’s looking at.

In the midst of Pirates, my eyes collide with a warm pair of golden-brown ones. Even after almost four years, those eyes still remind me of the warmest butterscotch. Too bad the boy they belong to dropped me faster than his car ride out of this town. Blade Meyer has changed over the years. His usual wavy hair is now cropped short, though the color is still the same vibrant, sandy blond, making him look like he spent the summer at the beach and under the sun.

I look away just as fast, my heart pounding while I pray he doesn’t do something stupid like come over here. I’m instantly on high alert, my eyes sweeping the area, looking for the one person who could destroy my ex-friend. Blade doesn’t deserve my loyalty, but Reign’s influence could ruin his life with a snap of his fingers.

“Is it intense here or is it just me?” Sam breathes out before taking a drink of her chocolate shake. “That boy better think twice.”

“Nope, he’s trying to make his way over here.” Emma’s voice heightens. “Yup, it’s like he wants to die.”

I stand so fast, my thigh bumps the edge of the table. “Bathroom,” I manage to mumble before hobbling my way there. I can feel Blade’s stare in my back while I make a beeline away from him, but honestly, he should be thanking me. It’s best if he just keeps his distance. He might even thank me someday if he manages to have a hockey career.

I take my time in the bathroom, rolling up my pant leg to see where I hit my knee. It looks like I’ll have a small bruise, but nothing major. After splashing some water on my hands and patting them against the back of my neck, I know I can’t hide any longer. It will look really ridiculous if I stay here until he leaves. Hopefully Blade took the hint and will not approach me.

Stepping back into the little hallway, I collide with a wall of teal material. Blade’s new school colors. My eyes shoot up and widen. “I guess you don’t like living.”

Blade’s eyes dance and a smirk pulls at his lips. “Am I supposed to be scared of Thorn?”

“He could ruin you,” I remind him, my arms crossing over my chest, and I step back. “In case you forgot everything when you left.”

The gold in his eyes turns molten, the grin slipping away. “I didn’t forget a single thing.” His eyes rake over me and the muscle in his jaw tightens. “It sounds like some things have changed though.”

My shoulders lift and I keep a bored expression on my face. I refuse to talk to him about anything personal or anything about the years he’s been gone. Blade and Aaron knew about my history with Reign; they were there when we were young and they saw how much I fell apart when I lost Reign’s friendship. Blade left when his family moved to a different town. He was far enough away to go to a different school, but phones still exist. Cars still function. He chose to not have contact with me. Maybe he and Aaron still talk, judging by his comment it seems like they do, but he dropped me. Blade never called, never checked in, and never responded when I swallowed my pride in those first few weeks by reaching out to him. My cheeks faintly blush just remembering how stupid I probably sounded texting him, begging to know why he kissed me, why we couldn’t still talk. I used to blame Reign, but now I know that if he wanted to, Blade could have made it happen. He cowered away just like everyone else.

“Well, it was a nice trip down memory lane. Take care, Blade.” I dip my head and start to walk away when his hand lands on my arm stopping me. I halt, my brow rising at his action.

He drops his hand and shoves them both in the pockets of his jeans. “Sorry. I just didn’t want you to leave without telling you that I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“I’ve been a jerk, Riley. When I moved, I tried hard to get used to the new town and school and I blew you off.” His head drops with his words.

I relax my shoulders and my eyes slide all over him, reading the way he’s holding himself. The girl I used to be when we were friends is begging me to believe him, while the girl I am now is unsure.

“I’m sure you were busy.” I shrug. “It’s over now. It was a few years ago.”

“I miss you, Riley.” Blade glances up, and a small smile curves his lips. “The one good thing about this town was you, and I’m sorry that I walked away without telling you that.”

I wait for his words to warm my insides like they used to or for the butterflies to swoop in but it doesn’t happen. I don’t even feel the loss of losing Blade like I had when I first lost Reign. I don’t feel anything for Blade right now except for nostalgia. I haven’t been holding onto him since he left.

“It’s in the past.” My fingers brush his arm, reassuring him. “I’ve moved on.”

Blade’s golden eyes lose their spark, the color turning dark like tarnished copper. “So the rumors are true?”

My back straightens at his accusing tone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He steps toward me and I refuse to step back. “Riley, he turned on you and turned everyone against you. He bullied you and pushed everyone out of your life.”

Hearing Reign’s many strikes against me should make me angry. There is nothing Blade is saying that I don’t already know. I’ve spent a couple months going over the same things in my head. “If they really cared about me then they wouldn’t have been deterred by Reign.”

Blade scoffs. “He would have ruined anyone who was nice to you, Riley.”

“Like I said, it’s in the past. I’ve moved on.” I manage to grit through my teeth and once again move to put space between Blade and myself. Although I’m really feeling less like helping him preserve his life at the moment.

“I can’t believe you’re really with him. You know he has a girl in every city their team plays in who thinks they have some sort of dibs on him? I’ve seen it. I’ve heard it. Reign Thorn has never been serious with one girl. He could be playing you. I don’t want to see you get hurt, Ri.” Concern fills Blade’s voice and I fight the urge I have to care. Once again everything he has said are things I already know. My own worries that fester in my heart anytime I’m alone.

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