Page 35 of Rivals

“Take care, Blade.” I give him a nod before turning my back, needing to escape this hallway. The thin, pink painted walls feel like they’re closing in. In the distance I hear the door chimes go off and another crowd of people must enter because the chatter in the room increases.

I almost make it to my booth when Blade’s hand grabs mine and once again, I’m spun to face him.

“What are you doing?”

“If I had called back then you wouldn’t have written me off, right?”

I yank my hand from his grip and tuck my hands in the pocket of my sweatshirt. “Maybe. I don’t know.”

“I can’t change what I did. It was shitty and not something a friend would have done. I want to make it up to you, Ri. I want to pick up where we left off and this time I’m willing to go all in for you despite what Reign might try and do.”

My brow shoots up and panic shoots through my chest. This kid is really trying to die here tonight. “If you’re wanting my forgiveness, you have it. I have let it go. What happened was a long time ago.”

“He’s going to hurt you, Riley.” Blade gazes at me, his throat bobbing with emotion. “I promise I never will again.”

“I—”

“Is there a problem here?” Carter’s voice jumps in, interrupting the word lashing I was about to deliver to Blade.

The two guys size each other up and recognition flashes in Carter’s eyes. He knows exactly who Blade is. It was stupid of me not to remember that the Saints play Blade’s new school in the regular season and they have both made it to the state playoffs the past two years.

“No,” I reply for both of us. “I believe he was looking for the bathroom.”

Carter eyes me up and down before glancing at Blade again. “Right. It’s over there, man.” He points to the nook I just came out of a few minutes ago. “You and your girls should join us,” Carter says turning back to me, his hand at my back, barely touching. He’s giving me an out, the option to walk away from Blade.

“Sure.” I nod and start to move with him. I give a final, little wave to Blade and take Carter’s olive branch.

“Do I need to call Reign? He’s not here but close by?”

I shake my head. “I handled it.”

We don’t say more as I follow him to the table. Sam and Emma join us, both of them eyeing me with questions. I shake my head, and mouth, talk later. I’m not even sure what just happened. All I do know is that I won’t risk Reign coming here and possibly getting hurt or ruining anything for his upcoming season. It just wouldn’t be worth it.

We finish our food and Carter checks in with us randomly, being careful not to hover. Sam requests our checks only to find they’ve already been paid. “Guess your man takes care of you even when he’s not around.”

We finally decide to head out long after some Public students and Blade’s group of friends did. I’m exhausted from the night’s events and want nothing more than to crash in my own bed and sleep for a week. My phone vibrates the minute I step out of my car and back on campus.

UNKNOWN: Hey, it’s Blade. This is my new number. I hope I get to see you again, Ri.

THORN-IN-MY-SIDE: Carter said you were upset. Who do I need to hurt?

My heart races and I quickly type out a response to Reign. The last thing I want is him thinking he has to intervene and get himself in trouble.

ME: It was nothing. I’m back on campus. Where are you?

The dots dance while he types and I realize I’m holding my breath. Waiting. Wondering how the rest of my night is going to go.

THORN-IN-MY-SIDE: Waiting for you.

I run to the building and skip the elevator entirely. Taking the steps two at a time, I don’t even stop to think about my reaction to his response or the way the butterflies in my stomach jumped in response to his answer. I can feel the smile on my lips, but I can’t make myself analyze it at this moment. I just want to get to Reign. My night went from needing space and time with my girls to only wanting his arms around me.

My feet reach my floor and I speed-walk down the hallway until I get to my door. My heart plummets. The hallway is empty, my door is bare, without Reign standing in front of it. I pull out my phone, hoping he elaborated or even declared he was just joking. My phone screen is blank though; there are no new texts. Tears spring to my eyes, anger and humiliation bubble to the surface. I jam my key in the lock and turn it, letting myself in and slamming the door before I have a chance to break down in the hallway. Breathing becomes difficult while I fight away the tears, and I rest my head on the door.

“Took you long enough,” Reign’s voice says next to my ear, before his lips press against the side of my neck. His arms slide around my waist and I’m pulled back into his hard body.

“How did you get in?”

His lips curl in a smile against my skin while he continues kissing a path down my neck. “I’m getting in if I want in, Riles. That’s my secret to keep.”

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