Page 48 of Rivals

The woman eyes me. “Mr. Thorn, you can’t be on the ice during a game.”

“I’m not leaving her, so.” I shrug and start moving Riley toward the benches to get her off the ice and into the locker room. She’s skating slowly, her body leaning into mine.

“You’re okay, Riles,” I reassure her. The crowd claps for Riley and her team cheers, wishing her well.

I get her into the back and the trainer takes off her helmet and shoulder pads with my help after removing her jersey. He performs a few checkup tasks, but I can tell by the way his mouth frowns that it isn’t good.

“You have symptoms of a very mild concussion, but a concussion none the less. Tonight, I want you to follow protocol, and watch for these signs that it’s getting worse. If these happen, you need to go to the hospital and be put under further observation, Riley.”

Riley nods, still holding the ice to her shoulder. “Got it, Doc. I’ve been through it before.”

“You, what?” I blanch, trying to reach into my memories of when she’s been seriously hurt.

“Sophomore year. An illegal check to the boards after scoring a hat trick.” She winks at me. Fucking winks. While I’m standing here with my jaw clenching and stomach feeling gutted about her being hurt. “I’m a hockey player, Reign. It happens.”

“You’re in a girls’ league. It’s illegal to check.” I remind her, feeling stupid even saying the words. I know that the girls can play ruthless and badass. Their gender has nothing to do with their skill level. “Forget I said that.”

“Good, because I was about to tell you how stupid you sounded,” she fires back, but at least she’s smiling now.

“Can I take her home to rest now, Doc?” I ask the man, who is standing in the corner just listening to us with a bemused expression.

“Yes. Take her out of here. She needs to relax. I’ll see you again in six days, Riley. Unless you experience any other symptoms.”

Riley nods at the doctor and I help her off the table toward the locker room. She makes me wait outside while she gets changed. When the door opens, I take her bag and stick from her.

“I’m not an invalid,” she warns me.

“You hurt your shoulder too. You don’t need this bag hanging on you.” I scoff and steer her ahead of me out of there.

“So, who was she? Did you make out with her at a party?” Riley jokes, but it hits too close to home.

“She’s no one,” I tell her, keeping my face blank.

My mind is still scrambled by her audacity. As if hitting my girlfriend is going to do anything other than make me hate her. I need a plan. I have to deal with this before Riley touches the ice again. She isn’t going to like it, but I’ll do anything to protect her.

I drive her back to the dorm and help her inside. Once we’re in the safe space of her dorm room, Riley’s face crumples. “I need Tylenol.”

“For your head?” My heart hammers in my chest.

“No, my head is fine. My shoulder is killing me though.” She walks past me to the kitchen. I hear the bottle rattle and the fridge opening and closing. I wait for her to get done and hobble back to her bedroom.

Riley lets me help her out of her clothes. Right as she reaches for a nightshirt, I stop her. “Take this one.”

I shrug off my sweater and take off the t-shirt underneath of it, slipping it over her head. Her cheeks heat and her eyes get soft for me. “None of that, you’re injured.”

“So were you.” She points to my leg and I laugh. Fuck I love this girl.

Oh shit. That one thought shakes me to my core. I feel my smile slip off my face, and watch her own mirror mine. I love her. Right now being with me has caused her pain. I can’t let her go either.

“What’s wrong, Reign?” Her voice wobbles slightly.

I shake my head. “Nothing, babe. Come and lie down.”

Riley listens, and the second her head touches the pillow, her whole body relaxes. Her energy is zapped. I feel the urge to protect her, to keep her safe. She isn’t going to like what I’m about to do. I can’t tell her either. It’s going to hurt her. There is even a chance she might never forgive me, but it’s a chance I need to take. I have a plan. Someday we’ll get back to where we are right now and I’ll tell her exactly how much I love her and the fact that she owns my heart and soul.

“Get some sleep, Riles.” Her eyes flutter and eventually her breathing evens out. I leave her room, grabbing more pain pills and a water bottle, setting them next to her bed for when she wakes up.

I send a text to Leif and Carter, letting them know what’s going down. I’m going to put a stop to this once and for all. I watch her sleep for a creepy and excessive amount of time before forcing myself to leave. With one last kiss on her forehead, I breathe her in. “I’m going to fix everything.” It’s a promise. No one will touch what’s mine ever again when I’m done.

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