Page 50 of Rivals

“It’s not for me. I’m just going to support Reign. But I’m not sure if it’s still happening or not,” I tell him honestly. Reign’s behavior today is throwing me off. There is a good chance he could be done with me today and that is what he wants to tell me at lunch. Even as my heart rejects the idea, there is still the evil voice of doubt in the back of my mind. “He might have changed his mind.”

My dad is quiet for a minute. I glance at the phone to see if we’re still connected. “Ri, I just talked to the kid yesterday. He seemed very sure this was still happening.”

“You talked to Reign?” My brow rises and my words come out harsher than I had anticipated. I’m surprised and totally at a loss as to why. Why would Reign feel the need to call my dad and, what, chat like buddies?

“He called. He checks in from time to time, if you’re busy. It makes me feel better when I’m out of town to know he has your back,” my dad finally admits, his voice thickening with emotion.

“Dad,” I start but lose my words. I’ve never spilled my feelings to my dad about Reign, except for that first time. The day he said he wouldn’t see me anymore when he broke his leg.

“Ri, the best thing you can give yourself is hope. Let yourself dream a little. I’ll see you for Thanksgiving and you have my permission to leave right after Christmas for Michigan. Take the opportunities, champ.” Tears fill my eyes thinking about my dad spending the holidays alone.

“What about you?”

“I’ll see you for Christmas still. I’m planning to take another out of town job and I can tell them that now I can leave earlier after the holiday. They always need people on Christmas Day,” he assures me, making me feel a little better knowing he has a plan. But still.

“Dad…” I want to open up and tell him how confused I feel. How uncertain Reign makes me while also completely happy at the same time. I just can’t stand making him worry. “I better get to lunch. See you soon.”

“See you soon, Riley. Love you.”

“Love you too,” I reply before our call ends.

Pocketing the phone, I make the decision to shrug off the morning. I just need to see Reign again, and for him to tell me everything is alright. He touched me. He spoke to me. He’s having me followed. Maybe he isn’t done, but something bigger is happening.

When I get back to the cafeteria, Leif is still waiting for me. His head lifts and he eyes me quickly up and down before tilting his head toward the food line. I follow him, reaching for a tray.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Conway. What do you want to eat?”

My mouth drops open and I glance at his hands. Sure enough, he has two trays ready. “Ah, alfredo.”

“You got it,” he replies, and loads up our plates. If that wasn’t enough, he carries my entire tray over to our usual table. The second we’re in the same room, I feel him. The air turns thick and crackles with energy. My gaze is drawn to him, my attention solely focused on Reign while he sits back in his chair, eating an apple. He feels it too, and his eyes search out his friend and then land on me next to him. Just like Leif, his eyes roam over me from my toes to my high ponytail, assessing to make sure I’m in one piece.

I sit next to him, my body stiffening when his leg brushes mine under the table. I hate that my hand shakes when I pick up my fork and it takes all my energy to concentrate on twirling the pasta around the prongs. They guys chat around me about their upcoming game, practice and what happened in one of Carter’s other classes to a fellow teammate. Reign laughs and jokes with them like this morning didn’t happen. As if he hasn’t read my texts, or snuck out of my dorm, or put up this wall between us.

My fork clatters to my plate and I turn to face him. I’m done tiptoeing around this situation. It isn’t who I am. “Talked to my dad, and he said our plans for the holidays are fine. I can go to Michigan.”

The smile slips from his face, adding another crack to my heart. His jaw tightens and the other two quit talking, sitting in their seats, stone-faced.

“Now’s not a good time.”

“What does that mean? You don’t want to go anymore?” I force myself to get the words out even while a flush is creeping up my face. It’s one thing for this conversation to happen in private, another for it to be in front of his best friends, witnessing my embarrassment.

“I’m not sure what’s going to happen. Just leave it for now, okay,” he responds with zero feeling, standing from the table.

“You’re leaving?”

He smirks and shrugs. “I won’t be by the library tonight.”

“Where will you be?” My tone bites, and I wince inwardly. I sound like an annoying clingy girlfriend that I did not want to be.

His brow rises and he leans toward me. “Since when do you care what I do? I wasn’t aware I needed to report to the girl who doesn’t want to be my girlfriend.”

His words are a blow to my chest, stealing my air and causing so much pain. My gut feels flattened by the rejection in his words. “Never mind.” I grit the words out as I force myself to keep eye contact with him.

Reign rolls his eyes. “A party.”

A freaking party. Not that I expected him to sit around with me for the week while I heal from the slight concussion, but I did not expect the cold attitude or for him to worry about partying. My Reign, the guy who devoutly got me here and claims I’m his, would not do this.

“Have fun. Maybe I’ll see you there.”

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