Page 52 of Rivals

ME: Why are you doing this?

If I thought this was the low point, it didn’t prepare me for him showing my text to Carter and Leif, and them laughing. Until he turns it toward her. She shakes her head and leans in, pressing her lips to his neck. Kissing him. And he’s letting her. My phone vibrates.

THORN: Don’t like it, see yourself out. You weren’t invited, Pirate.

The air being sucked into my lungs hurts. Shards of ice fill my throat. My whole body shudders in pain. Her body shudders as well when Reign runs his hands down her back. Sam pulls me backward. “Come on, Riles.” Her tone is soft and she leads me away.

Emma tries to smile for me, keeping her arm locked around my shoulders, attempting to block out the jeering voices and laughs of the crowd who just witnessed Reign’s dismissal of me. I finally feel like the joke I had thought he was making me out to be. This has to have been the longest prank for him to keep up. And I fell for it all.

Riley

Everyone knows about the party last night and what happened. Everyone. Students I’ve never even met before point and laugh. And if they aren’t basking in my humiliation, I’m being ignored, treated like I’m not even a person. My insides hurt, my eyes are red this morning, and there is nothing I can do about the purple half-moons under them. I didn’t sleep. My mind replayed every minute of what I had witnessed. The dismissal text from Reign still sits on my phone, I can’t make myself delete it. Almost like I need to have it, to remind myself it’s real and that he doesn’t deserve me. You don’t treat people you love like this. Love. That’s the cherry on top, I had fallen in love with Reign Thorn, my greatest rival, and he’s been planning my downfall this entire time.

The gossip flies around me. The Rebels stayed all night. Brooklyn hung out with Reign until he took her home. The rumors go on and on, without anyone even caring that each word is cutting me open. That my heart is wrecked and it hurts. The pain of having your heartbroken fucking hurts.

I go out of my way all day to avoid Reign, not that it matters with most of our classes together. He gets there after me and leaves before me, never making eye contact and never apologizing for being a Grade-A asshole. It’s hard but I force myself not to look at him. I also refuse to hide. Using my best ice-queen stance, I glare at anyone who even looks twice at me. Daring them to say the shitty things they’ve been saying behind my back to my face. I want to leave, have my dad take me out of All Saints and go back home. Until I pull up his last text to me, reminding me to take advantage of what is being offered to me. My future could still be set from staying here. And there is hockey. Against all odds, I have found myself liking my new team, clicking with these girls, and looking forward to the games this season. I won’t let Reign or my broken heart ruin this for me. Even when Hunter turns to me in film class and mouths, told you so, I remain strong for myself.

The end of the day can’t come fast enough and against medical opinion I go to practice. Coach Silver takes one look at me, who knows what she sees, all that matters is that she lets me skate. I can’t participate in drills or have actual contact with my team members, but I’ll take the win. Being on the ice gives my brain a chance to stop thinking about what is going on outside of this building. My focus is on the plays and deciding what I would do as the player if I was in a game situation. The rest of the world melts away for the hours I’m there.

“I’m glad you aren’t letting him get to you.” Quinn skates next to the bench and grabs her water bottle. I eye her and shrug.

“As opposed to what? Starting to knock out any girl he’s ever been with or looked at?”

Quinn snorts and shakes her head. “These girls are wild. I used to think it was just the ones here acting stupid, trying to get on his good side. I can’t imagine doing anything that horrible to another female over a guy.”

I tilt my head at her, wondering if she’s been body snatched. “You do remember our last challenge, don’t you?”

Quinn’s face turns down and her nose scrunches like the memory is painful. “I challenged you because of the rivalry. Reign seemed like a shoe-in to make it happen. Not because I wanted him.”

I turn back to taping my stick, something I’d been doing methodically while sitting on the bench. I like Quinn. I respect her as a player on the ice, but I’m not ready to delve into the dirty details of my relationship with Reign.

“I’m just saying, you’re handling the situation with grace. Way better than these other girls and honestly, he’s a fucking idiot if this isn’t all for show,” Quinn adds while setting her bottle down and giving me a small smile before she skates back toward the team.

For some reason her words hit me the most. Whether it’s because she complimented me or because she confirmed something I had been wondering myself. Is this all for show? And if so, why am I the one getting hurt?

The arena is dark by the time I peel myself off the bench in the locker room. After practice, I helped Coach Silver pick up, then stayed hidden in the locker room. It’s silly but nowhere else feels safe at the moment. My dorm reminds me of Reign, the library reminds me of him too. Being on the ice cleared my mind and I am reluctant to leave the vicinity. With my coat pulled tightly against my body, I walk out into the chilled air. A car is parked out front, and when my gaze lifts, my eyes catch on a pair of the warmest caramel ones.

I shuffle my feet farther, glancing around at the vacant area before turning back to Blade. “What are you doing here?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets and shrugs. “I heard you might need someone to talk to.”

My brow rises. Emma and Sam wouldn’t pull something like this. It isn’t their style, and it’s messy. Scanning the area, my gut clenches knowing it’s just him and me. “Did you wait for me?”

Blade pushes off his car and steps closer. “I was hoping to catch you right after practice. I figured with your concussion you wouldn’t be in this late. Sorry if it looks creepy.”

“Just a little.” I laugh and try to blow off the situation. “Well, as you can see, I’m in one piece, so thanks for checking on me, but I’m fine.”

Blade nods, his head falling. “I’m sorry again, Riley. About how I handled everything, and at the diner. I didn’t want to see you get hurt by him and now, he has hurt you again.”

I shake my head and hold my hand out to stop his words. They shouldn’t be painful, but there is something about his tone that is tearing me apart. “It doesn’t concern you, Blade. I appreciate you checking in, but it’s not needed. I’m a big girl. I can handle myself. Have a good night.”

I turn to walk away when Blade calls out my name again.

“You deserve better, Riley. You always have. Better than him and better than me. I can’t sit by and watch him play you like this.” His eyes sear into mine, and his jaw clenches.

My heart hammers in my chest and tears fill my eyes. “Maybe not. I made the decision. I will take the consequences. I’m fine, Blade. Really. I don’t need you to rescue me.”

He shakes his head, eyes wide. He can’t believe I’m not the damsel in distress he believes me to be. “At least let me take you to the dorms. It’s freezing out.”

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