Page 55 of Rivals

My carefully laid plans are falling into place and after tonight, things will be clear to everyone exactly who Riley is to me. I will burn the world down for this girl. It’s okay if she hates me right now, but I know she doesn’t. She just wishes she did because then she can convince herself that I’ll let her go. Spoiler alert…I’m never letting her go. I told her last night that she’s mine, and she is. Forever. We might be young, but it doesn’t matter. When you know, you hold on tight and kidnap them if it comes to it. Fuck. I’m losing my shit over this girl. Let’s be honest, I have been for years. Riley wrote her name on my soul when we were kids.

“Regretting your life choices yet?” Carter asks, elbowing my back. I glance at my friend and shake my head.

“Everything’s coming together. Just don’t forget your job tonight,” I remind him.

His eyes widen and he fakes being hurt. “Ouch. You know I’d never let you down, Thorn.”

“This needs to go right. I can’t take one more night without her.”

Carter snorts and he shakes his head in disbelief. “You’ll be lucky if she forgives you. It wasn’t enough to invite Brooklyn to the party, you let the girl grind on you. I’ve seen the pictures circulating. They look way more damning than the reality.”

My hands ball into fists and I have to tilt my head from side to side to ease the tension. “I did what I had to. She wouldn’t have believed it otherwise.”

“Hey!” Leif calls to us across the lot, jogging his way over. We come to a stop and wait for him. “Meyer is cocking off again,” he tells us. “He plans to make a play for your girl again. He’s telling everyone how much he cares about her.”

“When is he going to learn?” I shake my head, eyes sliding between my two best friends. The plan for tonight is growing. Not only do I need to fix this thing with Brooklyn and any other misguided slut who thinks they can hurt my girl, but I need to put Blade Meyer in his place. No one else will ever have Riley. I will destroy anyone who tries.

“Nothing changes tonight. Make sure he shows up,” I tell them both, and they nod. Neither of them questions what I’m doing, both of them loyal, just as I am to them.

Rules of the prank war are simple. You don’t talk about prank wars. You don’t get caught. Taking the challenge allows you to ask for a favor. A favor has to be witnessed by two people.

Tonight, I wanted this favor to be witnessed by more than two people; this is meant to be witnessed by the entire student body. And when you’re the prank master, you have to do it big and it has to be done right.

“She’s here,” Leif murmurs under his breath next to me. My eyes already searching her out.

Riley moves through the crowd like the fucking queen she is and they all part for her. My body reacts to the sight of her, my dick instantly hard, knowing she’s nearby. I want her. I need her like air. My eyes travel over her legs, perfectly encased in a pair of jeans that look painted on, to her puffy white coat and the matching white beanie on the top of her head. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose are tinged pink from the cold, and she keeps her hands inside her coat pockets. Riley moves her head and her long, chocolatey hair swings until her gaze catches mine. Her eyes darken and fill with hurt. Enough to remind me why we’re here and what is at stake.

“I can’t believe she showed up.” Brooklyn’s whiny voice reaches me from where she is standing in front of my body.

“Of course she did.” I shrug, letting my mask slip into place for her. “Riley never backs down from a challenge.”

And I’m praying tonight will be the same. That seeing me here with another girl will be enough to still ignite her competitive streak. Riley needs to be all in for this to work.

When Riley is within a few feet from us, her chin lifts and her shoulders roll back. “I’m here. What is it you wanted to say?”

A grin splits my lips. “I have a challenge for you, Con-man. If you’re not too heartbroken to take it.”

Her lips thin out in a line and she glances off to the side where her friends are waiting, both of them shooting daggers in my direction. My own heart feels like it’s cracking in two when she looks back at me and quickly blinks away tears. “Why should I take it?”

Okay, well that was off script. I did not expect her to say that or to think about not taking the challenge. My girl always meets me head-to-head in everything. Standing straight, I nudge Brooklyn to the side, ignoring her whimper of protest, and move until I’m right in front of Riley. It’s me and her. Everyone else fades away.

“Because you never back down from anything I throw at you,” I remind her. I need her to feel the connection between us, the livewire of energy that pulls us together constantly.

Her coffee-colored eyes search my face, her whole gaze pleading with me not to hurt her. My heart hammers against its cage to get to her. “What are the terms?” She speaks so low, I almost don’t hear her, but at least she’s agreeing.

“Are you taking the challenge?” I ask, louder so everyone can hear.

Riley glances around us too. “Yes.” Her voice is louder and crystal clear.

“Good fucking girl,” I murmur only loud enough for her to hear. Her head snaps up but before she can question me, I continue on. “There is a box of fireworks on our school’s rooftop and the other is at another undisclosed location. Winner gets to pick which box is lit off. Loser has to push the button.”

“How are we deciding who wins or loses?”

I’m fairly certain my eyes are gleaming right now. She’s so fucking perfect, playing right into my plans. “A street race obviously. If I remember correctly, last time your little stunt gave me a game suspension. Thought it was only fair we evened the playing field.”

Her face pales. I want to reach for her, beg her to see through the bullshit. “I don’t have a car to drive.”

I shrug. “You can drive mine. I already have a ride.” I turn and wink at Brooklyn. This bitch practically preens, thinking we’re one upping Riley. Brooklyn’s father owns a car dealership, one of the biggest in the state. The car he gave her and her brother is more for looks than racing. Brooklyn didn’t agree with me and decided I should drive it in the race tonight.

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