Page 22 of Rinkmates

She looks like she’s contemplating it, so I keep pushing it. “Once we step out holding hands, the news will eat that shit up. You need some publicity to keep up the voting in the show, and I need everyone to think I’m settling down.” I pause, hoping she’ll see the practicality of it too. “It’s simple.”

“You think living withyouwill be simple?”

I ignore that knife coming at me and continue, “Like I said, I won’t be around often. Ethan and Nina will set the terms for us later. So, what do you say? Want to move in with me?”

I flash my best smile, the one that usually melts hearts, but it seems to bounce off her like a rubber ball hitting a brick wall.

Teenage Riley would be heartbroken right now.

“Let me guess, you’re always this eager?” she says, leaning against the other side of the door frame, looking up at me.

The light bounces off her little nose and there’s a loud jingle in my mind, telling me that I need to keep my dick in my pants in case she says yes. Liora is my last chance. I can’t afford to fuck it up. To fuck her. But she doesn’t have to know what her face does to me.

“Only when the prize is worth it,” I reply smoothly.

She adds a sweet eye roll for good measure. “You must’ve been a c-section because there’s no way your mother could’ve pushed both you and your ego out naturally.”

Ouch. I can’t help but laugh out loud. “Okay, okay, you’re out for blood, I see.”

If she only could understand that this is my last resort.

Even Mercer got in on the act, pulling me aside after practice to sell me on the idea of a fake relationship for the sake ofourreputation. It’s not only for me. This is for the whole team. The league.

She sighs and finally speaks up. “Okay, let’s assume…” I grin widely, and she continues, louder this time, “AssumingI say yes. How do we pull this off? Fake a relationship? It just sounds ridiculous.”

“Nina suggested a minimal effort sort of relationship—me attending some of your shows, you tagging along to some games, no need for any actual conversation. Some photos here, some photos there, and we’ll leave.”

Her piercing blue eyes narrow, dissecting my words as if she’s cutting up a frog in biology class, analyzing each condition. Then, in a split second, her gaze snaps up, and I’m left hanging, waiting for her verdict. Leaning closer, her eyes catch the light and sparkle like a cold January sky full of stars. Damn it. She makes me feel like she could see right through me. It’s both electrifying and eerie.

All I want is for her to say yes, and I’m terrified. As if anofrom this little stranger could give me the final blow.

Gathering my courage, I try again. “Look, I’ll be gone on a string of away games starting tomorrow…Come on, you can’t hate me this much. You don’t even know me, and I’m not that hard on the eyes.”

She scoffs. “So you think I should say yes just because you’re hot?”

Oh, there you go. She thinks I’m hot. “No, because fame is the ticket to your victory. People will be buzzing about us and you’ll stay fresh in their minds when it’s time for nominations. You need me as much as I need you.”

She bites her lips and I’m getting impatient. Why is this so hard?

No word is coming out of this fucking plush mouth. Every time I try to open up, she shuts down.

I let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m here trying, Liora. What are you afraid of?”

“A lot,” she says.

“I’m pouring my heart out, damn it. What else do you want me to say?”

“Fine.” She throws up her hands. “My biggest fear is that you’ll continue hurting others, that you use me like your sidekick and then the media will turn against me as well. I can’t take that risk.”

My stomach drops. She truly believes I’m the worst piece of shit around. But that’s the reputation I’ve earned with those who didn’t fall for my looks online. “Okay. Fine. If you’re that convinced I’m the worst, let’s just scrap the whole thing then.”

She repeats, “Fine,” once more, spinning around as if relieved to be finally rid of me. I’m left breathless at her abrupt dismissal.

I never had a problem persuading a girl to stay at my place before. What the fuck is happening right now?

A surge of desperation floods my body, and I touch her on the arm to stop her. She’s not running from me like that. Hell no.

She halts, glancing at my hand on her arm, and I reluctantly release my grip, realizing I’ve held on longer than intended. I slide my hands into my pockets. “Look. This started off totally wrong and I— You know what? What about we start over?”

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