Page 75 of Rinkmates

Yesterday was just too much.

He fingered me. In a crowded living room.

And after the party, we touched ourselves, fully aware of what the other was up to.

It’s incredibly embarrassing.

When I make it to set, the dressing room buzzes with nervous energy as stylists wield hairspray and powder brushes with the intensity of soldiers arming for battle. I sit statue-still, barely daring to breathe, as Nora, a severe-looking woman with purple hair, pins my hair into a sleek updo with a crazy amount of glitter.

Priya plops into the chair beside me with an exaggerated sigh. “I think I’m going to puke.”

“Why? Are you hungover?”

“No. Please, I only had one cocktail.”

“Two.”

“Fine. Two. I’m still standing. No, I’ve never seen so many people out there! The audience room is bursting!”

“You’ve got this,” I reassure her, squeezing her hand. “We’ve practiced the routine a million times. Just pretend it’s only Aiden and me out there watching.”

“Easy for you to say,” Priya grumbles. “I don’t have a hot hockey player waiting to comfort me after.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the flutter in my chest at the mention ofmyhot hockey player. “It’s not like that. We’re just friends.”

“Right,” she says. “Friends who eye-fuck each other across the room.”

Before I can defend myself, Stacey saunters over, all faux concern and barely concealed glee.

“Aww, I hope you’re not too worried about Riley being away. I’m sure he’ll behave himself…then again, you know how athletes get on the road.”

White-hot jealousy churns in my gut, but I school my features into a mask of calm indifference. “I trust Riley. But thank you for your concern.”

Stacey smiles. “If you say so. I just think it’s weird you’re not more concerned. I mean, he does have quite the reputation as a player, both on and off the ice.”

Priya glowers at her. “Don’t you have anything better to do than stir up drama, Stacey? Like, I don’t know, actually practicing your routine for once?”

She huffs and flounces away, but the damage is done. My mind reels with unwanted images of Riley, shirtless andglisteningwith sweat, tangled up with a faceless puck bunny. I shake my head to clear it. No, I wouldn’t let Stacey’s poisonous words infect me. I had to stay focused on my goal. Everything else was just a distraction. And, as long as no one sees it, he can have others.

Our relationship is fake, damn it.

I don’t even have the right to feel jealousy.

But maybe, after yesterday, he doesn’t want another woman…

“Skaters, two minutes to places!” the director says.

I put on another layer of red lipstick, and we’re ready to roll.

Priya grabs my hand, and we dash behind the stage, where Aiden practically crashes into my arms. His fidgeting hands mirror the butterflies swirling in my stomach. Priya waves at me before running to Mason. When he kisses her forehead, I want to gag.

Aiden releases me and I nod toward a crew membersnappingphotos of them. “Do you see that? He’s only nice to her when someone’s watching.” I’d be devastated if Riley was the same way. Only showing affection when the camera’s on. But then—crap. That’s exactly what we agreed on. What is wrong with my brain? We even signed a contract. Damn it.

“Mason is a prick,” Aiden says as we plop down on some chairs by the stage entry, watching the show start from a big screen.

I hear Priya laugh, her sweet voice is high pitched as she flirts with Mason. She looks amazing. Actually, any color on her does. Today, it’s a bright green with hundreds of rhinestones.

“Will you help me bury him if he hurts, Priya?”

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