Page 93 of Unsteady

I growl, which in this face off probably looks like a feral toy poodle barking at a German Shepard.

“One—he’s not my boyfriend—”

“Does he know that?” he asks, removing the lollipop, it’s purple so I assume it’s grape flavored, before swirling it on his tongue and biting lightly on the stick as he smiles.

“And second—my coach doesn’t overtrain me. I’m just the best one on the team.” I grin brightly at him, eyebrows fluttering in my taunt. “Jealous? What? Is your coach too busy with his star center not to mess with whatever the hell you are?”

He smirks, eyes light fire. “Considering I’m on this teamat all, I don’t think Coach gives that big of a shit about Rhys.”

I wait for a moment, trying not to let my confusion show. I’m not very good at it.

His eyes light up. “Oh my god.” He laughs, and I get that same flash of a sinister comic book villain trapping the hero. “You don’t know?”

“Know what?”

“Who I am?”

“I don’t really give a shit—”

He holds a hand up, smile widening until I can see a slip of sharp canines that somehow just add to his villainous look. “You will. Google him—or better yet, Google me. Toren Kane, I’ve got better articles. Just see what you can find.”

He pushes past me, reaching beneath the end of the home team bench furthest from me and grabbing a bag. I realize he’s putting on skates, and I’m dumbstruck and a little shaken by the conversation, before taking off to definitelynotGoogle him.

* * *

I have First Aid Kit blaring, windows rolled down so that by the time I stop in front of my assigned parking for the dorms, my cheeks are pink and flushed from the wind.

I’m quick, rushing and very nearly forgetting to put my car in park before lurching out and towards the dorms, catching the door from someone on their way out.

We’re on the third floor, but I take the stairs anyway to avoid any waiting time.

I have exactlyzerotexts from Aurora or Rhys, which gives me just as much anxiety as if I’d missed an emergency text. But I’m already extremely late for my meeting with the lawyer. So, I spent most of my definitely-speeding drive here planning exactly how to beg Rora to bring them food and spend the night with them at our house—something I wouldneverask her to do otherwise, so that I can still possibly try to make the meeting.

When I burst through our door, Aurora is in the kitchen and the smell wafting over is mouth-watering.

She gives me a bright beaming smile that I definitely don’t deserve, considering the amount of her texts and calls I’ve let go unanswered as of late.

“Hey,” I drag out, slumping against our wrapping paper decorated door.

I wait for the onslaught of noise from the boys that is normal for nights they spend here.

She’s got a wooden spoon in her mouth, like she’s just finished tasting whatever’s in the pot on our sketchy stove, and a bright orange scrunchie keeping her hair up high on her head.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, mumbling around the spoon as she drops everything she’s doing and comes towards me. “Everything is okay.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Where… The boys. They aren’t here? What the hell?” I rake my hands through my hair, pulling out my bun and redoing it again. “I need to call Rhys, and then after I’m done losing my shit with him, Ihaveto meet with the lawyer—”

“Hey. It’s okay—my, uh, seminar went over and Rhys offered to grab them food.” Rora smiles, but there’s a hesitancy in her eyes. “Actually, I’m going to go pick up the boys in, like…” She glances at her watch. “An hour. Trust me, he’s probably showing Oliver some fun hockey moves while Liam laughs like it’s the funniest thing ever.”

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing thoughts. Because she’sright; as much as I’m furious with the hockey boy haunting my every thought, I do trust him. Especially with the boys.

Even if this feels like a trial by fire.

“And I madeyoudinner. So, eat,” she says, shuffling me to sit at our little table. “And then sleep. I’ll take care of everything, okay? Trust me.”

There’s a sinking feeling in my gut, a slight unease. But if there is anyone in this entire world I trust, it’s Rora.

“Okay.”

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