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“Text me when you get back to school tomorrow so I know you’ve made it.”

“I will,” I said, knowing I’d hear from my dad if I didn’t.

Once I climbed on the bus and pulled my phone out, I opened my texts and tapped on her name.

Duster: Impressive, Matthews. Very impressive.

I pressed myself back into my seat, and heat coated my chest.

Me: It was you, wasn’t it?

It was late. She may have been sleeping.

I clicked my phone off, but it buzzed a second later. Swiping up, I turned the brightness down and blocked out the continuous celebration from my team. They were rowdy, some planning on sneaking away to hit the bars before needing to get on the bus at eight a.m. sharp. I had no desire to go out. In fact, I wished we could drive through the night so I’d be back to Bexley U faster.

Duster: What are you talking about?

I smiled. Who did she think I was?

Me: Don’t play coy with me, Duster. You had something to do with my parents coming to my game.

Duster: Don’t be mad, please.

How could I ever be angry with her for doing something like that?

Me: I know you’re used to an asshole like Gray, but I’m not him. You somehow managed to get my parents to one of my games—something that I know they will be forever grateful for. That is probably the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me, Duster.

She was out of her mind if she thought I was angry. If anything, it made me fall for her even harder. Not only was she on board with me keeping us a secret until the end of the season—even without knowing that her dad threatened my chances at the NHL—but now she was making moves like this? Riley Lennon had nestled herself right next to my heart.

You couldn’t live without a beating heart, and I was pretty certain I couldn’t live without her either.

Duster: So, you’re not mad?

Me: I’m the furthest thing from mad. I want to do nothing but kiss you right now, so get ready for tomorrow night, baby, because I’m going to prove to you that I’m nothing like Gray, and I fully plan on appreciating you the way you deserve.

Only, she deserved to be flaunted around.

Not shoved behind a closed door.

34

RILEY

The housesalong Bexley U’s party street were quiet—all except the one that was holding the end-of-season hockey celebration. It was the biggest fraternity at Bexley U, therefore they had the biggest house, and leave it to Taytum and her flirty smile to get them to agree to host the party.

Everyone was wearing black—a black-out party. The only thing in the midst of the dark color were the shiny silver streamers hanging over every archway. The bowl of black punch—something that screamed bad decisions—smelled of liquor and blackberries. I opted for a beer instead, but mostly everyone had a cup with the liquid sloshing out the top.

There were so many bodies packed in the living room that I was forced to stay in the kitchen with Sutton sipping on her drink. Butterflies filled my belly at the thought of seeing Aasher. I wanted nothing more than to stay in my apartment and wait for their bus to weave through the winding roads toward the hockey rink, but Sutton got word that Crew was making an appearance to congratulate his alma mater on their season, and I knew she’d need all the support she could get.

“It’s onlythispacked because of Crew coming.” Her eye roll told me she was less than pleased about his appearance.

“Do you wanna leave?” I asked.

Sutton and I had both been burned by hockey players, but her heart was still broken.

Mine wasn’t.

Her blonde hair whizzed past her face when she looked over at me. “No. I don’t want him to have that power over me.”

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