Page 114 of Ice Bet

“Is that why you have been hiding me? Not because you think my dad will disapprove but because of Sully?”That is ridiculous.

Aasher darted his attention to the left.

“You’re lying about something.”

“I’m not lying about anything.”

I pulled myself away and sat on his bed. I wasn’t going to let the spinning room stop this conversation from happening. “Then answer my question.”

Aasher pulled on the ends of his hair in frustration. “Riley.”

“I will walk out of this room right now.”

He snapped to attention, dropping his arms by his sides. He didn’t bat an eyelash when the truth fell from his mouth. “Your dad said he’d ruin my chances at the NHL if I broke his trust. It was after he had asked me to watch out for you, to make sure you stayed safe.”

My mouth parted.

“I’d already broken his trust by not telling him about the bet. I thought I could handle things on my own and keep you away from the team, but with doing that, I fell for you. I’ve broken his trust a million times over again, and I wanted to wait until I signed with the Hops before doing anything rash, but I won’t play on a team with someone who is capable of this. You’re not a toy, Riley. I won’t stand for it.” Aasher pushed off the edge of his dresser and flung his bedroom door open.

“Where are you going?!” I asked, jumping up from the bed before wobbling and nearly falling. Aasher was right there to catch me, pushing me down to sit.

“Sit.” He turned to walk away. “I’m going to go fix this.”

“Don’t tell him, Aasher.”

“I’m done hiding you, and I'd rather die by the hands of your father than let Graham Sullivan or his little following have even one tiny goddamn impure thought about you. They made a mistake with that bet, and it’s time they knew it.”

“Wait!” I shouted. “Just wait.”

He paused before shaking his head. “Riley, I’m not playing on a team with someone like him.”

“I don’t expect you to. I’m just as angry, Aasher.”

“But?” he asked, waiting for me to continue.

I dropped my hand. “Just get the facts straight first. Don’t tear apart the team because youthinkhe had something to do with this. It means too much to you andmy dad to throw it all away because of me.”

Aasher laughed, but it was edged with sarcasm. He dropped to a knee in front of me. “Riley, don’t you get it? Nothing means more to me than you.”

I was speechless after he walked away and left his apartment.

My hand flew to my mouth and then to my chest as I rubbed the spot my heart was slamming against. His confession was full of truth, but I hated knowing that he was about to throw a wedge into everything he’d worked for.

Because of me.

I stayed on the end of his bed and realized that the apartment was empty. In the midst of trying to figure out a way to find out who was responsible for last night, my phone vibrated. I grabbed it, hoping it was Aasher to let me know he’d changed his mind, but when I saw who it was, my heart sank. Three missed calls and a text from Assistant Coach Davis.

She was informing me that tryouts had been rescheduled.

For today.

I popped up, ignoring the roll of my stomach, and rushed across the hall to my apartment.

Sutton was sipping on a cup of coffee with her phone in her hand when I flew through the door. “I was just about to text you.” She placed the mug down and followed me into the bathroom as I quickly turned the sink on to wash my face. “Are you okay? How are you feeling?”

I turned to her with wide eyes. “Nervous.”

I couldn’t even think about what had happened last night or how I wanted to rush after Aasher and plead my case again. “My tryouts got rescheduled.”

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