Page 118 of Ice Bet

“There’s room for us all,” I whispered, winking at them. I’d already made the decision to treat this team differently than my last. I would be a senior, and there was no way I was going to run a team like the seniors did at Rosewood.

Lead by example, not by fear of competition.

“You smell like alcohol,” Gianna whispered. Worry worked over her features, and her eyes widened. “Oh my god, tell me it wasn’t you.”

Shit. It was already around campus.

I gulped and sat down to tie my skates. “I’m fine.”

Her hand landed on my arm. “Are you? I’m certain the committee would understand. You’re Riley Lennon. You are already number one on this team.”

“I don’t want special treatment. Plus, I have to stop the curious looks and worries.”

Gianna lifted her hands. “Alright, well…good luck. We could really benefit from having you on the team.”

The way figure skating worked was we were all scored individually, but every point added up to one overall score. You skated for yourself, but you skated for the team too.

“Thanks.” I smiled and headed toward the ice to meet with the coach. We’d only had a handful of conversations over the last year, but she was well aware of who I was, and she already had my song choice lined up. It was the one that Aasher chose for me one night while I was training as his eyes followed my every move.

“Good luck, Riley.”

I froze, turned, and then glared. My lungs were on fire, and my fingers twitched to slap him.

“How dare you show your face here.”

Graham Sullivan looked guiltier than ever. His temples flicked back and forth as he rested along one of the seats within a row lined with his younger followers. “All of you,” I said, looking at them.

Most of them swung their eyes in different directions, but Sully kept his eye on me. “What?”

“You think just because you weren’t there last night that I don’t know you were behind it?”

Sully’s throat moved. I wanted to wrap my small hands around his neck to choke him. “Behind what? The bet?” He sighed and looked remorseful, his mouth drooping at the sides. “Riley, it was Aasher’s idea. He’s been fooling you from the beginning.”

“Unbelievable,” I whispered.

His hands went into his pockets as he stood and headed toward me. I stayed unmoving. “I know. I’m sorry. I should have told you.”

I laughed. It sounded manic. “No. I mean it’s unbelievable that you can stand there and liesowell. It’s kind of scary.”

He opened his mouth, and I knew that anyone within earshot was listening. My nerves were lessening the longer I talked to him, because it felt good to steal the power back from someone who took it.

“It wasn’t Aasher’s idea,” I said, bending down slowly to make sure my skates were tied tightly. “It was yours.” I popped up and smiled boldly. “I was in the locker room that day, listening to everything you said. The point system,everything.”

Sully knew he’d been caught.

His eyebrows dipped just enough for me to keep going.

“And how fuckingdareyou slip something in my drink.”

“You put something in her drink? Dude, what?”

I leaned around and eyed one of the younger hockey players. “Well, he didn’t. But he had someone else do it because he can’t even do his own dirty work.”

“Nothing happened.” Sully rolled his eyes. “It’s not like you were touched. Jesus.”

“Taking away someone’s control, even for a few hours, isn’tnothing.” My knee met his groin, and he bent over at the waist, gasping for air. “Don’t youeverdo something like that again, or I swear to God, Graham, you’ll regret it.”

After I backed away, I turned around and shook out my arms. I slid onto the ice with a winning smile on my face. I’d never felt more like myself with the ice beneath my feet and fully capable of making my own decisions without trying to prove something to someone.

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