Page 14 of Ice Cold Rival

“Something like that.”

I shifted to face him, tucking my legs under me. “Aren’t we a pair? You’re too fun, and I’m too boring.”

He didn’t answer, only studied my face long enough heat crept up my neck.

“What?” I asked.

“I have an idea,” he said slowly.

I waited, but he didn’t elaborate. Oddly, I didn’t mind the lull. Reece was clearly working something out in his mind. I didn’t know him well, but I was completely comfortable with him. Actually, it didn’t even feel like I didn’t know him well. It felt like I could tell him anything—like he’d listen and nod and accept in the easy way of his.

About the time I realized I’d never been this comfortable with Toby, Reece sat up and grasped both my hands. “Go with me on this. What if we could fuck with Amanda and Kane at the same time?”

My eyes narrowed. “What do you have in mind?”

“I’ll be your fun, and you’ll be my serious.”

Confusion had me tugging on my hands, but he held tight. “What does that mean?”

“We pretend to date. Not just date, but be obnoxious about it. The newest disgustingly in love couple. We’ll be the next Voren.”

I had no idea who Voren was, and I was having trouble following his train of thought. “How will us pretending to date help?”

“I was serious about no repeats. I haven’t been in a relationship since high school, and everyone around here knows I never go back for seconds. We’ll have to do some convincing, but once they believe you finally tamed the beast, you’ll never be accused of being boring again. Bonus, Kane willhaaateit if his girl chose me over him. That one’s for both of us.”

I finally understood what he was asking. Like our little show on the way in here. If we could convince Amanda and Toby I’d brought Reece in here for a hookup, why couldn’t we convince them it had become more?

A tiny ball of pain ricocheted around in my chest. I wasn’t so sure Toby would care. He’d claimed to appreciate me, but I couldn’t recognize his lies unless I walked in on them.

“And how does this help you?”

“Coach still thinks I’m going to go back to my old ways. If I show him I’m serious about settling down, he’ll have to reconsider.”

I wrinkled my nose. “By lying to him?”

“Who’s lying? I’ve already retired my partying ways.” I raised my brows at him, and he lifted a shoulder. “Okay, except for tonight, but I wasn’t planning to hook up with anyone. I’m done with that.”

“Good to know because I’ve already been humiliated by one boyfriend, I’d rather not experience it again.”

His thumb traced a delicate line across the back of my hand. “I’m all yours, little thief. What do you think? You and me against the world?”

I stared into his green eyes, bright with amusement, and felt a shift inside me. Petty revenge on Amanda? I was here for it. Messing with Toby’s mind? Yes, please. Spending time with a hockey player I liked way more than I should considering our brief acquaintance? That’s where I hesitated.

The last thing I wanted was to immediately repeat my mistakes, but Reece wasn’t actually asking me out. He wasn’t telling me I was special with one breath and whispering the same thing to a puck bunny with another. And he wouldn’t be shoved in my face at every family function between now and Christmas.

In the back of my mind, another evil plan started to take shape. “How would you feel about taking this show on the road?”

“Positively. Where are we going?”

I smiled, finally feeling the death grip around my ribcage relax. “My sister’s wedding.”

6

Kenzie’s hands were soft under mine, and she looked up at me with such glee at the thought of bringing me to her sister’s wedding. Obviously, I didn’t know the history, but I figured Kane was probably supposed to be her date. I’d need that information at some point, but tonight, she was sitting on her bed with me, hatching a plan for revenge.

I was a sucker for a good girl ready to be bad.

Even more so for one who’d been ballsy enough to pick me up not once, but twice, without knowing a single thing about me. It was kind of refreshing.

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