Page 74 of Ice Cold Rival

Relief made my knees weak, but I made sure to raise my chin at Toby. “Consider yourself uninvited.”

“And I’ll be calling your mother,” my mom added.

Toby had stopped trying to steal my phone and stood by the door with fury in his eyes, but he wouldn’t do anything where my mom could hear him. His hands curled into fists.

“This is Tanner’s fault. He corrupted you.”

“He saved me. You were the one ruining my life—and I’m happy to return the favor.”

“I should have smashed your fucking laptop instead of deleting those files, you stupid bitch. The next time we hide something in your room, the police won’t be able to dismiss it so easily,” he said quietly.

Mom didn’t hear him, but I did. “Guess you’ll have to find another good little wife to be at your beck and call. This one’s taken.”

Toby shook his head. “What a waste.” He didn’t say goodbye to Mom as he slammed the door on his way out.

Mom cleared her throat. “I have some time tomorrow if you want to join me for lunch at the club. It seems like we have a lot to discuss.”

It was as close as I’d probably get to an apology, but for once, I wanted to hear what she had to say. “Text me a time, and I’ll be there. I’ve got to go. Love you, Mom.”

“I love you too.”

The second the call ended, I collapsed limp onto the back of the couch. If nothing else, I’d learned my familydidvalue me. I remembered Brighton’s face when she’d seen me in the bridesmaid dress. She’d never been a part of the Toby fan club, and with Mom’s support, she’d definitely bar him from the wedding.

I wanted to rush over and tell Reece, but despite Toby’s confession, nothing outside this room had changed. The administration still thought I was a criminal, and my supposed crimes were all over social media.

Breathing in the overly perfumed scent of the couch, my brief moment of triumph felt hollow without Reece. Mase’s words came back to me.Maybe you should trust him.Reece had stood by me through everything thus far, how could I ask him to risk his future too? A small voice in the back of my mind whispered I wasn’t worth it.

Except…I was. The old me who’d blindly followed Toby to TU at his request wasn’t the same person who’d told confronted him today. I wasn’t alone, for one. Reece and the others would be here in a second to toss Toby into a dumpster and move me to the hockey house if I asked.

A warm feeling spread in my belly at the thought, not because I liked the image of Toby in a dumpster—I did—but because I liked the idea of taking the next step with Reece. One I’d never been willing to do with Toby. I groaned into the couch. Eva was right. Along the way, I’d fallen in love with Reece.

No wonder everyone was so afraid of her.

Reece had shown how he felt about me in a million ways. I was willing to fight for me because Reece had helped me believe in myself. Why wouldn’t I give him the same opportunity?

“Are you okay?” asked a quiet voice from behind me.

I leapt up and spun around with my hand on my chest. Kiki stood in the kitchen doorway, alone for once. I didn’t trust it.

“Where’s Amanda?”

“At a study session. She didn’t know Tobias was here with Noel, and she didn’t know he planned to get back together with you. There was a lot she didn’t know.”

Kiki didn’t seem like her normal ditsy self, and I started to suspect she put on a front as much as the rest of us.

“I’m not going to feel sorry for her after what she did, but Toby is the absolute worst. Too bad no one will believe me,” I said.

“I believe you. He hit on me, then wouldn’t leave me alone when I said no. Every time Amanda turns her back he tries to touch me. I’m not even sure she’d care that he makes me uncomfortable.”

I snorted. “That sounds right. At least they’re not trying to get you kicked out of school.”

“Don’t you want to do something to defend yourself?”

“I’d love to, but I don’t have any evidence.”

“I do,” Kiki offered. “I was there the whole time they were planning it. I also filmed your conversation just now. Sorry.”

I blinked at her. “You filmed Toby threatening me?”

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