Page 69 of Ice Cold Rival

A growl rumbled in the back of Mase’s throat, and my eyes widened. Seconds later, he spun my laptop back to face me.

“Everything is back where it belongs, and you didn’t lose those files. Kane deleted them.” He slanted a pissed off glance in my direction then shook his head. “You already knew.”

I opened my mouth to explain, but Mase got up and prowled away from the table. “Don’t bother. I don’t want to hear whatever reasons you have for protecting that asshole.”

Indignation shot me out of my seat. “I’m not protectinghim—I’m protecting Reece.”

Mase paused in his beeline for the basement. “Not my business, but you should consider trusting Reece. Including his reactions. I won’t lie to him though, so maybe don’t keep it a secret for too long.”

I sank down as my rebuttal caught in my throat and Mase retreated downstairs without his water. Who was he to question if I trusted Reece? Ididtrust him. I’d come here, hadn’t I? The relief I felt at the restored files was overshadowed by the sudden horrible doubt flooding my mind.

Secrets sucked, and I didn’t like them—especially now—but I had a good reason. Without proof of any kind, it would be my word against his, and we’d all seen how that match-up played out. Reece wouldn’t care. He’d go after Toby.

As much as I loved the prospect of Toby in pain, I didn’t want Reece punished for it. I should probably wait until I’d calmed down and I was less eager for vengeance so I could convince Reece not to respond.

Tomorrow. I’d tell him tomorrow once I finished the project.

Guilt hadme tossing and turning all night thanks to Mase and his big mouth. Boo finally had enough and jumped down with an annoyed meow around dawn. Reece grunted and curled his arm around my waist, securing me against his side.

Somehow he always knew when I was about to climb out of bed. This time I didn’t let him distract me. My presentation was only a few hours away, and I wanted to use the time to go over my notes, maybe practice the talking parts.

Carefully, I slid away from him and tiptoed downstairs. The sun was just starting to come into the kitchen, and I expected to be alone. Instead, Mase sat on the couch playing a hockey game with intense focus.

I yawned and headed for the fridge. “What are you doing up?”

“I like the quiet,” he said pointedly.

Fine. I could take a hint, even without coffee. He could deal with me practicing. I started brewing coffee, and as the rich scent filled the house, Cole then Reece came stumbling down the stairs.

I blew on my coffee, liberally doused with milk and sugar, and raised my brows at them. “I had no idea you were all early risers.”

“We have morning skate in a little bit,” Cole grumbled on his way to the coffee.

Reece bent to kiss my cheek. “Sleeping isn’t the same without you there.”

Warmth spread from my cheek to the rest of my body. “Sorry if I woke you up.”

“No worries. Cole is right. We needed to get up anyway, and it’s nice having the coffee already made. Mase always fucks it up.”

Mase snorted. “I don’t drink coffee. Why would I know how to make it?”

Cole cradled his cup. “It’s one button. How hard could it be?”

“Sounds like you don’t need me to make it then.”

I giggled at Cole’s frown and opened my laptop to check my email before I got started. Most were trash, but at the top was a message from the university. My smile faded as I scanned the email. The bickering guys faded out behind me as my world narrowed to three soulless paragraphs from the Office of Student Conduct.

They’d summoned me for a disciplinary hearing pending an investigation into an incident at the Chi Omega sorority house. If found responsible, I’d be suspended for a minimum of one semester and a maximum of two years. As if that weren’t enough, they were looking into meand my associates.

The email didn’t say where they’d heard about the incident, but it didn’t take much to connect the dots. Amanda might have done it, but after the crap with my laptop, I’d bet on Toby taking the extra steps.

One more semester plus this week. That was all I had left of college. Toby still had his draft prospects, he had the adoration of my family and his, he had a string of women begging to take a ride on his dick. I didn’t understand why he needed to destroy my life when it wouldn’t change things for him at all.

The addition of the clause about my associates worried me the most though. I only spent time with Reece, the guys, and my book club friends. The wording was vague, but since I knew who’d probably filed the complaint, I was concerned Reece specifically had been brought into the mess. Hadn’t we made the deal partly to shove Toby’s face in me choosing his rival over him?

And now it may have backfired spectacularly.

“You okay, wifey?”

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