Page 17 of College Hockey Bully

“Don’t Casey me,” she replies. “Playing hard to get is not a cute look on you, Aiden. You’re more attractive when you chaseme.”

I snort. “I wonder how Liam would feel if he finds out you’re flirting with your ex.”

“Liam and I broke up a month ago. If you took the time to answer my calls, you’d know that.”

“One month? Wow, and here you are, ready to climb on a new horse. Well, an old-new horse. Typical Casey.”

“As if you’re no better. I’ve seen those tags on your Instagram page. You’ve been quite busy.”

Pausing at the stoplight, I glance over at Scarlett’s neighborhood before replying. “The difference is, I’m not in a committed relationship. I’ve never cheated on anyone.”

“No, you only change women every week. They better move over, though, because the queen is coming back.”

“Casey, that’s never going to happen. I told you a year ago and I’m reminding you now. There’s no going back after what you did to us,” I reply.

She sighs loudly. “I get it. You’re still hurting after all this time, but are you really going to punish yourself for a mistake I made?”

“Punish myself?”

“Yes, Aiden. You’re doing everything to smother your feelings for me and it’s only hurting you.”

I pull up to my front gates and wait for them to open. “The only thing I feel is regret for taking this call,” I reply.

She sighs again. “Okay, maybe you’re a tiny bit cute playing hard to get, but it’s already getting old. My birthday party is next month, just in case you’ve forgotten. I expect to make my grand entrance on your arm, got it?”

“That bossiness was sexy when I thought you were faithful,” I throw back, cutting the call. She rings right back, but I ignore it. Mom will have a fit if she finds out I just tanked her only plan.

Not my problem. It’s not hers, either. My mother doesn’t know it yet, but my plans include her, too. When I finally leave Rosedale, I’m taking her with me.

Chapter 8

Aiden

“What the fuck do you mean our skates are missing?” I bellow, my voice carrying over the noise as I slam my locker door.

The entire room is in a disarray. One hour before the game and our skates are nowhere to be found. They were here last evening, lined against the wall for cleaning. This can’t be fucking happening.

“Boys, calm down,” Danny, our coach, is saying, one hand clutching a clipboard, the other fanning up and down. A bid to settle us, I suspect, but with this game on the line, there’s no soothing our anger and worry.

“We’re getting replacements sent down from the sports department pronto,” Coach tells us. “And yes, it will affect our warm-up routine, but there’s no stopping us, anyway. We’ve got this in the bag. The Foxes won’t stand a chance once we slide onto the ice rink.”

His motivational words would usually gas me up, but not this time. My mind is whirling, thinking, wondering who the fuck would be so daring. Yes, I smell sabotage. Someone came in and took our gear to fuck with our game.

“Are we going to address the issue, though?” I ask Coach, when the guys are done clapping. “Our skates are missing. They didn’t just walk out of here.”

Coach nods. “I already asked the security team to review the surveillance tapes to see what they find. Either way, we’re going to win the game—”

“It was Scarlett,” Noah announces, pushing through the small crowd. “I just talked to Mel. She put her on cleaning duty this morning…”

The sudden uproar drowns out the rest of his words. I clench my fists, anger rolling inside me. So much for giving her a fucking chance. I was right. She’s up to something.

I catch Cameron’s eyes and he shakes his head regretfully. Even my best friend is now converted, finally seeing the truth for what it is.

“Ifthe evidence proves that it was the intern, then we’ll deal with her accordingly,” Coach yells above the noise, his expression cool and unmoved by Noah’s accusation. “Until then, she’s innocent until proven guilty.”

That comment earns him another uproar, to which he fans us off, then expeditiously makes his way out the door. Noah slams his fist into his palm. “That bitch is going down.”

“No. Let me handle it,” I reply gruffly, a rush of anger flooding me. I’m not sure exactly who I’m more furious with; Scarlett for proving me right, or Noah for wanting to hurt her.

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