Page 18 of I Blame the Rival

I’m going to find my friend Skylar.

“I call dibs on the Vin brothers.” Cecelia lets out a drunken cackle from the passenger seat and Maren groans beside me.

“You can’t have both!”

“Hell yeah, I can. Take your pick from the rest of the litter.”

Ava snaps her fingers from the driver’s seat, “She called dibs but if the Vin boys aren’t in the mood for Cecelia’s spunk then it’s fair game.”

My roommate thinks it over for a moment before nodding.

“Deal.”

I stare out the window, watching the prairie fields fly by. The sun has started to set, creating a gorgeous backdrop against the Rocky Mountains in the distance.

“Who are the Vin brothers?”

Maren’s jaw drops while Cecelia shifts in her seat to look at me.

“You haven’t heard of Vector Vin? The guy who put our captain in the hospital last year?”

I pause, thinking about Wesley’s first lacrosse tournament. Cody had ended up in the hospital, but I hadn’t paid much attention to who was responsible.

Actually, that’s a lie. I think I remember Stella ranting about Silverwood’s infamous bully.

Ava shakes her head, “I heard they grew up in an abusive household. Apparently, Vector had to kill the father so they could get out.”

Maren sighs, “I love a tragic backstory.”

I stare at her in horror, “Domestic abuse is not a romance trope. These are real people you’re talking about.”

Cecelia rolls her eyes, “Don’t be so high and mighty, roomie. Mare was just joking.”

“No, she’s right.” Maren looks at me with glazed eyes, the three drinks she had back at the dorm well underway, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Do you forgive me?”

I give her a tight smile, “Nothing to forgive.”

“The white hair is kind of hot, though.” Maren giggles and lets out a hiccup, “Reminds me of President Snow.”

“Fuck the white hair, what about the muscles on Vector?” Cecelia lets out a whistle, “That man can fuck me seven ways to Sunday.”

Ava snickers and I go back to staring out the window. Reaching into my coat pocket, I trace the edges of the soft material with my fingertips.

Even if Skylar isn’t there tonight, I’ll find a way to meet her.

“WE’RE HERE!”

Leaning away from the drunk banshee, I look out the windshield and watch the overflowing parking come into view. The place is so crowded already that people are parking on the empty plots of land nearby. Following their lead, Ava pulls off the main street and drives along the bumpy dirt road until an empty space comes up.

“I’m so excited I might pee myself.” Maren gives me a toothy grin, “Do you have toilet paper by any chance?”

“If you piss in my car, you’re paying to have it detailed.” Ava shifts the car into park and turns around to look at us, “Time for some ground rules, ladies.”

Cecelia rolls her eyes, “Here we go.”

“Shut it. We have a newbie here who doesn’t know the DDD.”

I blink, “Is that a new term for designated driver?”

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