Page 91 of I Blame the Rival

I meet her gaze with a heavy heart, “Do you know what the major side effect of anabolic steroids is?”

There’s a long list of potential side effects and repercussions an athlete can sustain when using testosterone supplements, but there’s only one that really matters.

“Aggression.”

Her gasp echoes around the bathroom housing the dark secret tying the Vin brothers together.

My father was the first person Vector put in the hospital.

But he wasn’t the last.

“Oh my God.” She whispers, her hands slipping from my face, “That’s why so many players have been injured.”

The absence of her touch burns my skin, reminding me exactly what kind of a person I am.

“Every person he hurt was because of me. Because I chose to stay silent. Cody Ellsworth…” Tears burn my eyes, “Had to give up lacrosse because of me.”

The hideous truth wraps around my ankles and drags me back into the depths of darkness. I can’t see, I can’t breathe, I can’t feel anything except the girl beside me.

Silence blooms between us, and with each passing second, I fall further from the flower that brought me back to life.

“Skylar.” Her voice sounds far away, like a distant dream I can picture but can’t quite remember, “Cody didn’t give up lacrosse because of his injuries. He stopped playing because he wanted to spend more time with Stella.”

“That… doesn’t make sense.”

I think my heart is pounding but it’s hard to be sure. There’s a strange sensation in my chest, something that feels too light and hopeful to be true.

“Vector broke his cheekbone and a couple of ribs. I saw the photos.”

“Maybe he did, but that’s not why Cody stopped playing lacrosse.”

It wasn’t because of me.

The crashing wave of relief has me collapsing against Lacey. Fresh tears leak out as one of my countless demons slip away.

She sighs, gently brushing back my hair, “I don’t blame you for keeping quiet. He’s your brother, and despite how cruel he can be sometimes, I know he loves you. And I know you love him too.”

I can feel my body start to shut down, but I fight it. I fight to stay in this moment, to hear her voice and feel her touch for just a little bit longer.

I should have told her sooner. I should have told her the first night we met.

I open my mouth to apologize, to say all the things I should have said, but Lacey steals the breath in my lungs before I get the chance.

“I love you, Skylar Vin. And I think it’s time you did too.”

She presses a kiss against my forehead and I pass out in her arms.

Chapter 19

Lacey

I tried and failed to carry Skylar back to his room.

To be fair, his slender frame is a lot heavier than it looks. It took less than two minutes for my arms to give out and for us both to go crashing to the floor. It was pathetic on all accounts, but the worst part was going to find someone to help.

“What the fuck did you do to him?” Vector glares at me before bending down to pick up his brother’s unconscious body.

I glare back at him, the earlier taunts not forgotten, “He’s been dealing with a lot lately.”

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