Page 6 of The Bad Boy Rule

My gaze drops to my feet, then back up to meet his cocky smirk as I cross my arms over my chest.

Not that I need to explain anything about myself, but I’ve had these skates for years, since I last competed. I can’t even really be upset with him judging me when I’m guilty of doing the very same thing about him a few minutes ago. Except I had the decorum to do it internally and not to his face.

“My parents didn’t pay for anything, not that it matters. I have every right to be here just as much as anyone else does. Just as much asyoudo.”

The arrogant expression on his face dims slightly, and he skates even closer, closer than what would be socially acceptable, but for some reason, I stay rooted in place, unwilling to back down and give him exactly what he’s expecting.

“Still… not… leaving.” His words are low and heavy, his brow arching as he says them.

“Neither am I.” I lift my chin. “Seems like we’re sharing the ice, then, doesn’t it?”

What I should do is grab my phone and call Summer, the coordinator for the rink. She’ll probably be able to get this fixedin no time, but now I’m staying here solely on principle. Just to show this jerk that he can’t bully people into submission.

That cocky smirk returns, his gaze dropping to my lips, then languidly returning to meet mine. “Not big on sharing.”

I match his smile with a saccharine one of my own. “You should probably work on that. Better late than never.” Skating backward, I leave him on the other side of the red line and wave my hand toward the divide. “You stay on your side, and I’ll stay on mine. Easy.”

“Fine.” His tone is clipped.

Now, I’m just being petty, but he doesn’t get to have the last word. “Perfect.”

I can practically see his eyes roll from here before he turns and skates back to the pucks on his side, then slaps one with his stick, sending it down the ice.

Turning my back to him, I skate to the other side of the rink, doing a few slow circles to get warmed up. I’m hoping that it’ll be like riding a bike, getting back into training and practicing.

Although today, I won’t be doing anything but reacquainting myself with the movements. Easing myself back into it.

I have a habit of jumping all in when it comes to anything that I’m excited about, so I have to mentally tell myself that I’m out of shape, that I haven’t been on the ice in a year and I can’t come out the gate doing the same thing I once was able to without injuring myself.

Even if I want nothing more than to show up this jerk, who is absolutely the reason for my distraction today.

It’s impossible to ignore his hulking presence as I skate, but eventually, the hour is up, and we’re both making our way toward the exit.

Before I step off the ice, I turn toward him.

He skids to a stop in front of me, purposefully slinging up a spray of ice in my direction.

“Oh my—” I yelp as it covers my front, clinging to my face, the front of my shirt, skirt, and legs. I blink up at him, disbelief momentarily stealing my words, before wiping away the melting ice from my face and flinging it.

Oh, this…dick.

“Are you freaking kidding me?”

His lips roll together as if he’s trying to stifle a laugh, and for a second, I’m worried that my restraints have snapped, and I just might take him out with the blade of my skate.

“Whoops.” Clearly, he’s not sorry, judging by the smile on his face.

If looks could kill… Well, then he might be the reason I end up on a true crime podcast.

Asshole.

I inhale a breath that’s meant to calm me but only seems to make me more annoyed when I feel the cold ice seeping through the fabric on my chest to where I can even feel the bitter bite through my sports bra.

He brushes past me off the ice, nearly checking me with his shoulder, and I whip around. “Oh, don’t worry,I’llreach out to Summer and figure out what’s going on. Please don’t stress yourself about it. You’re a dick, you know that?”

A beat passes before he turns back to face me, amusement or something much like it dancing in his eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I’m told.”

I’m contemplating taking my skate off and chucking it at him when his eyes travel down to my chest, and his lip curves into a grin. “Might want to get out of those wet clothes. It’s cold in here.”

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