Page 36 of Collide
aidencrawford: And why’s that?
summerluvin: No nude cereal box ad. Unfollowing.
aidencrawford: I’ll do a private one just for you. Can’t afford to upset a fan.
summerluvin: pass.
aidencrawford: You have other suggestions?
summerluvin: You, clothed, not trying to distract me from my research.
aidencrawford: pass.
I shove my phone back in my pocket and climb the steps to the psychology building. The reason for my irritated mood is sitting in the lounge like a prince.
Is Donny Rai seriously Summer’s type? Preppy and Academic? Finding out she dated Donny was a huge shock. Kian was the one to tell me, because he knows everything about everyone at Dalton. Sometimes I think he runs our school’s gossip page.
“Rai.”
Donny turns in his chair, and his friends eye me as if the doors to the building had jock repellent that I managed to break through.
“What’s up? Need a tutor for English 101?”
I’ve never been the one to incite violence off the ice, but right now, nothing is as appealing as the idea of my fist driving into Donny’s jaw. Though, his uninspired insult misses the mark because I’m sure he’s aware of every student on the dean’s list, and I’m one of them.
“I’m good. You’re not my usual type for tutors.” I revel in the way his jaw clenches. “I want to talk about Summer.”
“Do you need my permission?”
“Apparently, I do because you seem to think you can control her. She’s been working hard on her paper, and I’d appreciate it if you cool your drop-ins. She’s stressed, and you’re not helping.”
“I’m just trying to give her some of my expertise.”
“She has plenty.”
He laughs. “You met her like what? Five minutes ago? I’ve known her for years, and she trusts my opinion. You should be glad I’m even willing to help her.”
Prick. “Look, I’m telling you how she’s feeling and that her project won’t be any better with you breathing down her neck.”
An air of tension settles between us until he steps back. “Fine. I want to see how this pans out anyway.”
I falter. “What does that mean?”
He releases a sardonic breath. “Give it up, Crawford. If she lets you hit, you’ll be on the curb faster than you can finish.”
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, does all the brain damage you’ve amassed make it hard to hear too?” My clenched teeth feel like they’ll turn to dust from the pressure. “Summer’s not going to sleep with you because you act like you care. That girl has spikes around her thicker than your head. I’d tell you not to waste your time, but you’re already doing that. So, I’ll be watching when you inevitably fail.” The air of arrogance that oozes out of every pore follows him out the door.
Later that evening, it’s closing time when I skate off the ice to head to the showers. My solo practice session went longer than intended, probably because I imagined Donny’s face as the puck.
Though we won our last game, it’s the worst we’ve ever played. And when I entered the arena, Kilner made sure to castrate me for the shitty performance.
When I twist off the faucet and pull a towel around my waist, light footsteps sound against the tiled floors. As I open the door, the faint smell of peaches hits my nose before I see her.
“Summer?”
She spins, long brown hair in waves down her back. Full lips part when her gaze drifts to my low-hanging towel. Then as if clearing her thoughts, the fire of anger lights her expression and she marches right up to me, almost walking into the stall before faltering. She crosses her arms to create some type of barrier between us, and I stifle a laugh.
