Page 14 of Revolve
“I am notcocky.” Only Scarlett would see it as a positive. I submerged all those parts of me with Justin, but that didn’t stop hisice queencomments.Smile for once. You’ll make it hard for the judges to like us. Just don’t be you, Sierra.Those words had lodged themselves deep, buried under every forced expression, every effort to be palatable.
“It’s not a bad thing to know you’re good at something.”
I purse my lips. “Okay, fine, a little cocky. But he exudes it.”
“That I believe,” she says. “But at least you won’t bump into him on the ice anymore. I’m pretty sure he’s getting suspended.”
She might be right, but I have a feeling Dylan Donovan doesn’t follow the rules.
SEVEN
DYLAN
I’M OFFICIALLY KICKEDoff the hockey team.
I knew it was coming, but this morning, I received an email from the board of discipline detailing my new restrictions: no practices, no ice time unless it’s approved by Director Alan Reed, no attending games. The reality of that is even more clear when I walk into the DU Sports Clinic to see the headline staring right at me.
ROYALLY BUSTED: DALTON’S HOCKEY STUD KICKED OFF THE ICE FOLLOWING FAILED DRUG TEST
Summer Preston, Aiden’s girlfriend and my only friend who’s not an athlete or in a frat, stands behind reception, frowning at the latestDalton Royal Pressbefore crumpling it and tossing it in the trash. She texted earlier, asking me to meet her here before our library study session. It was just after I got the suspension email.
“They’re calling me a stud? I think someone at the paper has a crush on me,” I say.
Summer shakes her head. “I wish you’d told me, D. My dad knows the dean, he could’ve helped.”
Yeah, I highly doubt that. Lukas Preston hates me. More than he hates Aiden, and that’s saying something, because he’s the one fucking his daughter. But last month when we visited Toronto, I wasn’t prepared for how hot—beautiful—Summer’s mom is. A few drinks in, and I couldn’t stop flirting. Aiden kicked me under the table a bunch, but making her laugh felt like earning those tiny gold stars that my kindergarten teacher used to hand out. So asking NHL legend Lukas Preston for help was out of the question.
“Can’t do much now,” I say, pointing to the paper she just tossed.
“Don’t worry, I stole every copy.” Summer hikes a thumb to the mountain of newspapers teetering on the ledge.
A smile tugs at my lips at the gesture. “Thanks, but I’m sure Kian’s big mouth spread the news already.”
Someone groans. It’s Kian carrying another batch of papers. “I just had a two-hour philosophy lecture and then scoured campus for these newspapers. Please don’t yell at me.” He drops them with a thud by the recycling.
Summer laughs, then turns to me. “Well, good luck talking to Aiden when he comes home tomorrow.”
Crap. When Aiden was still at Dalton, he didn’t just lecture me as captain—he worried as a friend, his clear disappointment hitting harder than his words ever could. Now with his preseason calf-strain injury sidelining him, he’s coming back to rest and be with Summer.
Kian’s eyes light up. “Oh shit, Cap’s coming! We’ve got to clean his room and the house.”
“His room is clean. I’ve been sleeping in there,” Summer says.
“Right, I love overhearing yourconversationswith Aiden from across the hall. They’re my favorite bedtime stories,” Kian deadpans. “But it’ll be like old times. Especially if he’s staying for your birthdays.”
The reminder of my birthday creates a pit in my stomach. This year, Summer and I are celebrating together since both our birthdays fall on Halloween. Everyone’s excited.
Everyone except me.
After welcome week, parties are just loud reminders of my failed drug test. And with Kilner’s insistence that I find something worthwhile to prove I’m not just some stoner, I plan on being on my best behavior. Because I’ve given everything to hockey, convinced it would lead somewhere real, only to watch it all disappear as quickly as the smoke blew past my lips.
“Can we go now?” Kian says, already at the door. “I need to study.”
The guy sitting in the waiting area looks deathly ill, and he mutters something to Kian about closing the door because he’s cold.
“One sec, I gotta talk to Dr. Müller first.” Summer rushes off, and Kian says he’s going to the bathroom. It’s right then my phone rings. The drug test news has spread like wildfire. My parents probably know and are trying to reach me. But this time Ada’s name flashes on the screen.
“Suddenly, I’m the most popular girl in school,” my sister says.
