Page 3 of The Rivals' Touch

“The party is at Knox’s house this weekend. He’s gone big this time!” Cali says, brushing her dark hair in the small mirror taped to the inside of her locker. When she’s satisfied the knots are out, she shuts it and smiles at me over her shoulder.

My hair is up in a messy bun today. Unlike her, I look a mess. “I’m not drinking after last time. It took me a week to recover!”

“You always say that, and then you end up with a hangover the next day.”

“I know. I always regret it.”

“Hi, ladies.” Alex, Bennett’s best friend and the point guard on the basketball team, wraps his arms around our shoulders. “How are we today?”

Bennett isn’t far behind. Dressed in light blue jeans and a gray t-shirt, he looks delectable.

“One of these days, you’ll warm up to my hugs,” grins Alex, squeezing me.

“That day is not today. Go find some willing woman to harass with your manwhore ways!”

He pretends to gasp. “That’s harsh, Remi!”

Amused, Bennett leans on my locker and crosses one foot over the other. “Are you coming to watch practice later?”

I shrug Alex’s arm off my shoulder and give him a murderous glare before walking over to my boyfriend and rising up on my tiptoes. His soft lips descend on mine, and his hand tangles in my hair.

When I go to break away, he grins and fists the strands in his hand so I can’t leave. His tongue swipes over my bottom lip, demanding entrance.

I love how possessive he can be, never one to shy away from public affection.

He wraps his arms around my waist and deepens the kiss, groaning into my mouth.

“No lip-locking in the hallways!” Mr. Emerson growls on his way past, bald patch shining under the overhead lights.

We reluctantly break apart.

I cringe. “I can’t today. I have that family dinner, remember? My dad made it perfectly clear I have to be there.”

Cali looks up from the phone in her hand. “You don’t think he’s announcing a move to England or somewhere equally far away, do you? Maybe he’s decided to sell his company and retire somewhere warm in Europe, like Spain. Don’t they have sprawling beaches and hot weather?”

Amused, I shake my head as we start walking to class. “He’ll never sell his company, and he’ll most likely never retire. The man does nothing but work. That company is more his baby than I am.”

“True,” she agrees as we step around the corner. “Maybe he wants to adopt an orphan?”

“An orphan? He doesn’t even have time for me.”

Bennett puts his arm around my shoulder and plants a kiss on my lips. “Maybe he’s met someone.”

I pull a face. My dad is a perpetual bachelor. “Do you see my dad dating?”

He maneuvers us around a group of students congregated in the middle of the hallway. “No, I don’t. He never leaves his office.”

“At least your dad is rich,” Alex comments behind me, and I look at him quizzically over my shoulder. “That wasn’t at all random.”

He shrugs. “What do you think the family dinner is about?”

We stop outside the classroom, and Bennett pulls me over to the side so we’re not in the way of the door.

“I don’t know. The last time we had a family dinner, I was seven. I can’t even remember what it was about.”

“Sounds serious.” Cali pockets her phone and tucks her brown hair behind her ear.

I nod, deep in thought.

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