Page 180 of Hell Hath No Fury
Breaking out into a jog, I step out onto the ice and skate to the center of the rink where one of the judges is standing with my trophy. I thank her with a huge grin on my face as I take it from her and spin to face everyone in the stands. Everyone claps and I hear Winter shouting my name as I spin around to curtsey each side of the arena.
As the award ceremony is wrapped up, I begin to skate back toward the door, my eyes scanning the stands as I look for Hayden. My gaze reaches the spot where I saw him standing earlier and it’s vacant. A frown tugs down on the corners of my lips as I see that he’s gone. My stomach rolls with irritation and I’m confused by his motives.
Hayden King had no business being here, but he left before it was over.
And I want to know why.
CHAPTER TWO
Hayden
Sitting in the parking lot, my eyes are on the door as I wait for Eden to appear. I shouldn’t be here right now, but I couldn’t resist coming. I overheard Winter talking about it the other day when I passed her in the hall. Eden won’t give me the time of day. She’s been avoiding me and every time I go to hockey practice or am at the rink, I half expect to see her but she’s never there.
I don’t know where she’s been hiding, but I knew tonight in the arena was the one place she wouldn’t be able to hide. Judging by the look on her face, she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see me here, but since when do I care? I know what I want and I’m not going to let Eden’s attitude deter me.
My gaze is practically cemented to the doorway as I patiently wait for Eden to come out. I’m not usually a patient man, but when it comes to her, I will wait an eternity if I have to just to get what I want. I watch as other people begin to file out, but there is no sign of Eden anywhere. I’m beginning to wonder if she snuck out a different exit or something.
After everyone has begun to leave in their cars, I’m left wondering if she really did find a way to sneak out without me seeing her. I don’t know that she would be suspecting me sitting in the parking lot, but I wouldn’t put it past her to be cautious. If she can avoid me, she’s going to do it.
I wait a few more minutes after the parking lot has cleared out before reaching for my key. Just as I’m about to turn it overand start the engine, I see Eden slipping through the door and out into the night. She isn’t even paying attention as she starts to walk toward her car, so she isn’t even suspecting me sitting out here.
A smirk tugs on the corners of my lips and I abandon the key before I climb out of my car and start heading in her direction. Eden goes to the back of her car, putting her bag in the back seat as I approach her. She doesn’t hear me as I step into her space, stopping just behind her. Eden stands back upright and shuts the door before turning around.
A gasp slips from her lips as she almost runs directly into me. “What the hell, Hayden?” she breathes, her eyes slicing through me like glass.
“Well, hello to you too, Eden.”
Eden continues to glare at me. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to watch you skate,” I tell her, offering an innocent smile. “I’ve been out here waiting for you.”
“You left before it was even over.”
Raising an eyebrow, I tilt my head to the side. “I didn’t need to stay to know that you won.”
I’ve seen Eden skate before. Hell, I even stalked her on the internet because God forbid she tells me anything about herself. The internet gods were kind to me, though, and provided enough information for me to make a pretty accurate determination of Eden Finley and her skill.
She’s one of the fucking best and she’s literally destined for greatness.
“Come on, King,” she mutters, putting her hands on her hips as she waits for me to get out of her way. Conveniently enough, I’m blocking the door and she needs to get past me to get in. Too bad I have no intention of moving. “Why are you really here?”
“You’ve been avoiding me again,” I tell her, propping my arm against her car as I stare down at her. “I want to know why.”
“Did it ever occur to you that maybe I have a fucking life? And that I’m not avoiding you, but I’m simply just busy?”
My eyebrows tug together and I roll my eyes dramatically at her. “Yeah right, Eden. I know how you operate. You’ve been avoiding me, don’t try and bullshit me.”
“So what?” she retorts, her nostrils flaring from frustration. “The world doesn’t revolve around you. When I want to see you again, I’ll let you know.”
Shaking my head, a chuckle rumbles in my chest as I push away from the car and step into her space. “Sorry, baby, but I don’t think that is the arrangement we had.”
“Refresh my memory then, because I’m pretty sure if I don’t want you anywhere near me, I don’t have to subject myself to your annoying presence.”
Goddamn her and her fiery attitude.
Eden Finley hates me with a burning passion and that only makes me want her more.
“You feel like making another mistake tonight, pretty girl?” I ask her, my eyes bouncing back and forth between hers. I can’t help the way that my body reacts to Eden. She doesn’t want me to chase her, yet she makes it so enticing. It’s a fucking game to both of us and I’m addicted.
