Am I?
“I don’t seek people out to push around off the ice.” Grant’s brows rise. “They start the shit and I finish it.” That’s how it goes normally. I can’t say that about the new girl. I’ve done nothing but think about her and try to figure out ways to get her to dislike me. It’s better off if she hates me. I don’t know why that is, but it is.
I’ve been unsettled since I first saw her. I would say she’s fucking with my head on purpose, but when our paths have crossed, she doesn’t bother to even glance my way. Like she hadn’t laid into my ass the other day. And why the hell is it that every time that memory pops into my head I get hard as fuck?
It’s crazy that I even care that she ignores me. Wasn’t that the point of all this to begin with? Usually, I’d be over-fucking-joyed about it. Maybe that’s part of the allure or curiosity. Whatever you want to call it when it comes to her. You always want what you can’t have. I’ve heard other guys talk about girls playing hard to get. I wouldn’t know about any of that shit because I’ve always steered clear of them.
“You don’t have to seek people out to be a bully. And please tell me you don’t have class with a dark-haired girl named?—”
“Don’t.” I stop walking, cutting him off. I don’t want him to say her name.
“Don’t what? Speak of—” I grab him before I even comprehend what I’m doing. I slam him into the closest wall, sending a few other classmates stumbling out of the way. He doesn’t fight me as I pin him to the wall.
“Don’t even utter her name,” I say low, letting my anger bleed into each word so he knows I’m not fucking around about this.
“Why, will it make her appear?” the cocky little shit asks, not the least bit scared of me. He’s either crazy or we haven’t gotten to see all he’s got on the ice yet, and he’s been holding it back. In size, we’re not far off each other. He’s leaner, but I’m brute force. I’m about to yank him into me to slam him back into the wall again, but what he says next makes me pause. “Because she’s already here.” He glances to his left.
I cock my head to the side, following his line of sight to see her standing there, watching us, along with a shit ton of other people.
“All right, that’s enough, Luke; you’re not on the ice,” one of the teachers shouts at me.
“We’re just having a powwow, aren’t we, Luke? We’re besties.” His stupid-ass comment almost makes me bark a laugh, but I keep it under control.
“Oh, I was sure you two were going to kiss.” A sassy voice says it, and I know it’s my dark-haired girl. How could I not when I have replayed our first encounter together over and over again? A handful of classmates laugh while others know better.
“Not sure I’m his type.” I give Grant a warning look, and he gives a subtlenoshake of his head, silently telling me he’s not going there in front of everyone. Good to know; he’s only a dick when it’s the two of us.
“You’re everyone’s type,” Lana says loudly enough for everyone to hear. Grant doesn’t acknowledge her. I release my hold on him and step back.
“Everybody get moving,” the teacher orders. “Let’s not be late to classes on the first day.”
Everyone scatters except Lana and Madeline. Of course Grant is still here. Georgia’s head pops out from behind Madeline only to quickly duck right back behind her. I try to keep my attention on their faces, my expression blank, but I lose out.
My eyes drop to Madeline’s legs. I never understood the appeal of the schoolgirl uniform that guys get off on. Now I do, though I’m starting to see that it’s not the uniform that’s alluring; it’s her. She’s the reason it’s so damn hot, and it’s annoying.
“Grant, right?” Lana asks, stepping toward us. Here we go. I should turn and leave, but I want to see how Grant responds to a girl throwing herself at him.
Lie.
I want to keep staring at Madeline, who stares right back. Most people would have already looked away, but she’s got a backbone, and I’m finding I really like it when it comes to her. When her eyes flick over to Grant, I want to lay him out all over again. I need to get my shit together. This girl has me twisted in knots.
“Yeah,” Grant responds, sounding bored.
Lana and Caleb are cut from the same cloth except Lana’s is dark, and she’s smarter than him. I watch her give Grant the sweetest smile that she can force onto her face. It makes my mouth hurt watching her. How much shit did she pump into her lips over the summer? I know they weren’t this big last year, and I’m only noticing because that’s how drastic it is.
“I’ve seen you on the ice. It’s impressive. I’m Lana, captain of the Ice Crew.”
“You’re not the captain.” Madeline is quick to correct her. Isn’t that interesting? It seems I’m not the only one the new girl has an axe to grind with.
“I’m always captain.” Lana rolls her eyes as though her being captain is a foregone conclusion.
“Luke here is always an ass, but that doesn’t make him a donkey.” Why the hell am I catching strays? Lana appears stunned by Madeline’s response. A snort of a laugh comes from behind her, where Georgia is hiding.
“Maybe you should keep my name out of your mouth.” The words are past my lips before I can stop them. They don’t have the desired effect, though. The brat only licks her lips as though she couldn’t give a shit what I say.
“If you say so,” Madeline says with a hint of laughter and dismissively walks away. I don’t know why that fucks with my head more than if she had been an asshole right back to me.
I stand there and watch her go, and not once does she ever glance back.
