Chapter 10
I push open the locker room door, still grinning. The game went down exactly the way I wanted, and seeing our rivals hit the ice wasn’t just satisfying – it was perfect. And to be honest, I am still riding the high of the night I spent in Remy’s bed.
I figured that she would need a few days on her own after that so I have been keeping my distance, which has been hell, but I know if I push her too hard, she’ll spook.
“What’s got you so happy?” Caleb’s voice cuts in, and he steps around, giving me a once-over.
“Nothing,” I say, shrugging, though I know my grin probably says otherwise. I’m not ready to share what’s going on, not with him anyway.
But Caleb narrows his eyes, not buying it. “Come on, then. You’re walking around with that smiling face bruised up and don’t even wanna say?”
The grin drops, and my jaw tightens. “Nah.”
His brows shoot up, and he smirks like he knows something. But I don’t give him anything. Just lean back on the bench as the rest of the guys file in, talking and laughing. The room’s buzzing after a good game– slaps on the back, gloves flying into lockers, sticks clattering to the floor.
Coach marches in, hands on his hips. “All right, solid game tonight. Good work out there.”
There’s a round of cheers, but Coach’s eyes zero in on me, and he points. “Zane, need you to keep it tighter on the ice next time. Less of the body-checking. We’re trying to win, not lose players.”
I nod, though I don’t fully care. The rougher play gets under people’s skin– gets ‘em distracted. That’s the point, even if Coach Jacobs doesn’t see it.
“Got it, Coach,” I say, just to keep him happy. He nods and moves on.
Out on the ice a while later, it’s just us– me, Caleb, Noah, and Declan – passing the puck back and forth. Declan’s working on his slap shots, practically shattering the glass behind the net. Noah snatches the puck off my stick and fires it past me.
“Oh, come on!” I yell, laughing. “Cheap move.”
He laughs, not even looking back. “Stay focused, dude!”
After practice, Declan’s the first to bring it up, flipping his helmet off and wiping his face with a towel. “So, rumor is the Reaper’s got a party lined up this weekend. That true?”
Caleb nods. “Yep, heard the same. Probably gonna be big.”
My mind’s already ticking. A party could be good– drinks, music, something to get the game out of my head. Declan seems interested too, flashing a grin. “Sounds like you’re going, then?”
I nod. “Hell yeah.”
A few hours later, we’re at the bar. It’s crowded, as usual, but we find a spot. Declan orders rounds, and we’re halfway into them when I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around, and there’s Amelia, a wicked smile already curling at her lips.
She leans in close. “Zane. Long time, no see.”
I raise an eyebrow, not really in the mood. “Amelia.”
Her hand slides up my arm, stopping at my shoulder. “Wanna head somewhere quieter?” She bats her lashes, the whole act. “Catch up?”
“No,” I say, and she doesn’t look too pleased, lips turning into a slight pout. But I keep my face blank. Nothing about this is appealing.
As I turn back around, something catches my eye– a face across the room. Someone I didn’t expect. Someone I definitely didn’t want to see.
Colin.
Remy’s boyfriend.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath, the beer suddenly tasting sour.
Before I can even comprehend what is happening, I stand.
I push out the heavy door of the bar, the cold air hitting my face hard. There he is— Colin, leaning back against the brick wall, barely noticing me as he laughs with some blonde girl. He does not look up until I’m in his space.
“Colin,” I say, voice tight.
He looks up, confused, eyes narrowing. “Do I know you?”
“You’re cheating on her?”
“I think you’ve got the wrong person, man,” he says, turning his attention to the girl.
“Stay away from Remy,” I grind out. My fists clench, itching to make my point clear.
He scoffs, shaking his head. “Remy? Do I fucking know you?”
“You don’t want to know me.”
“What, are you some kind of... what? Rich fuck at Blackridge who thinks because he’s got a class or two with Remy that means you’re now her best friend?”
“Rich fuck, huh?” I laugh, bitter. “I don’t care what you think of me. Just stay away from her.”
“Stay away from my girlfriend? Who the hell do you think you are?” He steps up, right in my face now. “You don’t know anything about me or my girl. You don’t know me.”
I feel Caleb’s hand on my shoulder, pulling me back, but I shove him off. My voice comes out low, edged with threat. “I know enough.”
“Enough?” Colin’s laugh is sharp. “You don’t know anything. She’s my girlfriend, and last time I checked, she hasn’t mentioned anything about you, so you’re nothing.”
I clench my jaw, the anger burning in my gut. But Caleb’s tugging me back harder now. “Come on, man. This isn’t worth it.”
I shove off Colin. He falls on the ground and then I let Caleb drag me back. But I don’t go back inside. I just walk, fists aching, mind buzzing. Remy’s going to be mad I confronted her boyfriend— I know that. But she’ll understand when she finds out her boyfriend was here with another woman. She’ll see I was just looking out for her.
I barely make it through the morning before I spot her. Remy. And she’s walking right for me, jaw tight, eyes blazing.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” She doesn’t wait, doesn’t give me time to brace myself.
I stay quiet, swallowing hard. Her eyes search my face, angry but hurt too.
“You pushed Colin on the ground?” Her voice rises, and I catch the looks from people nearby. She doesn’t care.
I finally manage to speak. “Remy, he’s no good for you. He was there with…”
She shakes her head, angry. “His cousin! Yeah, she called and told me that some guy in a hockey jersey walked straight up to my boyfriend to yell at him.”
Oh, shit. His cousin . I run a hand through my hair. I fucked up.
“Remy,” I start to say but she cuts me off.
“He is a good guy. I am the one who cheats remember? Or have you forgotten how much you like calling me your little slut? Surely you cannot have forgotten that, Zane.”
I had no idea the nickname affected her this much.
I reach out to touch her, but she flinches and takes a step back. “Don’t, Zane!”
“Baby.”
“ You do not get to do that, Zane. You don’t get to... do that and think it’s okay.” She presses something into my hand, and I look down. The phone. The AirPods.
“Remy—”
“Do not fucking force me into anything else,” she snaps, cutting me off. “Whatever this... whatever this was, it’s done.”
“That’s fucking dramatic, Rem.”
“Fuck you, Zane!”
She turns and storms off, and I’m left standing there, my hand still holding what she’s just thrown back at me.
Yeah, I fucked up badly.
I stare at the mess of records in the store, feeling more than a little out of my league.
“You sure she’s into this many Taylor Swift records?” I ask Maya, flipping through yet another album.
Maya sighs, unimpressed. “Positive. Trust me, the more, the better. Get all of them.”
“All of them?” I raise a brow, but she’s already motioning for me to hand them over so she can check out the cover art on each. “And what if she doesn’t even have a record player?”
“Good point,” Maya smirks, cocking her head, “better grab one of those too.”
I snort. “Alright, why the hell not?” I say, grabbing a sleek black record player. “Anything else? Maybe a shrine or a personalized Taylor Swift autograph?”
Maya rolls her eyes. “This is an apology gift, not a confession of undying love, remember? You messed up, you fix it. The girl likes music, and she deserves something decent after all that crap you pulled.”
“Just friends. That’s all I’m aiming for,” I say, but even as I say it, I know it sounds hollow. Still, I grab a basket, loading it up with albums, records, and that player. “Alright. This should make up for it. She can’t possibly ignore this, right?”
Maya gives me a skeptical look. “It’s a start. But the apology note— don’t half-ass it, Coburn.”
“Already planned out in my head. It’s good,” I tell her confidently.
She gives me a side glance like she’s already skeptical, and we check out. Outside, we load the bags into Maya’s Range Rover. I toss everything in the back, making sure the note’s still tucked in there.
I’m sorry. I’m an asshole. Forgive me.
The note’s a mix of lame and heartfelt. She’ll understand, I hope. It’s the best way I know how to say I screwed up without getting all dramatic about it.
“Alright, you’re good to take this to Remy?” I ask, turning to Maya as I close the trunk.
She shrugs. “Of course, but you’re going to owe me for this, Zane.”
I raise a brow. “Fine, fine. You want me to put in a good word with Caleb for you?”
She throws her head back, laughing. “Caleb? Oh, please, I’ve got him exactly where I want him.”
“Then what?” I ask, not entirely sure where she’s going with this.
“A Van Cleef bracelet,” she says smoothly, like she’s already thought this through. “Hermès. One of those with the little four-leaf clover things on it.”
I raise an eyebrow, chuckling. “Shit, you’re fucking serious? You could buy yourself five of those, Maya. I don’t need to.”
“I could. But I still want one.” She gives me a cheeky smile, and I shake my head.
“Fuck. Okay,” I say, laughing as I lift my hands in surrender. “One Hermès Van Cleef bracelet, just for you. You’ve got expensive tastes.”
She grins, winking as she hops into the driver’s seat. “Don’t be jealous of my style, Coburn.”
“Housewife car,” I mutter, looking at her Range Rover. She sticks her tongue out at me as she closes the door.
“Be nice, Zane,” she says, and I shrug.
“Thank you, Maya,” I say with a mockingly serious tone.
She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah. See you later.”
A couple hours later, I’m at the gym, trying to clear my head when my phone vibrates.
Maya: You owe me, big time. She loved the gifts. Oh, and she’s coming to the Reapers party tomorrow.
I smirk, letting out a long breath as I reply back.
Zane: Remind me to order you three Van Cleefs. Remy can have the pink one.
Maya: It was a pleasure doing business with you, Zane.
I laugh to myself, pocketing my phone. Maya’s... not that bad. Annoying, maybe. Chatty, definitely. But she did me a solid, and for that, she’s good in my book. Maybe I should make more of an effort to get to know her— Caleb would probably get a kick out of it too.
I adjust my mask for maybe the hundredth time, pulling at the edges so it rests right on my face. Red like blood. All around, the guys are leaning against tables, laughing too loudly, already well into the party buzz.
Caleb’s in his black mask, talking with a couple of the other guys near the bar, and he glances over, catching me checking the door. Again.
“She’ll show,” he says, giving me a smirk, like he’s got a crystal ball or some inside intel I don’t.
“Yeah?” I scoff, trying to shake it off. “When?”
“Give it time, man. Not every girl’s gonna come running on the first bell.”
I take a deep breath, fighting the urge to tell him I’m pretty damn sure she’s not coming. It’s been at least an hour since this thing started, and the door hasn’t budged. I’m starting to think I made the biggest mistake sending that invite. Maybe she was never coming, not after that mess I stirred up with Colin.
Just as I’m about to call it a loss, the door creaks open, and she steps inside.
And damn, Remy’s dressed to kill. The room goes dead silent as she walks in, the kind of silence that’s loud, like everyone here is seeing her for the first time. She’s in a black dress that’s hugging her curves just right, with thin straps over her shoulders and a slit running up her thigh. The lights catch the sparkles woven into the fabric, and it’s like she’s got her own spotlight on her.
My feet move on their own. I don’t even think about it, just heading toward her, trying not to stare too hard.
“Hey.” I’m winded, and I don’t even know why.
She tilts her head, her lips curving into a soft smile. “Hey. Thanks for the albums. And the player too.”
I shrug, trying to play it cool. “Had to make it right, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, I guess.” She looks around like she’s searching for someone. “Where’s Maya?”
“Outside getting some punch or something. She’ll be back.”
She nods, looking down at her hands, and I catch the tiniest hesitation before she speaks. “I’m... I’m only here to say thank you and to make sure you know— we’re just friends, Zane. That’s it.”
I open my mouth to say something, but my mind blanks. Friends. Just friends. I nod, but something’s twisting in me, something I don’t know what to do with. I shove it down, lock it away. “Yeah, yeah, got it. Just friends.”
She nods too, like she’s happy I’m agreeing, and then moves past me, scanning the room until she finds Maya. I stay where I am, watching her from across the room. Friends. I repeat it in my head like a chant.
But I’m an idiot, because as soon as she’s sipping punch and chatting with Maya, I’m already pulling other girls toward me, just to see if she’s watching. Just friends, right? Fine, let’s test that theory.
I lean close to a girl with blonde curls— don’t even know her name— and let her laugh echo a little louder. I make sure Remy’s within earshot, and when I laugh back, I see her glance over, that little flicker of interest. Her gaze sharpens, but it’s only for a second before she looks away, pressing her lips together and sipping her punch.
That’s enough to have me pulling another girl close, another flirt, another laugh, while Remy stares a little harder into her drink. She’s trying to look bored, trying to look like she doesn’t care, but I see her lips tighten. I notice the way she won’t look in my direction.
Maya gives her a little nudge and says something, probably telling her to let it go, to chill out, but Remy’s shoulders are stiff, and she’s fighting to keep that indifferent look.
An hour later, I’m outside, needing air and something less chaotic than the noise inside. I lean against the wall, running a hand through my hair, when I hear footsteps. I glance over, and there she is, her face half-lit under the outdoor lights.
“Enjoying the party?” I ask, trying not to sound too eager.
She gives a small nod, barely meeting my eyes. “Yeah, I guess so. You seem like you’re having a great time in there.”
I smirk, folding my arms. “Just making the most of it.”
She glances away, biting her lip, and that one little move— hell, it’s enough to get my blood boiling. She has no idea what she’s doing to me.
“Wanna go for a walk?” I ask, my voice lower than usual.
She hesitates, just for a second, but she nods, moving past me as we head down the dimly lit path. I fall into step beside her, trying to ignore the fact that we’re alone out here, away from all the noise, all the chaos.
After a few steps, I stop, turning to face her. “I gotta know something, Remy.”
She raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “What?”
I lean closer, lowering my voice. “Do you feel anything for me? Anything at all?”
Her gaze hardens, and she sets her jaw. “Zane, we’re friends. I told you that. Just friends.”
“Yeah?” I bite out the word, not letting it go. “Because it didn’t look like you were too happy with me and the girls tonight. Looked like something else was going on there.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re imagining things. I don’t care who you’re with.”
“Right,” I say, sarcasm dripping off the word. “Look, Remy, here’s the deal. If you walk away from this party tonight, I won’t come after you again. I won’t chase you down, won’t bother you. It’s your choice. You want me to leave you alone, then I will. You just have to say the word.”
She stares at me, something flickering in her eyes, and for a split second, I think she’s going to say something, maybe admit something she doesn’t want to admit. But then she straightens up, her face going cold.
“Okay. I’m leaving.”
And with that, she turns, walking back up the path without looking back.
Fuck.
I think I just shot myself in the foot.