Chapter Fourteen
LEXI
Be a good girl and get back to your studies.
Kayden’s stupid words were on repeat. I couldn’t get them out of my head. The past few days I’ve avoided him. Again. We were supposed to be fake dating, but how could I do that when he was always such a dick to me?
I seriously thought that he was going to be nice...for one split second I thought we could move past our bickering and focus on the task at hand.
Nope, it was his way or the highway. I was sitting at the island, mapping out the times when he’d be at the rink.
What I wouldn’t give to get away from him.
The door opened and Hazel came in with a few grocery bags.
Our dorm was an upperclassman dorm, but with all of the construction going on, they had to do some shuffling around.
So while we were only sophomores, we were staying in a dorm meant for juniors and seniors.
The layout was simple. You walked in from the entry to a small kitchen/living area, then down the hall was a bathroom we shared, and two bedrooms beside each other.
Each bedroom door locked from the inside and outside, so no one could get in unless they had a key.
It was nice because sometimes Hazel had a friend over, and I could lock myself away and turn up my television. Today though, my door was open, while I tried to figure out a game plan. “What’d you do? Buy the whole grocery store? Do you need help?”
She rolled her eyes and started putting things away. “No smartass. I grabbed a few things for the week, because you and I are going out tonight.”
I pushed the pen and paper away, shaking my head. “Every time I’ve gone out with you recently, something bad happens. We run into Kayden, I faint, I get roped into fake dating. Yeah, no, I’m good. You can go by yourself.”
I stood up to go to my room, but she stopped me. “Not so fast.”
I leaned my head back, my fingers itching to smack her. “What?”
“House party. It will be different.” Yeah right.
“Not just no, but hell no. It’s Thursday night. Why on earth are they having a party during the week?”
“Because they can? Come on, Lex. For me, please?” She batted her eyelashes, trying real hard to convince me.
“Fine. This is why I wish we had more friends,” I huffed, putting my stuff in my room.
“Love you!” She yelled.
My phone started to ring, an unknown number showing up. I never answered the phone when it was someone calling I didn’t know. People were notorious for scamming others, so I figured if it were important enough, they would leave a voicemail.
I ignored it and put it aside as I gathered my belongings to take a shower. The little ding noise went off, alerting me there was a text message. I sighed, the tiny part of my brain being curious about who it was, and grabbed it after I placed my clothes on the bathroom counter.
Unknown: Are you and Hazel coming to the party tonight?
My eyebrows knitted together. Who was this? It must’ve been someone who knew me and Hazel.
Me: Who is this?
Unknown: Your boyfriend.
My stomach dropped. Me: Stepbrother. Ugh, how did he get my number? I quickly changed his contact information from unknown to Kayden.
Me: How did you get my number?
The three dots danced on the screen, indicating he was typing.
Kayden: Take a guess.
Such a smartass.
Me: She’s dragging me along. Why? You can’t control my every move, Kayden.
Kayden: I want you there.
Me: That’s not an answer.
Kayden: It’s the one you’re getting.
Kayden: You won’t like the consequences if you don’t show up.
My lips dipped into a frown. Why did he have to be such a fucking ass?
I let the conversation go and went to take a shower. When I got out, Hazel was all dressed up and ready.
She was wearing a skin tight green dress that fit her curves perfectly. I whistled, “Damn, you got ready fast.”
“Yes.” Her gaze roamed over mine, “Is that what you’re wearing?”
I looked down at my clothes; a pair of jean shorts and a red tube top. I glanced back up at her, “Yes? What’s wrong with it?”
It’s a house party for crying out loud. I didn’t need to get all dressed up for it.
“Girl, wear a dress. Show off your assets.”
I shook my head, “You want me to go to the party, right?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Yes.”
“Then I get to choose what to wear. No one is going to be focused on what I’m wearing. It’ll be fine.”
I went back to the bathroom to do my make up and heard her mutter under her breath, “Someone will.”
I was putting on my foundation when she came to stand in the doorway. “Dylan is going to be there.”
I stopped and looked at her. “So the party is at the hockey house?”
She gave me a sheepish smile, “Yes.”
It shouldn’t matter because if I remembered correctly, Kayden mentioned his dad getting him an apartment. So he was probably already moved in there. Then his texts came to memory, about him asking if I was going. Surely, I could avoid him right?
I finished up and put my stuff away. “What’s with you and Dylan?”
She pursed her lips, as if she was afraid to tell me. She started rocking back and forth on her heels. “I like him...”
My eyebrows raised. That wasn’t normal for her. She usually liked one night stands. Has my girl finally fallen for someone?
“Does he know you like him?”
She shrugged, leading me out to the kitchen/living room area. “I don’t know. He’s a lot quieter than the other members on the hockey team, but he’s also a big flirt. He could be flirting with me looking for another hookup and nothing more.”
I took two bottles of water from the fridge and tossed one to her. “Well, you never know unless you try. I will say this, if you leave me by myself at this party, I’m unfriending you.”
She laughed, “Trust me, I don’t plan on going anywhere without you.”
By the time we got to the hockey house, there were cars parked everywhere.
On the street, lawn, driveway. There were people out front and it sounded like there were even more out back.
There was music playing loudly, but they wouldn’t get in trouble; they were the hockey team.
No one cared how loud their parties were because most people were at those parties, other athletes included.
Hazel grabbed my hand and led me up the stairs and into the house. The heat inside was humid and gross. It smelled like cheap beer, body heat and no deodorant.
I gagged. Yuck.
The bass was so loud it shook the fillings in my teeth, and the slight headache I’d had earlier was starting to come back.
Why did I let her convince me to come? This was NOT my thing.
I dug my heels into the hardwood floor, my chest tightening. I really don’t want to be here. I hated parties, they were incredibly uncomfortable and for someone who was an introvert, this never ended well. I need to get out of here.
Hazel’s grip on my hand was super tight, making it so I couldn’t go anywhere. Before I could pull away, two massive guys in tracksuits spotted us from the edge of the living room crowd. Instead of blocking us, their faces lit up with giant smiles.
“Hey! You made it. Kayden is in the kitchen, I’m sure he’ll be happy to know his girl is here.” One of the guys said, and the other one grinned.
His girl?
I froze. I’m not his anything. But I kinda am, weren’t I.
My face heated, but one of them grabbed my hand, steadily pulling me and Hazel through the crowd of sweaty bodies.
I drug my heels behind them, trying to stay in one place. I did not want to see him. Standing near the island was the jackass himself. He was entirely in his element until I noticed the tension bleeding into his shoulders.
Dylan was leaning against the counter next to him, holding a red cup. They were talking about hockey, and how scouts had come to practice.
"Please, Kayden wouldn't know what to do in that situation if it hit him in the face. We all saw how he folded under pressure because his daddy showed up." A sharp, venomous voice cut through the kitchen noise.
“Shut your mouth, Garcia.” Dylan said, sticking up for his best friend. Kayden didn’t say a word, but his jaw ticked. That was anything but good.
Standing right next to Garcia was a girl who was twirling a strand of blonde hair, her eyes scanning him with a desperate, possessive look. My gaze narrowed. Who the hell was she?
Hazel leaned over, whispering in my ear. “That’s Ivy. Kayden’s ex plaything.” It amazed me how she knew everything about everyone on campus. She was a social butterfly, but even she kept to herself at times.
I swallowed when she went to his side, and placed her hand on his chest. I gritted my teeth, trying hard to not let it bother me, but it wasn’t working. He’s your fake boyfriend. He’s about to be your stepbrother. You have no claim to him. Get a grip.
Hazel leaned over and whispered in my ear again, “Heads up, she was Garcia’s plaything as well.
That’s part of where this rivalry thing they have going on comes from.
That and the fact Garcia doesn’t think Kayden can handle his responsibilities on the ice.
” My stomach flipped, not wanting to watch this play out.
I wanted to escape and go home, to ignore the pangs of jealousy I’d had towards the whole situation.
Kayden stiffened at her touch, his eyes snapping past her shoulder until they locked onto mine.
He looked at me with an intensity that would give me whiplash.
Fuck, what did I get myself into?