Page 86 of Cracked Ice (The F*cked Up Players #1)

thirty-nine

I t takes a while for me to come down from the high of that performance. I’m so riled up that by the time my apartment is within view again I still have goosebumps.

“I can’t tell you the last time I’ve done a performance that beautiful, Lucien.

You don’t know what it means to me that you skated with me like that.

I thought . . . I really thought I lost it, you know?

That whatever skill I had in the past was a fluke.

I convinced myself that everyone who said I was good lied to me.

That making it to the Olympic qualifiers was a stroke of luck and good timing.

I lied to myself, telling myself that my dad was right and that I never should have pursued figure skating in the first place.

” I’m babbling, but I can’t hold back my excitement.

Lucien grabs me by the forearm, only to slide his large hand into mine.

“You’re more than good, Sydney,” he says.

“You could be the greatest . Don’t ever let those who don’t believe in your talent distract you.

Next time there’s a million voices in your head telling you that you can’t do it, listen to my voice that says, ‘Sydney Fucking Sinclair can do anything she puts her mind to.’”

I scrunch my nose and bite back a grin.

“Your voice in my head sounds like a nightmare.”

“Whatever, Crazy Pants, you’d love it.” He ruffles my hair, ruining the semi-slick bun I only just managed. I swat his hands away and he pokes my neck, tickling me as we reach my street.

“Jeez, that’s an even worse nickname than before,” I tease, laughing at his insane musings.

We’re still laughing as we climb the steps toward my building and we’re howling like hyenas by the time we reach my floor.

“Lucien, stop! I’m ticklish,” I screech, skipping away as he nips at my chilled thighs. Before tonight, I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much in my life, but the laughter ceases when I drop my keys at the sight of the figure standing in front of my door.

“What are you doing here?” I question, wondering what the fuck is going through Bradford’s head.

Bradford narrows his eyes.

“Waiting for you. What is he doing here?” He points directly at Lucien, who I can already feel boiling over behind me.

“Is he your boyfriend or something? Is that why you haven’t been answering your phone and ignoring me all night?

” Bradford’s voice grows loud, and I take an involuntary step back.

I’m not afraid of him, but I’m taken aback by his anger.

I’ve never seen him so upset, but then again, I’m not the one who put him in this position.

“Just stop, okay. I didn’t owe you a response and I told you not to come!”

He scoffs. “I see why. Are you really with this guy?” His eyes shoot to Lucien, who’s now made his way beside me. “Are you fucking him?”

Jesus Christ. I roll my eyes.

He says it like it’s the most unbelievable shit he’s ever heard. Though plenty of other people seem to get the appeal of Lucien, he clearly does not.

“ That is none of your business,” I shoot back.

“Your pussy is absolutely my business,” he quips.

The hell did he just —

I don’t have time to finish my thought. Lucien’s already got Bradford by his shirt, holding him up against my door, his loafers barely kissing the cement.

“Sydney is fucking mine !” Lucien growls like a man possessed.

“Dude, this is Armani! Get the fuck off me!” Bradford shouts back.

Lucien doesn’t flinch.

“Seriously, man, you’re wrinkling it!”

Bradford’s feet swing in an attempt to find the ground.

“Is this guy for fucking real?” Lucien looks over his shoulder, watching me as I rub my temples.

“Unfortunately, yes,” I sigh. “Please let him go, Lucien. I promise he’s not worth it.”

Reluctantly, Lucien listens. I shouldn’t be so surprised, but you never quite know with Lucien. He’s unpredictable like that.

“Wow,” Bradford retorts, his tone despondent as he smooths his shirt back out. “Not worth it? Well, I can guarantee I’m worth a lot more than him .” He nods toward Lucien.

“That doesn’t make you more likeable, and it certainly doesn’t give you the right to judge him or my decisions,” I say.

“Funny,” Bradford retorts. “You weren’t complaining about my likeability when you were being a fucking cock tease, telling me how badly you wanted to fuck me these last few months.” He shifts his gaze back to Lucien. “Did she tell you that?”

My eyes bulge in disbelief. Utterly amazed at Bradford’s total lack of self-preservation. Is he so self-absorbed he doesn’t sense the danger here?

“It was the whole reason I came here, right? So we could spend alone time together.”

Lucien looks to me for answers.

“Stop it!” This time I shove Bradford and Lucien takes a step back. “That’s not what happened . . . exactly.” I look between them. “I never actually agreed to fuck you. We talked about it, that’s it.” I try my best to save what little face I have in this fucked-up situation.

“Bullshit, Sydney,” Bradford huffs. “That’s bullshit and you know it. You wanted me and now you show up here with him after doing God knows what! You look fucking terrible by the way.”

I rear back, feeling backhanded by his observation. Lucien’s been praising me all night, calling me beautiful even when I let him do the most vulgar things to me, but Bradford throws that all into the fire.

I stand my ground, looking from Lucien to Bradford. He doesn’t look too much better. There’s a hole in his fancy shoe and dirt on his expensive slacks.

“You need to leave,” I tell Bradford through gritted teeth. “I’m not doing this with you right now.”

Bradford chuckles. “I mean, I knew you were upset with your dad for dragging you back, but I never thought you’d stoop this low.

I’ve been the one there for you. Life is better with me because then he isn’t breathing down your neck.

I let you string me along by my dick, knowing it was all a game to you, but I honestly didn’t think you’d go this low. It’s pathe—”

“Enough!” I’m fucking done. It’s less about his insults and more about what he might let slip if he keeps talking. “I have neighbors and you’re making a scene,” I say flatly.

“Does your dad know?” he snarks, ignoring my attempts at de-escalation. “That you’re spreading your legs for a piece of shit like him?”

He nods in Lucien’s direction, but his glare remains affixed to mine.

“Just leave, Bradford!” I plead, tears stinging my eyes. He’s going to let it slip, he’s going to ruin it all.

“Yeah, Brad, go before this ‘piece of shit’ guts you,” growls Lucien, unable to keep silent any longer.

“What do you think he’ll say when I tell him?” Bradford muses, continuing to ignore Lucien altogether.

“She said leave,” Lucien growls.

Bradford doesn’t budge, he holds all the cards. He can tear down our tower of happiness with one swift blow should he choose.

But Lucien hits first.

He punches Bradford again and again.

“Please. Please, Lucien, stop. You’re only making it worse.” I pull at his shirt but it doesn’t help. It isn’t until I rub his back in gentle circles that he calms, letting Bradford go.

Bradford’s back slams against the wall and he drops to the ground in a heap with a bloody lip and an eyebrow that’s already starting to bruise.

Bradford spits out blood and then . . . he laughs. What the hell is wrong with everyone tonight? Bradford isn’t crazy like Lucien nor is he stupid, but he’s confident. He knows none of this matters. He knows how futile my fight is.

“Bradford,” I whisper. “Leave.”

“Yeah, okay.” He grunts as he sits up off the ground.

“I’ll be seeing you soon, Sydney. You can count on that.

” He winces, shuffling himself up the wall.

His hair is disheveled, with buttons missing from his precious Armani shirt, but he doesn’t look the least bit beaten.

In fact, his smirk suggests he won—and it sours my insides.

“Is that a threat?” Lucien asks, lunging again but I stop him, holding him back by the elbow to keep him at my side. I’ll be lucky if Bradford doesn’t choose to press charges against him. I’ll have to find a way to convince him not to when we get back home.

“You know . . .” Bradford smirks, wiping the blood from his nose with the back of his hand. “I almost feel bad for you. You shouldn’t let the cute face fool you, she’s still a Sinclair and she will hurt you. It’s what they do.”

I open my mouth to retort but what is there to say?

A small voice inside me says that Bradford’s right, what I’m doing is wrong, but it’s only sex. One night of fun. College kids do it all the time, right? Lucien has Trevor, coffee shop girls, and puck bunnies galore. He won’t miss me.

“Get the fuck out of here,” spits Lucien.

Bradford ambles to his feet, holding his hands in mock surrender as he backs away, a knowing smirk on his lips that keeps Lucien tense.

Bradford bops his head in my direction. “Hope he was worth it.”