Page 44

“Uh, yeah, of course,” I said, nodding at her to go ahead.

As she left, I slowly turned back to face the room.

My heart swelled with a mixture of nerves and excitement when I caught sight of Reed.

He was still talking to Matt, and he looked so handsome as he released an easy laugh.

Whatever happened going forward, I felt lucky I’d gotten to be his girlfriend these last few weeks, even if it was all for show.

When he saw me watching him and that Paige had disappeared, he waved me over.

As I approached, his smile seemed to get brighter, and I found myself wondering how I’d managed to keep such firm boundaries between us for so long.

How I hadn’t fallen deeply in love with this boy the moment I met him.

I wondered if perhaps I had and I’d just been too stubborn to recognize my feelings for what they were.

“Hey,” he said when I reached him. “I’m glad you’re back. I’ve been wanting to show my girlfriend off.”

My stomach turned uncomfortably at his words.

He sounded so genuine as though he was truly proud to have me by his side.

But it was also exactly the type of comment my fake boyfriend would make.

While it sounded nice, it hinted at one of the real reasons we were together in the first place—to keep his female fans off his back.

I did my best to shake off my doubts. I’d already given in to my feelings for him, and I hoped he was feeling the same thing. There was no going back now.

“Do you want to go dance?” I suggested.

“Reed doesn’t dance.” Matt laughed.

But Reed ignored his friend, keeping his focus on me. “Maybe I was just waiting for the right partner.” He held out a hand toward me, and as I slipped my fingers into his grasp, my world felt complete.

He led me back through the house to the living room where everyone was dancing.

It felt like every eye in the room was on us as we made our way through the crowd, but Reed didn’t seem to notice.

His attention was entirely on me as he pulled me tightly against him.

With our bodies pressed so close together, it was hard to think.

“You okay?” he asked.

I nodded because my mouth was dry, and my words felt stuck in my throat.

My whole body was alight with energy, and every time we shifted to the music my stomach dipped and then soared like a flock of birds taking flight.

If this was what it felt like to dance with Reed, kissing him, now I had developed feelings, might be a terrible idea.

I was starting to doubt Mia’s plan, and realizing just how much it would hurt if we kissed and he didn’t feel the same way.

I threaded my arms around his neck as we danced, and my fingers lightly brushed against the scar there.

The faint line was clearly healed, so it must have been there for years.

I swallowed as I remembered all the possible explanations people had come up with for the origin of Reed’s scar.

It was a rumor I hadn’t yet asked him about, but one I had been thinking about more than any other.

While he’d disproved most of the rumors I’d heard over the last few weeks, either by telling me the truth directly or just by showing he wasn’t that kind of guy, the truth about his scar still remained a mystery.

I slowly peered up at him, and as our gazes locked, a familiar warmth spread through me. “What happened here?” I murmured, my fingers brushing against his scar once more. I couldn’t help but notice his reaction.

A subtle shiver rippled through his body. He closed his eyes for a moment, and I wasn’t sure if he was going to reply.

“There are rumors…” I added when he hadn’t said anything for a few moments.

“I didn’t know people still talked about it,” he murmured, opening his eyes to look at me again. He cleared his throat. “What have you heard?” His voice was lower, huskier somehow. I couldn’t tell if it was in reaction to my touch or if perhaps he was worried about the story behind his scar.

“Several things,” I replied. “One of the explanations involved a girl and an ice skate…”

He visibly swallowed as he returned my curious gaze. “I guess they got one right for once…”

My stomach twisted uncomfortably as I saw anxiety in his eyes.

Was this really one of the few rumors that was actually true?

I’d heard Reed got his scar because he’d broken some poor girl’s heart and she’d thrown the skate at him in a rage.

I’d hoped that, like most of the other rumors, it would turn out to be false.

“What happened?” I asked, but I was no longer certain I wanted to know.

We’d all but stopped dancing as we spoke, and Reed kept glancing around like he was worried we’d be overheard. “I’d rather we didn’t talk about it here.”

Was the truth really that bad? I was about to ask him why, but the sound of shouting coming from outside stopped me. Everyone on the dance floor froze and looked in the direction of the noise. It was muffled at first, but then one bellowed word rang clear: “Cops!”

It echoed through the room like an alarm, rippling across the dance floor until total chaos erupted. Everyone burst back to life and started scrambling for the nearest exit. A mix of panicked voices and excited laughter filled the air, and I felt like I was caught in the midst of a stampede.

Reed caged me in his arms, barging his way through the frantic crowd and back out to the den. I was surprised to find that all the guys from the hockey team were still there. Had they not heard the commotion or seen the people racing to get out of the house?

“Are the cops really here?” Matt asked as he fell into step beside Reed.

Before Reed could reply, Matt’s question was answered as a familiar flash of red and blue light illuminated the next room. It must have been coming through a window. The police were in the front driveway.

“I guess so,” Reed grunted. “But don’t worry, man. I’ll help you sort it out. We just need to make sure every Devils player that’s here gets out without being seen.”

“They want to help, too,” Matt replied.

“They’re not helping anyone if the entire team gets benched for our game next week. Get them out of here, now.”

While the rest of the kids at the party seemed to be enjoying the adrenaline rush of running from the cops, it appeared the consequences of getting caught were a lot greater for the hockey team.

Matt nodded firmly at Reed before gathering the other members of the team.

Reed was still on a mission though, and he kept a hand placed firmly on my lower back as he guided me over to where Paige and his brothers were waiting.

He chucked his keys at Parker, who grabbed them easily out of the air. “Take the girls home.”

“What? No way,” Parker replied. “I’m staying to help.”

“I don’t have time to argue, Parker,” Reed said. “Take them home, and make sure none of you are caught.”

There was a sinking feeling in my chest as I realized Reed wasn’t coming too. Of course, he wasn’t. There was no way he would leave Matt to face the cops alone.

He stared Parker down as he waited for his younger brother to agree. Parker must have known Reed was serious because he caved far quicker than I expected, and he gave Reed a serious nod. “Okay, you got it.”

Relief flashed in Reed’s eyes, but then he winced. “Wait, my truck’s parked out front…”

“Take mine instead.” Grayson handed over his keys. “It’s parked around the corner. Paige knows where it is.”

“You’re staying?” Paige asked, her eyes were wide with concern although she didn’t look surprised.

Grayson nodded. “Someone needs to keep Reed out of trouble.”

Reed shot him a scowl but didn’t argue. I imagined even Reed thought twice about taking his twin brother on.

I said a rushed goodbye to Reed before I followed Paige and Parker to the back door of the house.

I glanced over my shoulder before we reached it and found Reed was already talking seriously with Matt.

This might have been his best friend’s house, but Reed looked like he was taking charge.

I hoped Grayson wouldn’t have to go to any great lengths to keep his brother from getting in trouble, like he’d suggested.

When we got outside, there were still kids dashing in every direction.

Some were hopping over the back fence and running into the woods behind Matt’s house while a few others had even climbed up into the trees as if the cops wouldn’t think to shine their flashlights a few feet above their heads.

I even heard a few giggles coming from a small pink and white children’s playhouse, and it looked like at least three people had squeezed themselves inside the tiny toy home to hide.

The backyard and the woods beyond still echoed with both screams and laughter.

Parker didn’t sprint across the grass like everyone else though. He walked casually but with authority as he guided me and Paige toward the back fence to a gate that was partially obstructed by an overgrown bush.

“You don’t think they’ll get in trouble, do you?” I asked, peering back toward the house.

“I’m sure they’ll be fine,” Paige said, taking my hand and giving it a squeeze. “This isn’t the first time.”

“Yeah, don’t worry,” Parker agreed. “Grayson’s scowl will probably make the cops turn and run in the other direction. I can’t believe Reed put me on babysitting duty.”

“ Hey! ” Paige and I both complained at once.

“Just joking,” Parker grinned. “Sort of.”

His relaxed attitude made me feel a little better. If Parker wasn’t worried, I shouldn’t be either, right?

We managed to get back to Grayson’s car without incident, and by the time we reached it, the street had turned quiet.

I was guessing that meant most of the partygoers had either left or were in hiding.

Parker didn’t seem too concerned about racing for the car or darting between trees as I’d seen some kids do.

I couldn’t decide if he was brave, stupid, or just arrogant enough that he really didn’t think he could get in trouble.

Parker dropped Paige home first. She lived just a few streets from Matt, but she didn’t look particularly pleased to be back at her house so soon.

We still hadn’t heard from Grayson or Reed, and we exchanged phone numbers before she got out of the car so we could text each other the moment we heard anything about the party.

It was only as Parker pulled up outside my house that a text finally came through.

Reed: All good here. There were no cops. It was a prank by some Saints players. They even brought their own fake siren.

I released a sigh of relief. “It was a prank,” I told Parker, and I noticed his grasp on the steering wheel loosen. Apparently, he’d been more worried than he had let on.

“I’m going to kill those Saints,” Parker grumbled before I’d even explained who was behind the prank. “I was about to score with the hottest girl in our year. Their timing couldn’t have been worse.”

“And on that note, I’m going to go,” I replied. “Thanks for driving me home, Parker. I know you wanted to stay, so I really appreciate it.”

He shrugged like it was no big deal. “You’re Reed’s girl,” he replied. “That makes you family.”

I had no idea how to respond. It humbled me to know how easily Parker, and all Reed’s family and friends, had accepted me. But it also filled me with guilt knowing we were deceiving them all. I desperately wished what Parker had said was true. That I really was Reed’s girl.

I smiled at him before stepping out of the car and making my way to the house. I waited until I was in my room before I replied to Reed’s message.

Me: Glad you’re okay. What happened?

Reed: Not much. They ran off as soon as Matt, Grayson, and I went out front to confront them.

Reed: Sorry our night was ruined. I still owe you the story of how I got my scar. Can you meet me at the rink tomorrow morning? There’s something I need to show you to help explain.

I frowned down at my phone. In all the excitement of fleeing Matt’s house, I’d completely forgotten Reed had been about to tell me what happened with his scar. I drew in a breath before I responded.

Me: I have work at 11, but I can meet you before?

Reed: Great. Come by just after 10.

Reed: And please promise you won’t think less of me…

I stared at his final message and tried to figure out what he could mean by that.

Was the story of how he got his scar really so terrible?

And if it was, did I even want to hear his explanation?

Nothing had gone according to plan tonight, and I wasn’t sure I was ready to face any more surprises.

But I guessed that was a problem for tomorrow.

Whatever Reed had to show me, I just hoped I wouldn’t think less of him too.