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VIOLET

I should have known better than to fall for another hockey player.

I’d been beating myself up with that same thought all week.

Athletes weren’t like us normal people. They lived their lives like they were playing by a different set of rules and all that mattered was winning the game. I should have known better.

No matter how many times I repeated that phrase in my mind, I still jumped back and forth all week about whether I’d done the right thing in breaking things off with Reed.

I didn’t want to believe what Jeremy had told me, but I kept coming to the same conclusion.

Our fake relationship was all too convenient, and the reasoning Jeremy gave made far too much sense.

His warnings about Reed reminded me exactly why I was so wary of jocks.

To them, I would always come in second to their own pride and the game they loved so much.

The allure of victory was always their ultimate motivation, and it blinded them to everything else.

A relationship built on that was always going to end in disappointment and heartache.

Reed’s words at the ice arena had also hit me hard.

I’d already decided to end our relationship early, but the way he’d confirmed he’d do practically anything to win and then suggested I come to the game to watch him beat Jeremy had only solidified the decision in my mind.

It made me feel like everything Jeremy had said was true.

And it made the thought of dating another hockey player fill me with such a clawing sense of claustrophobia that I’d needed to get out of the arena, out of my fake relationship, and as far away from the feelings I had for Reed as possible.

Even if Reed did harbor some feelings for me too, we’d only known each other a few weeks. Could they really eclipse his hatred for my ex and his determination to defeat him in their upcoming game?

He'd tried to contact me constantly this week, but I’d ignored every call.

I didn’t know whether I could believe a single thing that came out of his mouth, and it felt much safer to keep my distance entirely.

I couldn’t risk seeing him or even hearing his voice because I knew it would test my resolve to the breaking point. I had to stay strong.

However, reminders of Reed followed me constantly at school.

The game and the rivalry between the Devils and the Saints was all anyone talked about.

By Friday, I was more aware than ever before of just how much this game meant to the team and everyone else at school.

The corridors had been transformed with gold and white streamers hanging from every surface.

And if I didn’t already hate Jeremy’s face enough, every wall was plastered with posters of the Saints players, and everywhere I went, there he was, leering back at me.

Even the teachers were excited for the game, some going so far as to wear golden outfits in support.

Luke must have been the odd one out. He either forgot his school had such a big game coming up or he was wearing a red tie in protest. Reed had certainly made an impression on him, and I didn’t have the heart to tell my uncle it had all been a big, fat lie.

When the school day ended on Friday, I was relieved to escape beyond the walls that were practically bursting with school spirit.

Mia had a debate meet tonight, so I walked to my car alone once the final bell rang.

As I reached Betty, I noticed a tall figure leaning against her.

My heart skipped a beat when I realized it was a Darling Devil, just not the one I might have expected.

“Grayson?” I said as I approached him. “What are you doing here?”

He eased himself off my car as he straightened.

Even though he was only slightly taller than Reed, it felt like he was towering over me.

And despite the fact he was behind enemy lines, he held himself calmly and confidently.

He was wearing his Ransom Devils sweats, making no effort to hide his identity from the many Sunshine Prep students who were walking past through the parking lot, either whispering about him or shooting him death glares.

I wondered if he even noticed because he had no reaction.

Maybe he was so used to being despised by people in Sunshine Hills that the negative attention just deflected straight off him.

“I’m here to talk about you and Reed,” he said.

“Well, I’m sorry you came all the way over here, but I’ve got nothing to say.”

Grayson was standing right in front of my driver’s side door, and while I knew he wouldn’t stop me from getting in the car, I didn’t exactly feel like moving him out the way. A small part of me was also intrigued by what he had come to say despite what I’d just told him.

“Reed’s a mess, Violet.”

“He is?” My chest clenched. Reed wasn’t the only one.

Grayson nodded. “He’s been a mess all week. I pretty much have to drag him out of bed to get him to school each morning. And he’s all over the place at training. I’m worried about him.”

My arms instinctively crossed over my chest, skepticism creeping into my thoughts. “Are you sure you’re not just worried about the game this weekend?”

Grayson frowned at me as though the concept that he would lie to me or try to trick me was completely foreign to him. “No, that’s not what I mean. Why would you say that?”

I hesitated before I answered. I didn’t want to discuss what Jeremy had told me with Grayson. He’d only deny it to protect his brother. But also, I still felt a little ashamed that my ex’s words had gotten to me so easily.

“I just know that the game is the most important thing to Reed right now.”

Grayson’s trademark frown was still creasing his forehead, but his expression somehow seemed softer. “Do you really believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

He shook his head, like he was disappointed in me. “Because if you knew Reed at all, you would know that’s bullshit,” he replied. “There’s plenty that matters more to him than the game. Like his family, his friends. And now, you.”

His answer cut me deeply, and I struggled to stop tears from welling in my eyes. I thought I knew Reed. I thought I might be one of the few people who actually saw the real him. But the doubt Jeremy had cast over our time together had made me question absolutely everything.

“Look, Violet,” Grayson continued. “I don’t know what you’re feeling, and I’m sure you have your reasons for not being with Reed. But I do know how he’s feeling. He cares about you. He has done since the first time he saw you kicking your car.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because he told me. I’ve known about the fake relationship from the start, and the only reason he agreed to that was because he liked you. Because he knew about your stance on hockey players, and he thought this deal was his only chance at spending time with you.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but he cut me off.

“I tried to convince him to tell you the truth, but he wouldn’t. He was worried if he came on too strong he’d scare you away, and it seems that’s exactly what’s happened.”

His stare was penetrating, cutting through all the excuses I’d used to convince myself Reed was a bad idea like a razor-sharp knife.

Grayson was right. I was scared. But I wasn’t running away because Reed had come on too strong like he suggested.

I was terrified because my feelings for Reed were too strong, and I couldn’t risk repeating past mistakes.

I’d been screwed over by a hockey player before, and the risk that was going to happen again felt too great.

So, yes, I’d fled at the first sign of trouble.

But that didn’t mean it wasn’t the right decision.

Not when, despite Grayson’s attempts at reassuring me, I still harbored lingering doubts about what Reed’s true intentions were.

“I’m sorry, Grayson,” I whispered. “It’s just not going to work out. But, good luck with your game tomorrow.”

He nodded as though he had nothing left to say. “I’m sorry, too.” He shrugged. “Just think about what I’ve said. So many people see the worst in Reed, but I didn’t think you were one of them.”

He turned and made his way back to his truck.

I stayed rooted to the spot until he’d pulled out of the parking lot and disappeared around the corner.

His parting words had caused a lump to form in my throat.

I’d thought the same. That I’d never let myself get swayed by the wild rumors and gossip that constantly followed Reed around.

I’d never been put off by his reputation. Until now.

If I’d been confused and upset before, my conversation with Grayson had only made it worse.

But like he said himself, he didn’t know what I was feeling, and I did have reasons for not wanting to be with Reed.

But with every day that passed, those reasons were becoming harder and harder to justify.

For all I knew though, Grayson just wanted me to come to their game so Reed could shake off whatever was distracting him and play well enough to beat Jeremy and the Saints.

Either way, I wasn’t going to be there to find out.

* * *

“You’re really not coming?” Mia asked. She was waiting by the counter at Hug in a Mug, dressed in warm clothes with her bright school scarf looped around her neck.

“I know you hate them both,” she said. “And you probably hope the ice rink melts, their sticks break, and they are cursed by a bad case of jock itch. But this is the biggest game of the season. Everyone from school will be there…”

“Jock itch, really?” I smirked.

“It was either that or crabs.” She leaned against the counter, adjusting her bag across her shoulder. “Would it really be that bad to come to the game?”

“Yeah, it really would,” I said. “Besides, can’t you see I’m working?”