Chapter 21

Reign

Having Riley say "okay" to me has settled the inner beast inside for now. I can actually walk by some of the male population in school without them cowering or running scared. I've taken a small break from the rink, much to Leif and Carter's relief.

"That junior from last week did drop out," Carter informs us while heading to the arena. It's the girls' team's first home game and I can't wait to see Riley dominate the ice.

"I barely hit him." I shrug while we walk, pulling my hat more securely on my head.

Leif snorts. "You broke his nose."

"It was already fake from the plastic surgery he had as a freshman," I point out.

Leif shakes with laughter next to me, a smirk on his lips while Carter just frowns. "I think it was more the threat that his older brother would receive a severe injury on the soccer field this spring. His brother is getting endorsements and could play pro next year."

I glance at my two best friends. "Let it be a lesson. I already said if anyone messes with Riley they aren't safe. Families are fair game."

Carter claps my shoulders. "Let's just be thankful then that she said yes."

"She's a life saver," Leif agrees, laughing.

The arena is packed when we get there; there's even a line out the door. Luckily, we get to use the player entrance and go through the side, scanning our badges as we go. The Saints girls' program has really boomed in the past ten years. The girls always fill the stands just like we do.

I agree to sit in the player section with other members of my team, getting as close to the glass as I can. I pull out my phone and open my texts from Riley when I see that she replied to my message from earlier.

RILEY: Thanks, boyfriend *face throwing a kiss emoji*

Fuck. My heart races after reading it. This girl is my everything. Quickly pocketing my phone before anyone can read it, keeping her secret like she wanted, I lean back in my seat while we wait for the arena to fill. The teams previously warmed up and are now in their respective locker rooms. The school pep-band entertains the crowd while the clock counts down.

I neverminded coming to cheer on the other team before; we always try to help support them if we could. After games we always head to the diner and usually that's when I would end up seeking out Riley in the crowd of Pirates. I could tell instantly how their game went from the look on her face. I didn't go watch the Pirates play. Tonight is going to be the first time I see my girl play in real time. My gut clenches with excitement and I can't wipe the smile off my face.

It only gets bigger too when she skates onto the ice with her team. Riley wears the black and gold jersey like a dream. Her number boldly sticking out amongst the other players. Her long hair is braided and falls off to the side. I can't look away while they skate their circle, getting the crowd amped up, before heading to their benches. Each starting player is called out onto the ice. I clap for the other girls with everyone else, but my eyes never leave the one player I care most about.

"And, starting her first game at All Saints Academy, number eighteen, Riley Conrad!" The announcer yells and the crowd is part shocked and part jumping with joy.

My heart slams in my chest. She didn't tell me and judging by the smirk on her lips when our eyes meet through the glass, she wanted to surprise me. I'm stunned. Not because she isn't good enough to be a starter or doesn't deserve it. The moment feels surreal. I have to stop myself from standing on my feet to cheer for her.

The band plays the National Anthem followed by our school song while the girls circle up around their net, heads bowed. I hear one of their players as they yell, "ONE! TWO! THREE! SAINTS!"

Everyone in the crowd goes wild as they skate to their starting positions.

"Did you know she was starting tonight?" Leif turns and asks. I shake my head. He whistles under his breath. "This will be interesting."

My eyes scan the other girls on the Saints' team, watching their reactions carefully. I don't see any malicious glares aimed Riley's way, so I relax a little. These girls would be ridiculous anyways if they weren't excited to have her. Sure, they're good, but they have lost to the Pirates before and that was due to her.

The game starts and I relax in my seat, my eyes never leaving Riley any time she's on the ice. The other guys and I bullshit like normal and still stay invested in the game.

During the second period, one of my players yells from a few rows up, "Hey, Thorn!"

I turn to glance at him, my brow raised.

"Riley is killing it!" he shouts and there is a collective whooping and cheering from the rest of my team. I give him a nod of appreciation, just in time to see her skate by. The Saints are winning 5-2, which is a higher scoring game for them. The other team is starting to lose their cool by the third period.

Riley skates with the puck around her team's net while the line change happens before sending the puck to her wingman and racing down past the blue line. The puck gets back to her and right as she lifts her stick to shoot, a blur of blue and red slams into her from behind. I jump to my feet while Riley is knocked off her skates, sliding over the ice. I watch in horror while her shoulder clips the back of the goal post before sending her into the boards head first.

The whole crowd gasps and is on their feet. It was a fucking dirty shot from behind, an illegal move in the game. Riley pushes to her knees before collapsing back down. I'm already moving toward the plexiglass that separates spectators from the ice to get a better look. Her team stands around her while the refs talk to the teams. The player who hit her is being escorted off the ice. My eyes land on her. I don't recognize her, but I know we've played against their boys' team in the past and smoked them.

"Do you have a magic dick?" Carter jokes, standing next to me. I glance at him, giving him a second of time. Riley still isn't getting up; her coach and an athletic trainer are on the ice next to her. "Brooklyn Thompson. You took her to prom last year. More as a fuck you to her brother but still."

"Are you fucking serious?" I growl. These girls are pathetic. I remember now. Being cornered by her after we played her brother's team and asking her to rib him harder. I barely remember the night, except for the fact that we saw Riley at the diner and her eyes flashed with pain. The wind in my sails deflated and I felt like shit the rest of the night without knowing why. It was the first and last time I talked to this chick in over a year.

My heart races watching my girl lie on the ice, barely moving. I know the trainer is going over procedure before moving her, especially after a header to the boards. I can't take it anymore though. Stepping onto the ledge, I use Carter to hoist myself over the plexiglass and down onto the ice. The crowd is cheering my name. The ref starts to stop me, but one of the girls touches his arm, pointing between myself and Riley. I shuffle across the ice right as they are helping her to her feet. The crowd roars again, clapping and cheering for her.

"Son, you can't be on the ice," someone says to me, fingers touching my jacket.

I keep my eyes focused on her. Riley's head lifts and her eyes widen. "Reign?"

"Hey, babe." I touch her chin, under her strap, before sliding my arm around her waist, helping support her with the trainer. "I got her, Coach Silver."

The woman eyes me. "Mr. Thorn, you can't be on the ice during a game."

"I'm not leaving her, so." I shrug and start moving Riley toward the benches to get her off the ice and into the locker room. She's skating slowly, her body leaning into mine.

"You're okay, Riles," I reassure her. The crowd claps for Riley and her team cheers, wishing her well.

I get her into the back and the trainer takes off her helmet and shoulder pads with my help after removing her jersey. He performs a few checkup tasks, but I can tell by the way his mouth frowns that it isn't good.

"You have symptoms of a very mild concussion, but a concussion none the less. Tonight, I want you to follow protocol, and watch for these signs that it's getting worse. If these happen, you need to go to the hospital and be put under further observation, Riley."

Riley nods, still holding the ice to her shoulder. "Got it, Doc. I've been through it before."

"You, what?" I blanch, trying to reach into my memories of when she's been seriously hurt.

"Sophomore year. An illegal check to the boards after scoring a hat trick." She winks at me. Fucking winks. While I'm standing here with my jaw clenching and stomach feeling gutted about her being hurt. "I'm a hockey player, Reign. It happens."

"You're in a girls' league. It's illegal to check." I remind her, feeling stupid even saying the words. I know that the girls can play ruthless and badass. Their gender has nothing to do with their skill level. "Forget I said that."

"Good, because I was about to tell you how stupid you sounded," she fires back, but at least she's smiling now.

"Can I take her home to rest now, Doc?" I ask the man, who is standing in the corner just listening to us with a bemused expression.

"Yes. Take her out of here. She needs to relax. I'll see you again in six days, Riley. Unless you experience any other symptoms."

Riley nods at the doctor and I help her off the table toward the locker room. She makes me wait outside while she gets changed. When the door opens, I take her bag and stick from her.

"I'm not an invalid," she warns me.

"You hurt your shoulder too. You don't need this bag hanging on you." I scoff and steer her ahead of me out of there.

"So, who was she? Did you make out with her at a party?" Riley jokes, but it hits too close to home.

"She's no one," I tell her, keeping my face blank.

My mind is still scrambled by her audacity. As if hitting my girlfriend is going to do anything other than make me hate her. I need a plan. I have to deal with this before Riley touches the ice again. She isn't going to like it, but I'll do anything to protect her.

I drive her back to the dorm and help her inside. Once we're in the safe space of her dorm room, Riley's face crumples. "I need Tylenol."

"For your head?" My heart hammers in my chest.

"No, my head is fine. My shoulder is killing me though." She walks past me to the kitchen. I hear the bottle rattle and the fridge opening and closing. I wait for her to get done and hobble back to her bedroom.

Riley lets me help her out of her clothes. Right as she reaches for a nightshirt, I stop her. "Take this one."

I shrug off my sweater and take off the t-shirt underneath of it, slipping it over her head. Her cheeks heat and her eyes get soft for me. "None of that, you're injured."

"So were you." She points to my leg and I laugh. Fuck I love this girl .

Oh shit. That one thought shakes me to my core. I feel my smile slip off my face, and watch her own mirror mine. I love her. Right now being with me has caused her pain. I can't let her go either.

"What's wrong, Reign?" Her voice wobbles slightly.

I shake my head. "Nothing, babe. Come and lie down."

Riley listens, and the second her head touches the pillow, her whole body relaxes. Her energy is zapped. I feel the urge to protect her, to keep her safe. She isn't going to like what I'm about to do. I can't tell her either. It's going to hurt her. There is even a chance she might never forgive me, but it's a chance I need to take. I have a plan. Someday we'll get back to where we are right now and I'll tell her exactly how much I love her and the fact that she owns my heart and soul.

"Get some sleep, Riles." Her eyes flutter and eventually her breathing evens out. I leave her room, grabbing more pain pills and a water bottle, setting them next to her bed for when she wakes up.

I send a text to Leif and Carter, letting them know what's going down. I'm going to put a stop to this once and for all. I watch her sleep for a creepy and excessive amount of time before forcing myself to leave. With one last kiss on her forehead, I breathe her in. "I'm going to fix everything." It's a promise. No one will touch what's mine ever again when I'm done.