Chapter 25

Riley

An obsessed Reign was one thing. An obsessed, stalker Reign is troublesome. The fact that I keep avoiding him is only adding to my troubles. It has been a week since the challenge and instead of giving up and moving on, Reign has only been amping up his game to the point of ridiculousness.

He is everywhere. Outside my dorm every morning, waiting with my lavender latte. A strong woman would have breezed past him and gone to get her own, but I‘ve been a zombie the past few mornings, thanks to extra ice practices and the lack of sleep while I overanalyze every part of what happened with him and Brooklyn, and the way he set up everything up to ruin her and Blade, and kept it from me.It was his fault so when he handed me my favorite drink that he paid for, I felt it was a fair trade. He owed me. And it was just a drink.

We still have our classes together. Only now Reign practically growls at any guy who comes near me, even our poor homeroom monitor who is only responsible for passing out the journal paper for the hour. He's a bodyguard while I walk down the hallways, scaring everyone with a murderous look on his face. I notice many people literally turning around and going in a different direction just to avoid him. I also am no longer alone in my film class. Reign is there when I go in and he starts following me the minute it's over. He has to have been missing part of his own class and now I am worried about him failing, even when I shouldn't be. Maybe if he fails then he'll finally realize that all of this is pointless.

I can't forgive him. I am mad at him for forcing me to open my heart to him only to use all my insecurities against me. It doesn't matter that he was doing it as payback because he could have told me. I want to be in on the secrets and pranks with him, not floundering in doubt and heartache, wondering if my heart will ever heal.

Five minutes before the last bell, my hand shoots in the air.

"Yes, Ms. Conrad?" Our teacher looks at me over his glasses.

"Bathroom?" I wince, holding my stomach. He glances at my hand and a faint blush stains his ruddy, old cheeks. He waves me to go ahead and I practically sprint out of class. Once outside of the building, I walk back to my dorm, hoping I'll miss Reign entirely. We have a game tonight, my first back since my concussion. I do not have time for Reign when I'm on my period and have the worst cramps on earth. I need to concentrate tonight and with my current situation, I need space from my tormentor.

I quickly down some pain relievers and grab a heating pad before setting my alarm. I'll rest for an hour then grab something to eat on the way to the game. Hopefully by then my uterus will have figured itself out.

The smell of bacon cooking pulls me from the dream I was having. Once again imagining the fireworks going off on top of a building before spreading fire to a new, multi-million-dollar, ice arena. Pulling myself up to a sitting position, this time my heart stops when I hear bacon sizzling on a pan. It isn't my imagination. Creeping out of my room and down the hallway, I'm greeted with a sight that would make most girls swoon. Reign Thorn is cooking in my kitchen. His ink black hair is loose and messy, the muscles in his arms flexing while he chops lettuce and slices tomatoes. The white t-shirt he's wearing molds and hugs every part of his torso.

"Breaking and entering now? You're really stepping up this stalker thing you have going on, Thorn," I mumble and take a seat at the kitchenette island.

He glances up, smirking, that beautiful dimple popping out, and his eyes full of mischief. "If I have a key does that really make it breaking in?"

"I didn't give you the key, so what do you call it?" I challenge, pulling my legs up to my chest in my chair.

Reign's head tilts to the side studying me. "I call it making sure my girlfriend gets a proper meal before her big game tonight."

"I'm not your girlfriend." I scoff and glance away, too scared to let him see exactly how much his words affect me.

"You're right." He nods along, stacking deli meat, cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomatoes on two pieces of sourdough bread before handing it to me on a platter. Our fingers graze each other when he hands it to me, and my eyes jerk to his. "You're more than just that. You are my heart, my soulmate, my future wifey. So, it's really important I feed you."

My mouth pops open at his audacity. I shovel a bite of food in my mouth, chewing and swallowing before doing it again. The entire time, Reign watches me, his smile growing bigger. It only adds to his charm that he starts cleaning up my kitchen as well. I need to get out of here.

"Okay, well, thanks and lock up behind you," I say hurriedly while grabbing my shoes and my hockey bag and stick.

"Sandwich," he calls, holding up the plate, and I grab the rest of that as well.

The door closes behind me, but I can still hear his deep laughter out in the hall. Thankfully, my cramps are better. As I head to the arena, I slip my earpods in, push play on my favorite playlist and start to pump myself up for the game. No more cheap shots from Reign's groupies are allowed.

Quinn sees me enter and nods her head at me. We haven't grown any closer since the other week, but she isn't such a royal bitch now that she's seen the damage Reign is willing to create in order to avenge me.

"At least this team doesn't have a Thorn fan on it." She lifts her shoulder and I flick her off with a smile on my face.

Leah walks in next. Leah and I have grown closer too, and when she isn't under a misguided notion that I don't have talent and only here because of Reign, she's actually really cool. I'd definitely ask her to hang out with Sam and Emma and me sometime.

"No Thorn fans, just a lot of girls hoping not to get in your way tonight, Conrad. And to avoid your glowering boyfriend. He looks at everyone like he wants to murder them for even breathing near you. It's terrifying."

"Ha. Ha," I respond, pulling my gear out and starting to get dressed. We keep talking about the game tonight and the new plays we've practiced all week. I'm ready to get out there, to touch the ice again. My fingers ache to grip my stick and score. I need to feel the steady hum of the crowd in my veins to make me forget everything else. Hockey is my happy place. It always has been.

"Five minutes, ladies," Coach Silver calls into the locker room and we finish getting ready. I reach into my bag for my jersey but my fingers touch air.

"What the-" I stick my whole arm in the deep pocket, fishing for black and silver material that was there earlier today when I packed it. Before my nap. Before…Reign.

"He did not." I grab my phone and quickly call him. The phone rings three times before his gravelly voice answers.

"A call this time?"

"Give me my jersey," I demand, earning looks and raised eyebrows from Leah and Quinn.

"What will you give me for it?"

"Listen up, Thorn. You better give me my jersey before this game starts or I will never speak to you again," I threaten, my anger building.

He laughs. Fucking laughs. "You already aren't speaking to me, babe. But don't worry, I'll have you screaming my name later."

The nerve of this guy. I can't even help the way my stomach swoops with his words or the way my core clenches. "Jokes on you. I'm out of commission and even if I wasn't I'd never touch your dick again after Brooklyn rubbed all over it."

"Green is a good color on you, Riley. But not nearly as good as red. You know I like you in blood red. How about you offer me something that actually matters and I'll bring you your jersey." His voice lowers with each word and I'm practically vibrating with anger and lust.

I glance at Quinn who mouths three minutes to me before sliding out the door. Leah grabs my gloves and motions for me to follow her. "I'll give you five minutes, Thorn. Isn't that what you've been after the past few days. Just five minutes of my time then I want you to leave me alone, forever."

I can hear him breathing on the line, the sound of the crowd growing louder and louder through my speaker. He's close. "Five minutes of uninterrupted time. You can't just run right in the middle of the conversation," he counters.

"Fine," I grit out.

"Here's your jersey," I hear him say, right as I crest the opening where I should be entering the ice. Reign looks the same as before except now, he has his team jacket on over his t-shirt. His faded denim jeans ride low on his hips and a pair of all white Nikes are on his feet. He stands at the edge of the stands and holds my jersey over the railing.

I grab it from him and quickly throw it over my head. The material settles over my pads and lands at my knees. Not thinking about it, I tuck the front into my breezers and reach for the back right as a loud cheer sounds. I turn and see everyone pointing at me, giving me thumbs up, and taking pictures. I glance at Leah who shrugs and I follow her on the ice. I should have known better than to trust Reign. When our eyes meet from where he's sitting with the rest of his team, I see the flare of triumph in his gaze.

"Conrad, what happened to your jersey?" Coach Silver asks, pointing at my back, while I glide over to the bench. I try to look behind me, waiting to see what Reign has done.

"Is there something on it?"

Coach Silver's eyes narrow at me before moving to the ref. "For the sake of time, I'll okay the name and jersey change. Sub 81 for 18. Conrad for Thorn."

"What?" I splutter and skate to the plexi glass, eyeing my reflection. Reign's last name and number sit proudly on my back. "That ass—-"

"Save the expletives for the game, Conrad," Coach Silver interjects.

"Sorry, Coach," I mumble as my team skates over. The buzzer goes off and our game is about to start. We do our team cheer before skating out to the blue line.

"So you said bring my jersey, and he took it as an opportunity to brand you with his?" Leah snickers next to me.

"He's dead to me," I fire back, before the other team's players skate over to start the game. The moment my number is called by the announcer, the name Riley Thorn soon follows. The entire arena goes crazy, cheering and whistling; it's an over-the-top circus. In the center of all the chaos is the ring leader himself, looking proud. His eyes burn hotter than the center of a flame, tracking all over my body wearing his jersey, his gold chain up, around his jaw, the little gold number clasped in his teeth.

Pushing all thoughts of Reign aside, I bend at the waist, ready for the face off. I'm here to play hockey. He is no longer my problem. I just need to survive. The puck drops and bounces before I slap it back to our defense player and the game begins.

"The deal doesn't count anymore, Thorn. You didn't bring me my jersey," I call to Reign while he stands outside my dorm door. He had disappeared after the game was over and I half expected him to be waiting at the arena still.

At the sound of my voice, he pushes off the door and holds up a plastic shopping bag. "You said your jersey, and technically anything mine is yours so it counts. Besides, I brought ice cream and more pain relievers."

Ugh I hate how my heart melts a little at hearing ice cream. Now is not the time to back down. Pushing my shoulders back, I move to the door and unlock it. Reign follows me inside. I expect a mess from how fast I left, but Reign somehow found time to clean. And there on the couch is my real jersey, folded up.

"Start talking." I turn to him, with my arms crossed over my chest, protectively guarding my soft areas.

Reign raises his brow and puts the carton of ice cream in the freezer. Finally, he comes to stand in front of me. "Or, how about you take a pill, grab a hot shower, and get cozy and I'll bring you ice cream in bed."

I hate how much he knows me, how amazing that sounds, and if the image of him being grinded on by another girl wasn't stuck in my head, I would give in and enjoy it. "Your five minutes already started." I hold up my phone, showing him the timer.

Reign sighs and runs his hands through his hair. "Babe, just let me take care of you."

"I don't need you to take care of me, Reign. I needed you not to break my heart," I fire back at him, watching as his eyes tighten.

"I didn't break your perfect fucking heart," he growls, sauntering closer.

I scoff. "Right, you were doing it to protect me."

"You hit your head. You fell into the boards and almost didn't get up right away. The week before your entire side was bruised. How could I let that go? You were hurt because of me several times. I wasn't going to let her get away with it. I didn't let any of them get away with it."

"You could have told me your plan. You could have trusted me to be in on it, rather than walk around, being humiliated, watching her get close to you, touch you. You let me believe the worst was happening and it hurt me, Reign. It hurt me more than that check to the boards," I argue back. I wish it could be as easy as he thinks to let it go.

"I didn't want you to feel responsible. I knew I was going to destroy them and I didn't want my darkness to touch you. I'm sorry I hurt you, that I did any of those things in front of you. It had to be believable, but I should have been more careful of your feelings."

"You'd do it again though, wouldn't you?" I question and watch his head hang down.

"Yes."

"Then you aren't really sorry. Why bother wasting your breath," I chastise him. "Just leave Reign."

"Babe, I would do it a hundred times over to prove that no one can fuck with you and get away with it. I'm sorry I hurt you. That is all I care about. And I will spend the rest of my life apologizing. I'm never letting you go. I love you, Riley." Reign reaches for me, cradling my face in his hands.

My phone beeps in my hand and Reign steps back, his shoulders sagging. "Don't forget to take a pill. I got salted caramel and fudge ice cream. Your favorite," he says before gently kissing my forehead. I'm stunned. Too emotional to think. When he had said it before, it seemed like the heat of the moment. Now he's saying it on a regular day and he wasn't drinking. Reign loves me. I am totally screwed.