Chapter 26

Reign

Part of playing the long game is learning to take hits and losses. Riley is working her hardest to lose me by pushing me away and I am taking the hits one at a time. But I'm not giving up. When I left her dorm that night, I had meant everything I said. I love her. I could have pushed harder, I could have worked my way inside her room and blurred her lines, but it wasn't what she needed. She is scared and even though she knows I meant well, my best intentions didn't go over so well. Riley was hurt and embarrassed. Now we're at a stalemate. She'll let me be close but not too close. I'll see her out at a party, but she won't talk to me, dance with me, or leave with me. It sounds like a losing battle, except she still takes the latte I order for her every morning. She hasn't changed her class schedule, even though we're now in a new semester, and she has attended more of my home games. Granted her whole team is there, but I'll take what I can get.

I'm dying without her. I miss having access to her mind, her heart and her body. I need to hold her hand and have her look at me with those melty eyes, when they go soft for me because I made her feel something good. It's been a month since I blew the prank wide open and proved why no one should mess with her. It worked and I spend considerably less time at the rink these days. They're scared. Everyone now knows the lengths I will go to in order to protect my girl.

Now after a full month of chasing after her, I'm still not giving up, but fuck if I'm not ready to play dirty. Winter break starts tomorrow and right after the holiday we're heading to Michigan. Riley may not be aware of it, but she's coming with me. We'll be on campus together next fall, living our dreams and planning for an even better future. Her dad is on board. My parents know what the stakes are. All Riley has to do is sit back, smile, play hockey like the star athlete she is, and I'll take care of everything else.

"Are you ready for the weekend?" my dad asks, breaking me out of my thoughts. I glance at him and the smug smile he's trying to hold in.

My brow quirks up. "I'm all set. This meeting can either go well or tank, depending on how well your end of the bargain has held up."

"Reign." My mom sighs my name before sliding her stern gaze to my father. "Honey. You both are fighting the same battle. I don't know why you're still knocking heads over nothing."

She turns in her seat, her bagel with cream cheese still in her hand. "Your dad made the call to the dean. Don't let him fool you. The interview is set up for Sunday morning before we leave."

"See." I glance at my father and gesture to Mom. "Mom gets it. As long as Riley has her interview, I'm ready to do whatever I have to do. They could even make me sign this weekend if they plan to take Riley too."

"Will you turn them down if she doesn't take it?" he counters, sitting back in his chair.

My eyes gleam with what I'm sure feels threatening. "She will take it. If they want me, they better be willing to sweeten the deal."

"I thought you said she could do it on her own, which is why you went the interview route," he fires back.

"She can. I'm not worried about her impressing the dean or the board. She's smart and plays hockey like a dream. It's the scholarship for her that will make the difference."

"Why don't you just pay for her?" My father's voice turns smug.

"She won't take a hand out from me. She likes to earn things on her own," I explain, setting my fork down. Riley's pride is one thing I love about her, but it also causes so many unnecessary issues.

"Well, I think Riley is smart not to just take whatever a man can give her. Doing it this way will make her feel better in the long run," my mom says with finality and takes a bite of her bagel.

My father looks at her and they have a silent conversation with their eyes before he glances back at me.

"Just make sure she's ready. Everything else is taken care of."

I give him a curt nod and drink down my juice before excusing myself from the table. I still have packing to do. Three more days and I'll have my girl right where I want her, in my life, on our future campus, and hopefully back under me where she belongs.

"You're kidding, right?" Riley's dark eyes widen and a dark blush covers her cheeks.

"Nope." I lean forward and kiss her cheek, handing her the peppermint, white chocolate latte I brought her. "Merry Christmas."

She rolls her eyes and reluctantly takes the cup, looking at it with question. I know for a fact that her favorite flavor is lavender, except this time of the year, then my girl likes her drink as festive as the season.

"Are you ready?"

"Reign," she huffs my name and turns to walk inside. I follow her in and lay my hat on the table next to her mittens. The small living room has a tree that is lit up and open boxes underneath. The place is warm and cozy despite the smaller size. Mr. Conrad walks out right then, and his brow rises when he sees me. His sheepish gaze moves to his daughter, quickly assessing the situation.

"Hello, Reign. Sweetie, I'll just wait outside while you two talk."

"Dad!" She calls to his retreating back, but he just gives a friendly wave before bolting out the door. "Traitor," she mutters under her breath and takes a drink of her latte.

"Don't be mad at him." I reach out and run her hair through my fingers. She's wearing it down, slightly curled, and looking effortlessly cute in a pair of jeans and sweater. It feels like it's been ages since I've seen her or touched her last rather than just three days. "He just wants what's best for you."

"Going with you to Michigan is not what's best for me."

"I beg to differ. It's good for you to experience new things and make plans for yourself. It just so happens I'm going there. Also, you already promised to go and make sure campus is livable, that the apartment isn't too far away, and that the ice arena is still one of the best in the nation as far as colleges go," I remind her.

"That was before. Now you're just my ex-boyfriend and a stalker," she argues, her eyes lighting up with a fight.

I smile for the first time in days, my heart hammering in my chest from having her so near. "I'll admit to the stalker part. You are my favorite person to be around. The ex-boyfriend title does nothing for me. We both know you don't mean it anyways."

Riley's cheeks turn even pinker and she sets the drink down. "You just admitted to stalking me."

"Why deny it when we both know it." I shrug. "Are you packed? I told my parents we'd meet them at the airport."

"Your parents are going?" She glances at the clock and then down at herself.

"Just to Michigan. They have their own plans with some nearby friends from my dad's college days while we check out the campus."

Riley looks away and chews on her lip, contemplating everything. I know I'm going to have to work harder though, when the smile fades off her face and the blank expression in her eyes returns. "No. I'm not going to, Reign. This is crazy, we aren't even together anymore."

Her last words drive me insane, and before she can run, I'm in front of her and hoisting her body over my shoulder.

"Reign." She slaps my back, kicking her legs. My hand swats her ass cheek and it feels amazing to have my hands on her body. I walk quickly to the back area where her bedroom is and close the door behind us before setting her back on her feet.

"I miss you," I tell her, cupping her face and pressing my lips to hers. My hands slide through her silky hair, over her shoulders and down her back, holding her body to mine. She feels like perfection in my arms. "I hate that I put doubt about us in your mind. You asked me if I would do it again, and I can't lie to you, babe. I will always protect you. I didn't enjoy being with her, all I could picture was how satisfying it would be once she figures out she was played and falls on her face for thinking she could touch what was mine. I won't hurt you in that way ever again. You mean more than anything to me, Riles."

"Reign, I miss you too. I don't know what to do or to think anymore. I feel like a mess." She swallows, her voice full of emotion.

I lean my forehead against hers. "You aren't a mess. You're perfect. I tried really hard to give you space—

"No, you didn't." She laughs. "You've been acting like we're together while I'm ignoring you."

"You broke up, babe, not me. I've been waiting for you to give me another chance." I lay my hand on her chest, over her heart. "Please tell me I've still got you, Riles."

"Yes," she whispers, her lips butterfly soft against my lips when she talks. My insides still light up, shivers running down my back. My hands fist in her hair and on her sweater.

"Tell me what I want to hear." I stare into her eyes, my soul demanding to hear hers. I can see the emotion in them, a trace of uncertainty, but it's there. It was being suppressed by fear the entire time. "I love you, Riley. So much that I'll wait as long as it takes, and remind you every day how much you mean to me."

She reaches forward and covers my mouth with her hand. Her dark eyes shine brightly, and there's only a small quiver in her lips. "I love you too."

I don't hesitate, chasing her words with my lips and swallowing them down. She sighs into my mouth, pulling on my shirt, trying to get closer. I kiss her for as long as I can, knowing our time alone is limited with her dad coming back inside soon and that ride to the airport we still have to take. It takes great effort to pull myself away, and when I do, we're both breathing hard, unable to separate.

"I want you," she whispers, her words nearly undoing me.

I brush her hair back from her face. "As much as I want to be inside you right now, we have to be to the airport in thirty minutes."

Her eyes widen in alarm. "Thirty!"

I nod and glance at my phone. "Okay, thirty-two."

"You really meant it when you came here and said we're leaving." She laughs while grabbing her suitcase from the closet. I watch while she throws some clothes in, casually keeping an eye on what she's bringing.

"In my mind you were always going with me, Riles. It's why I gave myself plenty of time coming over here."

"Yeah, okay, smart guy. And what if I still refused." She stops packing and turns to me, arms crossing over her chest.

I pick up her next stack of clothes and set them in the suitcase. "You'd let me go to Michigan alone?"

Riley rolls her eyes and sighs. "No. With my luck you'd come back and I would have a whole new crowd of women to deal with."

"Exactly. It's just better that you come with me now, so they see I'm already taken."

"So modest," she fires back, her eyes narrowed. I can't help the stupid grin on my face. I missed this. I missed her smiles and her attitude, the way she gives me shit right back.

"You're amazing, Riley Conrad," I tell her, my words laced with love and awe.

Her mouth opens and closes, her cheeks turning pink. "Here, you can take this to the car while I get my carry-on ready."

I kiss her one last time before grabbing her suitcase and heading out to the waiting car. Mr. Conrad is outside and I can tell when he sighs in relief that I have her bag and also that I came out without my clothes out of place. He looks even more relieved when Riley joins us, and she's wearing the same outfit, her hair completely unruffled.

I watch them hug and he says something to her that has her nodding her head and glancing at me. I would bet it has something to do with keeping an open mind about the college, but I'm not going to say anything just yet. She's in the car with me and willingly getting on the plane. The rest will have to wait until we land.