Chapter 10

It's been a week since I've seen or heard from Duke. It's been one week since we fucked in his penthouse and had the most incredibly mind-blowing sex of my life.

We never exchanged contact information, so it's not like I can just text him or get ahold of him without looking him up on social media like a creeper. I don't want to come across as obsessive as I'm feeling. There's a hunger I've been feeling all week to get back to him, to let him back inside me and share the euphoric high of secretly fucking my brother's biggest rival.

Tonight, I'm going to the first game of the season. Ace isn't playing the Makos tonight, so I don't expect to see Duke at the game. He has no reason to attend a Knights game, but a small part of me hopes he'll be there scouting out the competition.

Ashley and I walk into the cooled stadium together, beers in both hands. As soon as we turned twenty-one we started using my brother's hockey games as an excuse to drink and let loose. My dad expects me to attend every one of Ace's games, and I want to be the most supportive sister I can be, so I make sure I'm here, but I don't have tobe sober the entire time.

We're meeting up with one of Ashley's new fuck buddies. I haven't met him yet, but she said he plays for the Makos. They've only been talking for a few days, but Ashley moves fast with these hockey players. They don't stick around for more than a couple of weeks anyway, so it works out well for her.

My jaw hits the floor as we turn down the row our seats are in.

"There they are!" Ashley squeals, quickening her pace as she makes her way down the row.

I struggle to form words. "You… You didn't mention your friend was bringing anyone else with him."

"I knew you wouldn't agree to it if I told you ahead of time, so surprise! This is Jace and his roommate, Duke." Ashley shrugs her shoulders, beaming as she sits beside her fuck buddy. She has no idea what she's done.

Duke mentioned he had a roommate, someone from the team who needed a place to crash for a while, but I didn't know Ashley was banging him.

I frantically try to pull myself together as I sit in the only open seat.

Right between Ashley and Duke, who is sitting comfortably beside none other than Olivia.

Bile rises in the back of my throat. She has no idea what we've done. Ashley has no idea how awkward and incredibly fucked up this entire situation is.

Duke's warm scent fills my nose as I sit beside him. I don't know what to say or what to do.

Do I acknowledge him? Do I act like I know him? Or are we complete strangers?

I can feel his eyes on me as I look around the arena, trying to find my brother warming up on the ice. Anything to distract myself right now.

His gaze grazes across my bare skin as he watches me. I'm holding my breath, and I don't know when I'll breathe again.

Olivia rises from her seat. "We need to take some pictures together for a post I'm going to make later."

Duke is quiet as his eyes leave me and find her. He's visibly annoyed with her, but I don't know why. He's the one who put himself in this fake relationship with her. I get why it benefits both of them, but why do they have to lie to literally everyone around them?

He stands and then follows her to the end of the row where the aisle opens up. There's fire in my eyes as I watch them. It's not audible to my ears, but it looks like Olivia asks someone to take a picture of them with her phone. Olivia wraps her arms around Duke's neck, pulling him into her.What pisses me off most is when Duke doesn't hesitate to slink his hands around her waist, pressing his hard body into hers. Just as they're about to kiss for the picture I stand up, no longer able to control my emotions.

I need to leave.

I need to get the fuck out of here. I can't watch them for another second, and I sure as shit can't sit here with them once they come back to their seats.

With Duke distracted by Olivia, I turn toward Ashley, trying to level out my voice as I say, "I'm not feeling well. I need to go home before I get sick."

"What's wrong?" Ashley sits up, giving me her full attention for the first time since we've arrived. "You seemed fine before we got here."

The lie comes easier than it should. "Yeah, it must have been something I ate earlier. I'm going to head home. Can you find a ride?"

"I'll take her back to my place," Jace smiles, wrapping his arm around Ashley's shoulders as he draws her into him.

Duke's place. The thought overwhelms me, and I feel an oncoming anxiety attack. I need to leave.

"I hope you feel better," Ashley smiles. "I'll text you tonight to check in and see how you're doing."

Faking a smile as ingenuine as Duke and Olivia's relationship, I wave goodbye to Ashley and Jace, and slip out before anyone else sees me. I walk as quickly as I can to the exit and take a sudden turn out the door and into an empty hallway where I can breathe for the first time since I sat down.

Covering my chest with my hand, I back myself against the wall and lean forward, trying to get some air. It's too much. I'm falling for him too quickly and I'm a fucking idiot for it. I knew what I was getting myself into when I fucked him a week ago. I knew she wouldn't be going anywhere and that our little secret would have to remain a secret.

I have to be his secret.

But I don't want to be anyone's secret. And who am I kidding? I'm keeping a secret of my own.

I've fallen head over heels for my big brother's rival. If my dad or Ace find out, they'll not only lock me up and keep me hidden for life, but they'll go after Duke. They'll be out for blood.

Tears well in my waterline and when I feel like I can't keep it inside anymore, that's when a door swings open. Fast footsteps make their way down the hall, getting louder with each stride. Raising my eyes, I find Duke heading straight for me.

Shaking my head, I put my hand up and say, "No," as I turn away from him, rushing toward the nearest exit. If I can just get to my car, maybe he'll leave me alone.

"Aspen, please," Duke shouts from behind me, but I keep going. I can hear him getting closer, and it pushes me to keep going.

"I don't have anything to say to you." Tears are nearly falling from my eyes now. "Go back in there, or they'll be suspicious of us both leaving."

"I'm not going back in there without you." Duke's voice is desperate.

"You can, and you will," I laugh as I push the exit doors open, stepping into daylight.

He follows me through the doors, across the parking lot, and to my little Buick. I pull out my key to unlock my car door, but he's around me before I can get in. His hands rest on either side of me as he leans against the car. I close my eyes, pushing away what my heart wants as his scent envelops me and the warmth of his body presses into mine.

"Please don't leave," he begs. "I know it's hard, but we can find a way to make it work."

"I already told you I don't want to get involved with you if you're with her, real or not. Everyone thinks you're together, and I refuse to be anyone's second. I refuse to be anything but someone's entire world. I deserve more than this," I say as I gesture between us.

The gold flecks within his eyes catch in the light, drawing me into his unfathomably handsome features for a few seconds before I force myself back into reality. It doesn't matter how hot he is, how much money he has, or what he says.

This won't work.

We have everything working against us even without Olivia in the picture. My family will never let this happen. We'll never know anything more than sneaking around.

"Just give me some time…" he trails off. "Wait until the end of the season and I'll come clean. I'll end things with Liv and we can be together."

Liv.

The nickname rings through my mind. Of course, he has a nickname for her. Jealousy takes over, and I feel my face flush with heat.

"This won't work," are my final words as I get into my car, slamming the door shut before he can get another word in. He looks broken as I back out of the parking space and speed off with tears in my eyes.