Chapter 12: Chapter 12

My senses heighten as I do a double take and slowly scan the restaurant. For just a second or two, I could have sworn I caught sight of the hot blonde from the other night.

As I study each face in the crowd, none are hers.

I’d recognize her heart-shaped face, pouty pink lips, bright blue eyes and golden hair anywhere.

My hand drifts to the delicate silver chain that hangs around my neck.

This isn’t the first time my mind has conjured her up and played tricks on me. It’s happened more than once on campus. From the corner of my eye, I’ll catch a flash of long blonde hair. When I pause to study my surroundings, there’s no one in sight.

Of course there isn’t.

She doesn’t attend Western.

She’s an East Town student. At least, that’s my assumption.

Other than what she likes in bed, I know nothing about her.

As loathe as I am to admit it—even privately to myself—that’s become a major issue.

All these sightings are starting to drive me a little crazy.

More than anything, I wish she’d turned out to be a forgettable lay.

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

“Hey, man, it’s good to see you again. Twice in one week. How lucky is that?”

Knocked from the tangle of my thoughts, I lock gazes with River Thompson.

Great.

Just the asshole I didn’t want to see.

From what I understand, Hayes and River went to high school together and played on a couple of the same travel hockey teams while growing up.

They’re still friendly.

We’re not.

And never will be.

I open my mouth to unload when a glint of silver at the base of his throat snags my attention. My gaze zeroes in on the chain hanging around his neck, and I swallow down the sharp words.

What the fuck?

It looks suspiciously similar to the one that was left behind in my bed.

Instead of a W, there’s an R pendant hanging from the necklace.

Was the jewelry a gift from him?

If that’s the case, then the little ray of sunshine I slept with can’t be one of his bunnies.

It’s so damn tempting to pull out the necklace with the W pendant from beneath my T-shirt and show it off.

Can you imagine the look on his face if he discovered that I fucked his girl—a few times?

It would be the sweet justice he deserves.

Or maybe I should share how responsive she’d been in my arms.

Even remembering the way she’d come undone has me dragging a hand through my hair and swearing under my breath.

His narrowed gaze stays fastened to mine as he shifts, straightening to his full height. “What’d you say, McKinnon?”

A silent war erupts in my head. As much as I want to throw her in his face and gloat, I keep it to myself.

For the time being.

I lift my chin. “I asked where your girlfriend was.” The question is out of my mouth before I can think better of it.

His expression turns stony as his phone buzzes with an incoming message. “None of your damn business.”

He glances at his cell before his thumbs fly across the screen.

Is that her?

Is she texting him?

I’ve never wanted to wrestle someone’s phone away from them more than I do at this moment.

What the hell is happening to me?

I almost shake my head to loosen those disturbing thoughts.

From the corner of my eye, Hayes’s shoulders shake as tears gather in his eyes. He’s practically dying over there.

I turn toward my teammate with an arched brow. “Do you have something to add to the convo?”

The sound of his laughter grates against my nerves.

It’s only when I continue to glare that my teammate clears his throat. “Nope. I’m just watching the show and waiting for everyone to get caught up to speed.”

River’s phone dings for a second time and then a third in quick succession.

I grind my molars in silent aggravation. I just want to rip the device away and⁠—

That thought is enough to stop me in my tracks.

Jealousy.

That’s the emotion attempting to eat me alive.

It’s not something I’ve ever experienced before.

Not even with Sabrina.

I liked the girl, but we were young and it was never that deep. What really pissed me off was that she dumped my ass for River fucking Thompson.

For some reason, this feels different.

And I have no idea why.

It doesn’t make a damn bit of sense.

I don’t even know her name. I only know what she sounds like when her pussy clenches around my cock and she’s making those sexy purring noises deep in her throat.

Those thoughts are enough to have my junk stirring to life. And that should definitely not be happening when River and I are seconds away from coming to blows.

Anytime I even think about the blonde, this is the direction my thoughts trip down.

I draw a deep, cleansing breath into my lungs and attempt to wrangle all of these out-of-control emotions back under submission again.

River shoots a frown at Hayes. “Get up to speed with what?”

My teammate sends an innocent look my way. “Nothing. Just making small talk. Right, Mav?”

I grunt in answer.

When I remain silent, River glances at his phone for the umpteenth time. “As much fun as this has been, I need to take off. My sister’s outside waiting for me.”

“Oh?” Hayes turns gleeful at that bit of news. “Be sure to give her a big hello from me. It’s been way too long since we’ve seen one another.”

“Yeah, sure.”

With one final glare in my direction, River takes off, disappearing through the front entrance.

“That was a fun surprise. Who knew there’d be dinner and a show?”

“Shut the hell up, Van Doren,” I grumble, staring at the doors River just shoved through.

For reasons I can’t explain, it’s tempting to follow him out to the parking lot. Even stranger than that, I actually consider the merits of it for a second or two before shooting down the idea.

The last thing I need is to get into another fight with the guy.

But still…

I can’t shake the weird feeling that’s fallen over me.

As Hayes settles at the table, I blurt, “Do you have any idea who his girlfriend is?”

I hold my breath, hating that I even asked the question.

But I need to know.

His expression turns cagey as he shakes his head. “Sorry, dude. Not a clue.”

As everything deflates inside me, I do the only thing I can and attempt to move the fuck on with my life.

It’s easier said than done.