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“Winter, interesting outfit choice, though it seems a little common for someone of your pedigree.”
I scowled at him. What a classist jerk.
“I heard congratulations are in order for you two,” I changed the subject and smiled encouragingly at Selena.
“And why would that be?” Trent asked.
“Because of earlier, silly,” Selena supplied, ignoring the snub.
Trent narrowed his eyes at her, and I saw that ugly anger he carried around with him rear its head, but he managed to hide it just enough that Selena didn’t notice.
“Come on, don’t be embarrassed. Many a hookup has led to wedding bells, I’m sure,” I rambled. I wanted to get out of here before I had to interact with Trent for too long. I backed toward the stairs. “I have to run to the ladies’ before we leave. You two catch up,” I called and turned, all but sprinting up the stairs in my haste to escape.
After waiting in an endless line for the bathroom, I took a few seconds at the mirror, studying myself in Asher’s jersey. People whispered around me, gossiping about me and Asher and our new relationship status, plus his performance on the ice today. The only gnawing worry in my gut was how Asher was going to react. Had I won? I had, hadn’t I? No, he could still refuse to pretend in front my dad. He could tell me to go to hell. He could post a pic of him making out with someone else and make me look like a delusional psycho. He could do anything he wanted if he really still had it in for me.
I headed back out, ready to get back to the dorm and fall face-first into the leftover takeout boxes and my mattress (now sagging on the floor thanks to the bed frame breaking), when I collided with a somebody right outside the ladies’ room.
“Oof! Watch where you’re going,” I started, thinking it was some jock who had barreled into me as soon as I’d come out the doors. Sadly, it wasn’t.
Trent leaned over me, only a few inches taller, but his expression mean and cruel. “Where do you think you’re running off to?”
“I’m going home with Selena. We’re done here tonight,” I stated serenely.
His emotions seemed close to the surface, like bubbling hot lava. It seemed best to try and be calm.
“Is that right? When are you going to learn, Winter? You’re not done until I say.” With that, he grabbed my arm and dragged me sharply down a small corridor leading off the main one.
I was too shocked that he’d touched me so forcefully to fight him off, and then suddenly we were alone. I pushed his hands away.
“What the hell are you doing? You can’t just manhandle me around.”
“But you’ll let others do it?” he sneered. “Always blowing hot and cold.”
“I’ve never been hot toward you, and you know it,” I insisted.
“You forget, I don’t care,” Trent grunted. “Stop making a scene.”
“You’re the one dragging me around! And you just started dating my best friend. Anything you thought could happen between us is ruled out now, by default,” I hissed at him, hating the arrogant confidence on his shiny face.
He laughed. “Ruled out? Says who? You? Her? I already explained where your opinions land on society’s hierarchy scale. They don’t rate.”
“So, you’re not going to be dating Selena?” I asked.
He chuckled. “Right, date a penniless outcast? Someone without money or a name to bring to the table? She was an eager hole, and I was bored. Do you really not understand who I am?”
I snorted with disdain. “Did you seriously just ask me that?” I stared him up and down and laughed. I couldn’t help it. He was so delusional.
I never even saw his hand move. One second he was holding my arm, the next my cheek was on fire. Flames raced across my face, hot and painful. He’d slapped me. Slapped me. Tears sprang up behind my eyelids, threatening to spill. I dashed them furiously away. I wasn’t upset, goddamn it, I was irate. Why couldn’t I control my mask anymore? All these games with Asher had smashed it to pieces.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” A deep voice, silky smooth and cold like ice, cut through the tension. I knew that voice. Relief hit me.
Trent tensed and straightened up. He still had my wrist clamped in one hand, and he squeezed the bones so hard they ground together. I turned toward the person who had spoken.
Asher stood in the opening of the hall, his mask pushed up to his forehead, hockey stick in his hand. His huge padding only made him even more intimidating, and honestly, it was overkill. He was plenty intimidating enough at the best of times.
“Having a private conversation, what does it look like?” Trent sneered at him.
“It looks like you’re harassing someone way out of your league, and I’ve got a problem with it.”
