Page 21 of Ruthless Blade

“I am. Think about it. We “pretend” to be dating, act all smoochy around our parents and they’ll have to give up on the whole dating thing. We’ve both made excuses not to come home. We can say we got close after...what happened. They’ve only been dating a few months; we can say we’ve been dating for longer, and that we are serious. That we aren’t ending our relationship, no matter what their relationship status is. They won’t want the embarrassment of their kids dating and being step-siblings.”

I rub my hands over my face, not quite sure I’m understanding what he’s saying. “Whose bright idea was this?”

“Mine.”

“Bullshit. Why would you want to be so close to me? All. The. Time. Think about that, Kayden. You can barely stand to be in the same room with me now; what makes you think you can handle a fake relationship with your dead friend’s sister?”

Something flashed in his eyes, and I knew I’d pissed him off. “Frankly, I don’t give a fuck what you want, Lex. We are doing this, whether you want to or not. Our parents do not belong together, and you and I are not going to be in each other’s lives for much longer. Believe me, I don’t want to spend a minute more than I need to with a winey Princess, but I want to put all this shit behind me and this is the way to do it.”

Wow.

I didn’t know what he was going to say, but that certainly wasn’t it.

Suddenly, I lost my appetite. I pulled out my wallet and placed a twenty on the table.

“What are you doing?”

“Leaving.”

I moved out of the booth and out of the bar. I noticed Hazel’s concerned gaze, but I shook my head, wanting to be left alone.

I’d walk back to the dorm. Screw this.

“Lexi, wait!”

I shook my head, continuing to walk even though I knew he was right behind me. He had some nerve. He seemed to think he was the only one in pain. The only one hurting.

I stopped moving when I saw the broken glass on the road, taking me back to the night that ruined my life...

Chapter Ten

LEXI

One Year Ago...

I sat in the backseat, the fabric of my costume itching my skin. Coach wanted me to dress the part so I could get my confidence back, but it didn’t work.

The silence in the car was heavy; no one had the urge to talk.

Both of us were coming off a loss; I was moping in the backseat and Jake was moping in the passenger seat. Jake and his team had lost a game, and I’d failed at getting back and being successful on the ice after my injury. Dad was driving us home from the rink, and I’d been trying to convince him to take me back to get something I’d forgotten.

I sat up in my seat, “Dad, I need to get my headphones. They help me, I need my music to breathe.”

“I’m not turning around, Alexis. You can pick them up later.” His voice dropped into a dangerously flat tone he used when he was done with the conversation.

I sat back in my seat and huffed, crossing my arms over my chest. He didn’t understand. He never did. The headphones helped with my anxiety. Listening to music calmed me down and helped me get through the hardest times. If I ever lost in a competition, I would listen to music all night to help me deal with the loss.

It was my safe space. And now I don't have that.

“Dad, please....”

“Shut up, Lex. He already said we’d go back and get it tomorrow. Let it go.”

I rolled my eyes, “You never take my side. You don’t understand either.”

That’s when he turned to face me, “Understand what? That you’re acting like a spoiled brat right now? You’re not the only one who lost. Stop acting like everything revolves around you.” His gaze darkened, and I wanted to slap him.

“I need my headphones, Jake. Not want, need. If it wasn’t important, I wouldn’t be this worried about it.”