Ruined By The Hockey Captain

#3

BLAKE

“Zach’s little sister? I’ve been waiting for the day I’d finally introduce myself.”

The words left my mouth before I could think, my grip tightening on her arm. Out of every single person on this damn campus, she was the absolute last one I expected to slam directly into around this corner. She was tiny, practically drowning in the massive home jersey that I knew belonged to my rival.

She straightened up quickly, pulling her shoulders back as she forced herself to look right at me. Her wide eyes held a flicker of panic, but she masked it well. “You know who I am?”

“I do,” I murmured, leaning slightly into her space, letting her feel the sheer contrast in our size. “And the perfect moment I’ve been waiting for has arrived.”

Her jaw set, her breathing turning shallow as she stared at me. “What do you mean by that?”

“Didn’t you see the way your brother punched me?” I demanded, the dull throb in my jaw flaring up at the memory of the ice rink explosion. “Your brother is going about making serious trouble.”

She didn't flinch. Instead, she tilted her chin up, a dismissive look settling over her features. “That sounds like your problem, Blake, and not mine.”

I stepped closer, pinning her against the brick wall with my posture alone. “It sure would soon be yours if you don’t warn your brother carefully to stop messing with me.”

She let out an incredulous breath, her hands clenching into small fists against her sides. “Why can’t you just tell my brother yourself?”

“I’ve warned him,” I shot back, “But the next time I have to warn your brother again, his life might actually be in danger.”

Her expression hardened instantly, “Stay away from my brother. Don’t you try anything stupid, and don’t you dare try to harm him.”

Without waiting for a single response from me, she twisted out of my grip and walked off, her sneakers slapping furiously against the floor as she vanished down the hall.

My mouth tightened into a hard line, my gaze tracking the empty space where she had just been standing. The lingering scent of her ran through my senses, irritating me just as much as her arrogance.

“Yo, Blake!”

The thud of running footsteps echoed down the corridor as my two closest friends broke around the corner, breathing heavily.

Sebastian stopped first, his eyes darting toward the exit doors before fixing on me. “Isn’t that Zach’s sister?”

“Yeah,” I muttered, my fingers curling tightly into my palms. “It is.”

Cade stepped up beside him, crossing his arms as a curious smirk played on his lips. “What the hell were you busy doing with her?”

“She collided right into me,” I said, the irritation raw in my tone as I rubbed my jaw. “And she still had the absolute nerve to run her mouth on me.”

Sebastian scoffed loudly, shaking his head in disgust.

“Bitterness sure does run in that family.”

I stared down the empty hallway, the memory of her sharp tongue twisting something dark inside my chest.

“I’m gonna teach her a lesson.”

Cade tilted his head, his interest instantly peaking. “That sounds interesting. Especially when her brother is out there acting all arrogant on the ice. What do you have in mind, Blake?”

I ran a hand through my damp hair, the frustration making it impossible to focus. “I don’t have any idea right now.”

Sebastian jumped in, a sudden wicked chuckle escaping his lips as he clapped his hands together. “Think, man. I have a brilliant idea.”

I looked over at him, my brow furrowing. “Go on.”

“Why don’t we use the girl to bet?” Sebastian said, stepping closer, his eyes gleaming with mischief. He pointed a finger at my chest. “You owe us this bet anyway, Blake. Here’s how it’ll go: you get close to her. Fake a friendship, fake a whole relationship with her. Make her go completely against her brother, and then break up with her.”

A frown instantly pulled at my forehead. I shook my head, the idea tasting sour the moment he said it out loud. “I don’t really think I want that idea. And besides, she’s completely not my type.”

Sebastian scoffed, throwing his hands up. “No one is talking about a type here, Blake. We’re talking about pure revenge.”

Cade nudged my shoulder, a dark grin spreading across his face. “Jump for it, man. Why the hell not?”

I looked between the two of them. The thought of breaking Zach’s arrogant streak through his protected little sister sparked a dangerous ember in my chest.

“How much are we betting on it?”

Sebastian’s grin widened, the trap fully set. “Twenty thousand dollars. If Bella actually agrees to be your girlfriend and falls in love with you, the twenty thousand is all yours. But if you fail...” He paused, his eyes narrowing playfully. “You give us twenty thousand each.”

A slow, devastating smile crept onto my face as the cold calculation took over.

“Deal.”