I’m not ready to let go of Cash.
“Enjoying the game?”
My phone flies out of my hand as Ava chirps in my ear. She pops a piece of popcorn into her mouth with a smile on her face that has ice sliding through me.
“I thought you weren’t coming?”
How Duncan got into the game, I still don’t know.
“Duncan changed his mind. I’m glad he did. Who knew seeing you here would be so fun?”
“Sure you don’t want something stronger?” Angie asks, eyes glaring at Ava as she retakes her seat.
“I’m good.”
“Nothing for me,” Ava tells her, like she was offering to get her something.
“Excuse me, are you Angie Hollins?” A woman comes up to Angie from the bar.
“I am.”
“Hi. My husband plays for Nashville and does work with Team Rainbow, and I just wanted to introduce myself.”
“Of course!”
Angie pops up from her seat to go talk with her. Ava is rolling her eyes at them. “God, some people are just so…what’s the right word?Fake.”
Dread settles in my stomach. “What are you talking about?”
Ava rests her elbow on the armrest between us, and her chin on a closed fist. Her brown eyes are menacing as they roll over me.
“Don’t play dumb, sweetheart. It’s really not a good look. You know what I’m talking about.”
“What?”
“You know, you shouldn’t read things in public for anyone to see. Tsk tsk.”
Oh God. The teams come back onto the ice for the start of the second period. Instead of being excited for the action to start again, I’m ready to crawl into a hole and die.
Ava saw what I was looking at?
“Piper, you okay?” Angie’s back and has a worried look on her face. The two of us sitting together would be worrisome for anyone who knows my history with Ava.
“I’m good.” I swallow around the lie that slips out. “Ava and I need to go chat for a minute.”
I squeeze by Angie and slip out of the suite, finding a quiet corner to have this conversation.
“What in the hell are you doing, Ava?” I hiss at her as she saunters toward me.
She twirls a strand of black hair around her finger. A bedazzled jersey stretches tight across her chest, clashing with the leather pants she’s wearing.
“You know,” she starts, looking me up and down with a scathing look, “I don’t understand how you keep getting these guys to fall for you. But then I realized, it’s all fake. Clearly you’re lying to get everyone to love Cash, and Duncan? Well, I don’t know what he ever saw in you.”
“What do you want, Ava?”
“Break up with him.”
“What?” I rear back as if she slapped me. “With Cash?”
