Her eyes flick to the bed, and I follow her gaze to the mountain of stuff beneath that blanket. Then she shifts, subtle but stupid, like moving an inch to the left will block it from view.
And just like that, the truth clicks. My father wasn’t bluffing. That smug bastard said she was digging, poking around in shit that didn’t concern her. And I wanted so badly for it to be one of his manipulative power plays.
But it isn’t.She’s hiding something.
“What were you doing?” I tilt my chin toward the bed.
“Don’t worry about it.”
I take another swig. “You need to tell me, now.”
Her face contorts, and she snaps her head back as if that’s the craziest thing she’s ever heard. “Or what?”
I let out a breath, raising a hand in frustration before lunging closer. “Damn it, Sam, I’m—”
“Full of yourself.”
She pauses, and all I can do is stare.
“You don’t like me, fine. Get in line. You know, I’ve kept to myself. Haven’t pushed the fact that once upon a time you were kind to me—were my friend. Something clearly changed you into this angry bulldog, but trust me, the bit is getting old. I might have to do what you guys say in the rink, but outside of it, you don’t control me. And I have as much right to be here as the next person.”
“You don’t belong here,” I grit out.
“And you do? You seem to fit in real nice around here,” she says, her tone almost mocking me.
The words hit harder than I expect them to.
Silence hangs thick between us, and I drop my gaze for a second, letting her words sink in. They cut deep.
“You don’t get it,” I mutter.
“I’m just trying to survive this place. You’re the one showing up uninvited, drunk, and barking orders like I’m supposed to jump.”
“Still so fucking stubborn,” I snap.
“Ditto.” She folds her arms over her chest.
I huff. “Just stop digging.”
Her eyes widen and her breath quickens.
“And stay away from Alex.”
“Alex? What does he have to do with this?” She frowns, confusion written all over her face. Her perfectly pouty, gorgeous face.
I don’t respond, only bring the bottle to my lips again, butSam interferes, snatching it from me. I attempt to grab it back, but she jerks away.
“What does Alex have to do with anything?”
“I know you kissed him.”
She staggers backward, caught off guard. “You spied on me?”
“I wasn’t spying.”
“So then you’re jealous? That’s why you’ve come storming in here wasted?”
I smirk, bitter and hard. “You think I give a shit who you let touch you?”
