Page 24 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)
She huffs. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”
I shrug. “That’s why the ladies like me.”
“Idon’t like you.”
“You’re no lady.” I glare at her. “Is there a point to this? Or are you just trying to make a bigger fool of yourself?”
“You had no right to post a picture of me,” she says, stepping closer to me.
She’s in street shoes. Worn-out-looking Converse that are barely holding on to life. In my skates, our height difference is startling. I want to crowd her, intimidate her. I live for the hitch in her breath and the wobble in her voice that says I’maffectingher. That I can actually get through to her.
But maybe not with an audience.
Or…
“Well?” She actually stomps her foot. “Don’t you have anything to say?”
I pull at her t-shirt.Myt-shirt. “And what about this, Sticks? Do you have any right to wear my clothes?”
It’s my Blue Öyster Cult t-shirt. I was—and still am—obsessed with them. Which makes total sense because “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” is a great song. And “Burnin’ For You.” Obviously. But it just makes her choice that much worse. Like she’s invaded yet another aspect of my life.
She bats my hand away. “It was in my room. Finders keepers.”
“Losers weepers.” I skate closer, fisting the collar. “Take it off.”
Her eyes go wide—and then she smiles. I get this weird feeling in my stomach as her smile grows. And suddenly, I find myself regretting my decision. Even more so when she grabs the hem in front and pulls it off in one sweep, tossing it at me.
Pink bra.
Pale, perfect skin.
My brain stops working.
Until I register the wolf whistles coming from behind me. From my teammates, who are getting an eyeful of her tits too.
I snatch her hand. She squeaks when I force the t-shirt, now fucking inside out, over her head. She fights me, but I get the shirt back on her in record time. But now her hair looks like she was just fucked, and the way she’s glaring at me…
“What’s wrong, Stone? Afraid of a little skin in the game?”
I manage a laugh to hide my sudden, strange attraction. “Just trying to save you, Sticks. Wouldn’t want anyone to think they could use you as kindling.”
Her expression drops.
“No one would think twice about your barely there tits,” I add. “Now, get to the point, or get off the ice.”
Her voice is icy when she says, “You took a picture of me without my permission.”
“Yeah, and?”
“And that’s illegal.”
I scoff. “You’re out of your mind, Sticks. I mean, I guess you could sue me…but do you think you’d win against the Fosters? My dad has a whole team at his disposal, and you’d have whatever two-bit attorney you could wrangle up with the change under your couch.” I tap my chin. “Oh, wait, you don’t even have a couch. And it’s not like you can sellyourself. Who’d want to buy some skinny, broke chick? So, good luck with that.”
She lifts her chin. “Take the photo down.”
“Take the photo down,please.”
Her lips press together. For a second, I think she won’t say it. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Coach talking to Archer and Sully. They pivot him around subtly, putting his back to us, buying me a few more precious seconds before he sees Wren and blames me for having a girl on the ice.