Chapter 8: The Corner of the Ring

Gianna’s POV

I didn't move from my seat. I looked up at the blonde girl with a cold, calm face.

"If you want to yell at me," I said, my voice quiet under the loud arena music, "do it somewhere else. You're blocking my view."

Her mouth flew open in shock. Her cheeks turned bright red. She stepped closer, slamming her expensive bag against my chair. "Do you know who I am? I’m Chloe. I spent the last two years with Ryker. You’re nothing to him."

"Then go tell him that," I said. I stood up straight and pulled my hands out of my jacket pockets. I was taller than her, and I didn't look scared. "Because right now, I’m the one sitting in his front row. And I’m the one wearing his jersey shirt."

I didn't wait for her to answer. I walked right past her, my shoulder brushing hers as I went up the concrete stairs. I needed to get away from the crowd and find a quiet hallway to breathe.

*****

The main hallway behind the seats was packed with students buying food and drinks. I walked fast, turning down a darker, narrower hall that led toward the private team rooms. The air down here was cold and smelled like ice and floor wax.

"Hey! Stop right there!"

I turned around. Chloe had followed me down the empty hall. Her high heels made a loud clicking sound on the floor. She looked completely out of control.

"You think you can just walk away?" she hissed, pinning me against a row of gray metal lockers. "Ryker doesn't care about you. He is just using you because he got into a bad fight last week. The second he gets bored, he will toss you in the trash."

Before I could snap back, heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.

Ryker rounded the corner. He had taken his helmet off, and his dark brown hair was wet with sweat. But when he saw Chloe with me, his gray eyes went completely dark.

"What the hell is going on here?" Ryker frowned, stepping into the space between us.

Chloe’s angry face changed instantly. She dropped her bag on the floor and took a step toward him, her eyes filled with fake tears. "Ryker, thank goodness. You need to get rid of this freshman. She’s nothing. You know we belong together. You know you still want me."

Ryker clenched his jaw, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Chloe, I told you last month we are done. Get out of my face."

"No, we aren't!" Chloe cried out.

Suddenly, she lunged forward and grabbed the front of Ryker’s heavy hockey jersey with both hands, pulled herself up, before forcefully slamming her lips onto his.

My breath hitched instantly. A hot, violent spike of pure anger flared up in my chest—a feeling so strong it shocked me. It was supposed to be none of my business, but seeing another girl's mouth on him made my blood boil.

Ryker didn't hesitate. A look of total disgust flashed across his face. He grabbed Chloe by the wrists, ripping her off his body with enough force to send her stumbling back against the lockers.

"Don't touch me," Ryker glared as he wiped his mouth with the back of his glove, looking like he wanted to vomit. "If you ever come near me or Gianna again, I will have campus security throw you out of this arena. We are over."

Chloe stared at him, her chest heaving as she realized she had completely lost. She looked at Ryker, then shot a look of pure hatred at me. She scooped up her bag from the floor, turned around, and ran down the hallway as fast as her heels could carry her.

The hallway fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.

Ryker turned slowly to face me. He was breathing hard, as he stepped into my space, placing his hand flat against the metal locker right next to my head, trapping me completely against the wall.

"You're shaking, Cole," he whispered, leaning his face down until his dark gray eyes were level with mine, his hot breath hitting my mouth.