Chapter 3

Maya

This was not part of the plan.

The plan was:

1. Walk in.

2. Look hot.

3. Make Cole Ryder emotionally malfunction.

4. Leave.

Simple. Clean. Efficient.

What was not included was Cole Ryder standing directly in front of me like some kind of football-shaped temptation, looking at me like I’d just personally offended his nervous system.

And Bree…

Bree was smiling like she’d committed a felony and gotten away with it.

Cole’s gaze stayed locked on me.

“One lap,” he repeated, voice low.

Then he grinned.

“Good.”

I blinked. “Why is that good?”

“Because,” he said, leaning in slightly, “I didn’t get enough time to appreciate you the first time.”

My face went hot instantly.

“That’s… weird.”

“That’s honest.”

“That’s arrogant.”

He shrugged. “Also honest.”

Beside me, Bree made a choking sound like she was trying not to laugh out loud.

Cole’s eyes flicked to her.

“You’re enjoying this.”

Bree clasped her hands together. “Immensely.”

Cole nodded slowly. “Good. Because you’re about to enjoy it more.”

I stiffened. “What does that mean?”

Bree answered like she was narrating a documentary.

“It means he’s panicking.”

“I’m not panicking,” Cole said immediately.

Bree tilted her head. “You haven’t blinked in thirty seconds.”

Cole blinked.

Once.

Hard.

I bit the inside of my cheek.

Bree leaned closer to me, whispering loudly, like she wanted him to hear.

“The Rogue in his natural habitat. Overconfident. Territorial. Confused by a woman who doesn’t worship him.”

Cole exhaled sharply.

“You talk a lot.”

Bree smiled sweetly. “And you steal pizza.”

Cole’s grin returned. “Fair.”

I crossed my arms, trying to regain control of my dignity.

“Why are you even talking to me?”

His brows lifted.

“You walked into my house wearing that dress.”

“That is not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I’ve got.”

Bree gasped dramatically.

“Oh my God, Maya. He’s flirting.”

“I am not flirting,” Cole said.

Bree pointed at him. “You’re doing the voice.”

Cole frowned. “What voice?”

“The voice you do when you’re trying to get a girl to forgive you for being a menace.”

His gaze sharpened.

“I don’t need forgiveness.”

Bree smiled wider. “Then why are you standing here like a lost puppy with abs?”

One of Cole’s teammates walked by, took one look at us, and muttered, “Dude… is Ryder getting bullied?”

Cole didn’t even glance away.

“I’m fine.”

Bree waved cheerfully. “He’s not.”

I cleared my throat, desperate to redirect.

“Okay. Bree and I are leaving.”

Cole’s eyes narrowed.

“Already?”

“Yes.”

“But you just got here.”

“That was the point.”

His grin turned wicked.

“So you came in here… to torture me.”

I froze.

Bree coughed. “Technically, yes.”

Cole’s gaze slid back to me.

“You know,” he murmured, “most girls torture me by throwing themselves at me.”

I scoffed. “I’m different.”

“Oh,” he said softly, “I’ve noticed.”

That shouldn’t have made my stomach flip.

It absolutely did.

Bree suddenly clapped her hands.

“Okay! Lap completed! Torture successful! Time to go!”

I exhaled in relief.

Yes. Escape.

Then Bree leaned in and whispered in my ear—

Loud enough for Cole to hear.

“Try not to let him kiss you in the hallway.”

I choked.

“Bree!”

Cole’s head snapped toward her.

“Kiss you in the hallway?”

Bree blinked innocently.

“What? It’s a party. Hallway kisses happen.”

Cole’s gaze returned to me, slow and dangerous.

“Is that part of the plan?”

“No,” I said quickly. “There is no plan involving kissing.”

Bree shrugged. “Plans evolve.”

“Bree!”

Cole’s grin widened like Christmas came early.

“So,” he drawled, “you’re telling me… I shouldn’t kiss you in the hallway.”

“I’m telling you,” I snapped, cheeks blazing, “that you’re impossible.”

He stepped closer.

“And you’re wearing red in my house.”

My brain short-circuited.

Bree suddenly checked her phone.

“Oh my God.”

I blinked. “What?”

Bree’s eyes widened dramatically.

“I just remembered something.”

“What?”

“I don’t care.”

Then she stepped backward.

“Have fun!”

“Bree—”

And just like that…

She vanished into the crowd.

Traitor.

Absolute traitor.

I turned back toward Cole, horrified.

“I’m going to kill her.”

Cole’s voice dropped.

“You can kill her later.”

My breath caught.

He moved closer, and suddenly the noise of the party blurred into the background.

It was just him.

Me.

The hallway behind us.

His gaze flicked down to my lips for half a second.

Then back up.

“You’re really going to walk out of here,” he murmured, “after coming in like that… and expect me not to follow?”

I swallowed hard.

“I expect you to behave.”

Cole smiled.

“Sweetheart…”

He leaned in just enough that I could feel his warmth.

“I’m the Rogue.”

And somewhere in the distance, Bree cackled like a witch.