Page 6 of If You Dare

Reckless endangerment.That’s all they charged her with. Not fucking murder, even though that’s exactly what it was. She should be locked up.

Instead, she got to walk.

Now she doesn’t even have the decency to transfer to a different school. Doesn’t give a single shit about what seeing my sister's killer every day on campus will do to me.

“She killed Chloe.” I grip the fork so hard, the metal bends. “She’s a murderer, and she got away with it. I’ll never forgive her for taking Chloe away from us.”

Mom’s blue eyes, the same as my sister’s, turn soft. Pitying. That only makes me clutch the fork harder. “Your lack of forgiveness won’t hurt Violet, Wes. It’ll only hurt you.”

Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure it hurts Violet too.

* * *

Blades slice through ice,the puck smacking against the net. Shouts barely break through the buzzing in my ears. A couple guys slam into me chest-first. The winning goal and I’m not even celebrating.

“Dude,” Trey shouts, “I get that hockey is a violent sport, but do you really have to take it out on your teammates? It’s just practice.”

I got stuck with Trey as a roommate again this year. He doesn’t suck too bad to live with, but he doesn’t shower enough and he’s never washed a dish in his life. When he’s not on the ice or in the gym, he’s getting blitzed at frat parties. I’m amazed he’s made it to his senior year. He’s just pissy because I slammed him to the ice ten minutes after Coach blew the whistle. He’s not a bad defenseman, but he’s not good enough either. Not if we want to win, and winning’s all I’ve got now.

“What do you think practices are for, Trey?” I ask. “Boston isn’t going to take it easy on your ass, so why should I?”

Trey shakes his head. “Whatever, man. You need to get laid.”

He’s not wrong about that.

Luke, my goalie, leans on his stick. “She’s back today, isn’t she?”

All the guys near us wait to gauge my reaction. They know exactly how I feel about Violet Harris. “Yeah,” I grit out. “She is.”

But not for long. I plan on doing whatever it takes to get her off this campus.

Chapter5

Before

Violet

“Now you’ll getto meet the hockey team.” Chloe loops her arm through mine, leading me to the Village, one of Diamond’s most popular dining halls. “Some of them, anyway.”

In the cafeteria, I’m hit with the mouthwatering aroma of tortellini. The room is brightly lit with stacks of colorful plates. Chloe leads the way along the pasta bar, and I grab everything she does, too exhausted and overwhelmed by my first week of classes to put any thought into what I want to eat.

The dining hall nearly takes my breath away. A towering ceiling with massive windows bordered by stone walls. Stately chandeliers hang down above dozens of long, mahogany tables filled with students and faculty, everyone buzzing. This entire week, I’ve been filled with a mix of nerves and excitement. This feeling of possibility like I’ve never had before. That maybe this is a new start for me.

Chloe leads the way to a table in the middle of the dining hall, and I instantly know where she’s guiding us. Three hulking hockey players who are nearly the same size as Wes dwarf their seats.

The Diamond University hockey team.

The Devils.

“They’re all very attractive,” she whispers to me like a warning. “But don’t bother getting your hopes up if you want a relationship. They have too many puck bunnies waiting in the wings to settle down with one girl. Except for Luke, he’s sweet. But I’ve already called dibs.”

“How do you know all of them?”

“I’ve been to Wes’s games. Under the guise of being a supportive sister, but really, I’m there to check out the rest of the players.” She stops at the end of the table, beaming. “Guys, this is my roommate, Violet.” They all turn to stare at me, and I want to melt. “Violet, this is Luke, Brody, and Trey.”

Chloe was right. They’re all attractive. Luke instantly reminds me of a golden retriever—dark blonde hair, square jaw, and a bright, friendly smile. His eyes light up when they land on Chloe, and I have a feeling Luke has called dibs on her too. Brody is more like an ornery cat with tousled brown hair, a Roman nose, and distrusting dark eyes. Trey stares at me like a hyena who just spotted a wounded gazelle. Chin in his hand, amusement in his green eyes, and a crooked smile that makes me feel like I’ve been dipped in oil.

“Tell me, Violet.” Trey’s singsong voice sends a shiver down my spine. “Have you been deflowered?”

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