Page 146 of Rush the Edge

The small brush of Daisy’s elbow against my arm as she walks beside River pulls me toward her. I expect to find her scowling at me, thanks to my choice of date, but instead, her lips are pulled into a frown as remorse slips onto her features. One slow shake of her head, and I know she’s read my text.

My chest grows tight.

We keep a hold of each other’s gaze for a few seconds. But then we’re being ushered into the venue, and she’s walking up ahead of me with River. Worry settles into my stomach, but I can’t decide if it’s because of Miles’s text or if it’s because Daisy isn’t hanging off my arm where she belongs.

Forty-Nine

DAISY

My plan completely backfired,which seems unfair because it wasn’t meant to be malicious.

If I wanted to stir things up between us, I would have brought some random guy as my date to the function, but instead, I convinced River to go, promising him a night of free food and drinks.

But then Kane justhadto bring Paris, and now I’m regretting much more than my decision to deny Kane as my date.

“I almost didn’t recognize you without horns,” Emory chuckles, staring out at the party.

I grin. “I made a last-minute decision to tuck them into my purse. I can put them on it if you'd like.”

Emoryalmostsmiles. He shakes his head and puts his hands into his pockets to rock back on his dress shoes. “I take it you haven’t seen all the photos from the media shoot, huh?”

When walking into the charity event, I was in awe. The photos that Scottie took hang on the walls, showcasing all the children smiling with their favorite Blue Devils player. It’s a great idea for the charity function, and I’m sure it has donors emptying their pockets.

“Why do you say it like that?” I ask Emory.

He nods to the left, and I follow him closely. I glance into the sea of people. Reese and Malaki are deep in conversation with their faces awfully close, while Coach Jacobs stands with his hand resting against his wife’s lower back. I refuse to look any farther and keep my focus ahead. I’m too afraid I’ll snag a glimpse of Kane with Paris—something I can only blame myself for.

The knot in my throat gets tighter the closer Emory and I get to the far-left corner of the room. When he stops, I do too. My heart slips, landing in the pit of my stomach, as I stare at a photo of Kane and me.

His angular jaw is angled to the side as he gazes at me over the head of Jonas, who is sitting happily in my arms. I’m staring up at Kane, and to the naked eye, it may not look suspicious, but a photo speaks a thousand words, and if River sees this, we’re doomed.

“It’s a good photo.” Emory takes a sip of his drink. “And I’m not just saying that because my wife took it.”

I force a laugh.

“It makes Kane look like he actually has a heart,” he adds.

I’m quick to defend him. “He has a heart.”

The broody goalie grins over the rim of his cup. “I know he does. But there aren’t many that do.”

I follow his line of sight when he looks toward the large room basked in warm light from golden chandeliers and hundreds of people dressed in suits and gowns.

I find Kane right away, and the breath whooshes from my lungs.

Kane’s hand rests on his date’s lower back, and I suddenly wish I’d worn her dress instead of this one. If Paris and I had traded, at least his hand would be on silky blue fabric instead of her bare skin.

“Excuse me.” I rush off and leave Emory alone to stare at his wife mingling with her camera around her neck.

This is high school all over again—me watching Kane flirt with other girls from afar while dying a slow death of jealousy. Nausea climbs up my throat until I find a random door along the hallway just outside the venue space.

I’m desperate to be alone to clear my thoughts.

I shut the door and exhale. My shoulders drop with the quietness of the dark room, but they quickly tense when the door opens. I turn to see who it is, but it closes just as quickly.

It only takes me a split second to realize it’s Kane. His scent envelops me, but I try to mask my emotions before he catches on to the hurt and confusion lying just beneath the surface. I square my shoulders and step backward, hitting something on my way. I can’t see anything, but I can most definitely sense the shift in the air with his presence.

“Are you hiding, little devil?” His voice is smooth and confident, brushing against my bare arms like velvet.

---