Page 134 of Redeeming the Villain

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Wearing Malik’s name on my back has me feeling giddy in an entirely new way as I walk into the arena with Blair and Lumi. Because right now, I’m not wearing it with uncertainty; I’m wearing it, knowing I’m his.

We get settled into our seats, and warm-ups are underway. I find him on the ice instantly, recognizing the movements of his body as he skates. I could blindly find him in a room full of people.

“Excuse me,” a woman mutters, wanting to walk down our aisle.

We stand up, and a man and woman slide past us, sitting directly to my left.

The woman next to me murmurs to the guy, “Do you see him?”

“There he is.” The man points. “Number fifty-five.”

Fifty-five?I look at my arm and remember I’m wearing that same number on my jersey.Who are they?

“He’s going to be so surprised when he sees us.” She giggles.

Are they … the ones who took him in?

Is it weird if I ask?

Malik shoots a puck into the net and turns toward me, looking up in the stands and waving. Lifting my hand, I wave back as my stomach flutters.

But I’m not the only one who waves.

The couple raises their hands in the air, and as if we’re a reflection of one another, we turn to each other with a look of confusion.

And then we look back at Malik, whose hand is in the air with surprise. Pointing at all of us, he flicks his hands toward each other, and I read what he’s trying to say, turning to face the couple.

“Hi. You must be Darius and Alicia?” I ask politely as they watch me with curiosity.

They nod, and Alicia smiles, reminding me of how my aunt Flora lights up when she grins. “Yes, we are. And what’s your name?”

Sticking my hand out, I shake the man’s hand, then hers. “I’m Alora.”

“Alora …” Darius mumbles my name with recognition, his face flat.

Alicia rolls her eyes at him. “Ignore my husband. He’s clearly not putting this together as fast as I am.” Her eyes fall to the jersey I’m wearing. “It seems you guys aren’t enemies anymore.”

I chuckle, realizing they know exactly who I am—or at least have heard of me through Malik. “No, not quite.”

Lumi butts in. “They’re dating.”

“He gave you his jersey.” Darius’s voice is filled with emotion. “You must be someone incredibly special to him.”

That piques my interest. “What do you mean?”

Alicia sucks in a breath as Darius continues, “He’s never given his jersey out before.”

“Not to anyone?” I ask, goose bumps skating along my arms.

He shakes his head. “Never. Not once his entire high school career. The only person who ever wore his jersey was Micah. But once he lost him, he never did it again.”

My eyes burn, and I blink back tears from forming in my eyes. “Thank you for telling me that.”

Their stares are full of respect and adoration.

Darius smiles at me with wetness in his eyes. “Thank you for getting him to open up again. Until this moment, I almost thought that would never happen.”

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