Page 63 of Redeeming the Villain

“I don’t even know where to begin.” I groan, sinking down in my chair.

“Can I ask you a question?” she asks hesitantly.

I nod.

“Do you like him? Romantically, I mean.” She says it so casually, as if there aren’t years to unpack before I can give her an answer.

“It’s”—I sigh—“complicated.”

“Of course it’s complicated. It’s Malik.” She grins. “New question. If he kissed you, would you kiss him back?”

My cheeks heat by a thousand degrees as the image of him in my dorm room flashes in my mind. If he had kissed me that night, would I have reciprocated?

I fight the answer, knowing the one I want to say and the one that’s true. As much as I want to deny it, I would have melted into his kiss.

If he hadn’t been such an asshole in high school, I would have drooled over him. I’ve always hated this attraction I’ve had. Like my heart and mind are betraying me by liking him.

“That’s a long pause.” She smiles, reading me like a book. “Your secret is safe with me, as long as you want it to be.”

“Yeah, I mean, I like him. But I also hate myself for it. It’s jarring.” I sit up in my seat, resting my chin against the palm of my hand on the desktop.

“He likes you, you know? And I think he’s in the same boat you are … in denial and regret for the feelings he has. I don’t know what happened between you guys in the past, but I know he cares about you. Even if he’s an ass at showing it,” she says matter-of-factly.

I watch her intently as she continues, “You should have seen him when you fainted. Alora, I’ve never seen that look on his face. He was scared out of his damn mind for you.”

His concerned frown appears in my mind, tugging at my heart.

“Then why did he slam the door in my face?”

She looks away in thought. “I wish I had an answer for you. Malik is an enigma. He’s got a lot of traumas in his past.”

Remaining quiet, I hope she keeps sharing, desperate for any and all information.

“I actually hated Malik at first. I thought he was just this cocky asshole. Which heis—don’t get me wrong.” She chuckles. “But he’s also loyal. To an absolute fault. He’s passionate about the people he cares about.” Her voice softens. “When my ex was threatening me last year, he and Griffin came home with bloody knuckles. That hadn’t been his fight, but he had taken it on because the people he loved were hurting.”

A girl walks into the classroom, grabs something from the second row that she must have forgotten, and turns around before leaving.

Blair reaches out and sets her hand over mine. “I don’t have a handbook to help with Malik. But my advice? Go talk to him. He cares about you, even if it’s in some fucked-up Malik way.”

***

After debating for two hours on whether or not I was going to come here, I open the door and step inside of the arena. I still think this might be my worst idea yet.

Blair said their practice should end around seven p.m.

I check my phone.Six fifty-seven.

My heart is racing … a controlled amount but erratic because of where I am and what I’m doing. I left Sunny back at my dorm because I didn’t want anything to distract me from going through with this. I need to do this on my own.

Waiting in the entryway of the rink, I stand off to the side, time slipping by in slow motion.

A door opens down the hall, and two players walk out—Asher and Dean.

They smile when they spot me, Asher greeting me first.

“Alora, if you wanted to see me, you could’ve just called.”

Always a flirt.

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