Page 1 of Reconciling With the Rival

Prologue

Little Bitch Drink

September 2021

“Four tequila shots, please!”I shout to the bartender on duty tonight. The Hidden Bear ispackedwith people, since the semester just started. I look around the bar and see a few hockeyplayers, some people I know from classes I’ve taken, and a fewreallycute girls dancing. When I look at the booth I came from, I see my beautiful friends, who I’ve once again dragged here for a night out.

My girls.

Hads, Paige, and Amelia are having a heated conversation that probably has something to do with the book we just finished. For once, the four of us were split down the middle in how we felt about it. Amelia and I have made it our new obsession, Paige thought it was just good, and Hads hated it. For me, it was the perfect literary equivalent to the showGossip Girl, and it was everything I didn't know I needed. It focused on high society, fashion, and there was so much drama, it made me want to start a rewatch.

I think Paige will come around when we read the second book, but part of me knew Hads wasn't going to like it. It wasn't her cup of tea, but our conversations about it have spread out of the tiny classroom we meet in every Wednesday and into the bar we’re at.

The bartender places a single shot in front of me, and I go to open my mouth when he points to some guy at the end of the bar. The mystery man looking in my direction looks like a deer caught in headlights, but damn, he’s kind of cute.

He seems too shy for someone who just sent me a tequila shot.

Whatever. I down the shot in one go and look back at the bartender. “Can I get four more of those, please?” I throw him a smile, and he pours them out for me. The girls are going to hate me for these, since they all hate tequila, but I don't care.

Oh shit, Paige is technically our designated driver, even though we walked here. Paige doesn't drink much, so I’ll have to take two of these.

I’m leaning against the bar when someone taps me on the shoulder. I turn around, thinking it’s one of the girls, but it’s the guy who sent me the shot a few moments ago. “Can I help you?”

“You never sent anything back.” He’s yelling since the music is so loud, but I can hear him clearly enough because of how close he is.

Is that an accent I’m detecting?“What?”

“I sent a shot to you, although you’re not who I wastryingto send it to—the bartender must’ve misheard me—but you still didn't have the decency to return one.” He smiles and puts his drink to his lips, and damn, he was cute until he opened his mouth. What a shame. I follow his eyes to the girl hemeantto send a shot to—a cute blonde at the end of the bar.

“I’m sorry, that shotwasn'tfor me? How sad for you that the girl it was meant for seems to be going for someone else now.” We both look over at the girl at the end of the bar—cute—but she’s leaving hand in hand with some hockey player. “Better luck next time,loverboy.”

He smirks at me. “You have that drink on me, darling. The only drink someone buys you, and it wasn't even meant for you. How sad.”

Who the hell does this guy think he is? “I’m trying to have a nice night, and you're ruining it. Run along and send tequila to someone who will tolerate your attitude.”

“Oh, I don't know,” he looks me up and down, “I’ve always quite liked playing with fire…” He takes another sip of his little bitch drink and then walks away.What the fuck?I’ve never seen him before, and I find myself wondering if he goes to school at Grand Mountain.

Whatever.I shake off the conversation, grab the four shots on the bar, and head back to my friends.

“I don’t condone murder, but when it’s fictional and he does it to protect his girl, I don't care!” Paige is shouting at Hadsand Amelia, and weirdly enough, this isn't the oddest thing I’ve heard her say.

“Easy, girl,” I say as I place the drinks in front of them.

“Ells, please tell me this isn't tequila,” Amelia says as she picks up the shot, smells it, and gags.

“I know you usually like prosecco, but we’re celebrating tonight. It’s mandatory you guys do a shot with me.”

“What are we celebrating?” Hads asks the table. “Amelia’s birthday isn't for a few weeks, and school just started.”

“Are we celebrating the fact that I finally got out of my reading slump?” Paige asks, her eyes all bright like usual.

“No. We’re celebrating my senior year and that the four of us are much closer to real life.” I hold my shot up, signaling a toast. “To the beginning of the end!”

I hear Paige sniffle a little bit as she raises her water. “Ella, I don't want you to leave, but I know you’ll have to go eventually. So, to Ella!”

“To Ella!” Hads and Amelia join as we all tip our shots back. I take Paige’s with no problem. After a few moans and groans and dragging Paige to the dance floor, I tell them I’m getting another round, and before I can hear them complain, I walk to the bar.

I notice a cute girl sitting at one of the stools when I’m up there, so I make eyes with her for a few seconds before she gets up and comes over to me. “Do you wanna dance?”

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