Page 18 of Furious
“Ares,” she pants, her chest heaving when I finally break the kiss. “Does that mean that you changed your mind and you’re coming upstairs with me?”
She’s so tempting, so addictive. I almost cave.
“No, princess. I’m just making the most of our parents being away. Once they’re back, I won’t be able to kiss you openly on our doorstep. Not until we find a way to talk to Dad. I just wanted to do it. Good night.”
Chapter 5
A Dangerous Game
ZARA
Star Cove College Ice Arena
“Isn’t this exciting?” Heather squeals, squeezing my hand. “We’re sitting so close to the action that if we weren’t behind the boards, we could literally be hit by the players’ sweat.”
“Gross.” I laugh, squeezing her hand back to steady my nerves.
Diane Pullin, Heather’s mom, scolds us. “Yes, gross. Girls, I get your excitement about having the best seats in the arena,” she says with an expression that looks everything but excited. “But we’re here to represent the mayor since he’s still away on his honeymoon. Let’s behave accordingly and keep the talk about bodily fluids to a minimum.”
“But Mom,” Heather objects. “You don’t understand. Zara’s boyfriend might get to play tonight. She’s a WAG now. Isn’t that exciting?”
I repeat what Lev and Chance have been telling me all week. “Lev is a freshman. He doesn’t think he’s gonna get any ice time.He and Chance are on the third line and the Cove Knights’ roster has never been so good.”
Mrs. Pullin ignores my statement about the team’s roster, choosing to focus on another tidbit of information. “Lev? You’re dating Lev Reilly?” she looks surprised.
“I am. We’re still pretty new, but Lev is awesome.”
It feels a little strange to call Lev my boyfriend in public—especially since he isn’t the only guy I’m seeing—but the guys agreed that it’s a good idea to date Lev publicly as a decoy.
If our parents think I’m with Lev, there’s going to be way less attention on how close I am to my stepbrothers.
“Well done, Zara.” Heather’s mom gushes. “Lev is a lovely young man. He comes from one of the most prestigious families in Star Cove. Ted and I have known his parents since we were all in college. Did you give the good news to your parents? I bet Scott and Kelly will be delighted.”
I open my mouth to tell her that I haven’t had the chance to talk to Mom and Scott, but Heather intervenes before I can say anything.
“Mom, Lev and Zara have just started dating. It’s ok to be excited for her, but give them at least until college graduation before you start planning their wedding.”
I’m about to agree with Heather that it’s definitely still early days, but Diane Pullin fires back at her daughter.
“It’s never too early to get serious once you find the one. I knew I would marry your father since we got introduced at a Zeta mixer our freshman year. So Zara could have met her future husband, and he’s an extremely eligible prospect. You should follow her example. That’s why I encouraged you to pledge. The Zetas know how to surround themselves with the most eligible bachelors on campus.”
“Mom,” Heather crosses her arms over her chest, her voice breaking as if she was struggling not to cry. “I’m not looking for a boyfriend. I’m not ready.”
Rather than comforting her daughter, Mrs. Pullin scolds her again. “It’s been two years. You can’t hold on to a ghost forever, Heather. Atlas wouldn’t want you to be alone.”
“You have no idea what Atlas would have wanted!” Heather snaps. “Besides, Atlas is just as eligible as Lev, but you never approved when he and I were together.”
I’m caught in the back and forth between my friend and her mother, watching them like a tennis match.
“You know your father and I liked Atlas. Our families have been close since before you two were born. Scott’s first wife was one of my best friends. Our problem wasn’t with your choice of boyfriend. We were just cautious because you two started dating too young.”
Heather isn’t appeased by her mom’s explanation. “Love doesn’t care about age.”
Her mother fires back. “It does when your daughter starts dating a boy at fourteen. Your father and I didn’t disapprove of Atlas. But he was two years older than you and it was our duty to protect you. To keep you from growing up too fast.”
“Too fast?” my friend argues. “I’ve known Atlas since before I can even remember.”
“When I was fourteen, I was still collecting Barbie dolls.” Her mother says. “But you can’t honestly say that your father and I stopped you from dating Atlas now, can you?”
