Page 84 of Off The Rush
“Hi there,” I say to the girl, maintaining my friendly demeanor even though I’d rather be anywhere else. “I’m Emma. Can we help you with something?”
“I hope not,” Luka murmurs, trying to lighten the mood. His eyes are filled with amusement as he watches the scene unfold. It’s nice to have someone who can make me smile in tense situations like this one.
Her eyes widen with surprise, clearly not expecting me to introduce myself. She hesitates for a moment before taking my hand, her grip firm and cool.
“Surely you already know who I am,” she replies snidely, raising an eyebrow as if we’ve been playing some twisted game of cat and mouse this whole time.
“Actually, no, I don’t,” I answer, feigning ignorance. “Should I?”
The girl glares at Alec, her expression filled with bitterness. “I’m the love of his life,” she says, emphasizing her words with a pointed look in his direction.
Alec’s body tenses up beside me, his arms tightening around me protectively. I can feel his heart pounding against my back, the steady rhythm betraying his unease. But instead of cowering or backing down, I decide to play along with the girl’s twisted game.
“Really?” I ask, stepping away from Alec and moving closer to the girl. “So, are you saying he’s cheating on you with me?”
Alec starts to speak, but I cut him off with a sharp glare. He clamps his mouth shut, looking more confused than ever. I share a glance with JD and Luka, both of them equally bewildered by my sudden change in demeanor.
“Come on, let’s talk over here,” I say to the girl, leading her away from our group. As we walk away, I steal one last look at the guys. Their expressions are a mix of worry and curiosity, but I know I have to see this through.
This is my chance to put her behind us once and for all.
As Chloe and I stand apart from the others, I steel myself for whatever may come next. I’m determined to protect the people I care about, no matter what it takes. And if that means playing along with this girl’s cruel games, then so be it.
“Show me the proof, then” I demand, my voice shaking with feigned distress. “I need to know if I’m being played for a fool. Hockey players, you know? They’re such… well, players.”
“Fine,” the girl replies smugly, pulling out her phone and swiping through her gallery. She stops at a photo of her and Alec together, looking cozy and intimate. My heart clenches at the sight, but I remind myself that this is all part of the plan.
“Here,” she says, thrusting the phone into my hands. “See for yourself.”
“Thanks,” I mutter, pretending to examine the photo closely. In reality, I’m swiping through her gallery, searching for any other compromising pictures of Alec. As I find them, I subtly hit delete, erasing the evidence one by one.
As I work, I can’t help but marvel at the lengths I’m willing to go for these guys. It’s not just about Alec, though I’d do just about anything for him. It’s also about JD and Luka, who’ve become equally important to me. We’ve become an unconventional team, and I’ll be damned if I let anyone tear us apart.
“You must have lots of copies of these right? It would be dumb not to!” I say, playing dumb.
I watch her face twist. “That’s a good idea.”
Good. I’m glad she hasn’t thought of it.
I glance up from the phone, feigning disappointment. “I only see this one picture that isn’t really compromising at all,” I say, gesturing to the innocent photo of Alec and the girl. “You two could be just friends here.”
The girl stutters, her eyes widening as she snatches the phone back from me. She frantically swipes through her gallery in search of the other pictures. As she grows increasingly flustered, I shrug innocently.
“Look, if you don’t have any proof, then I can’t doubt Alec,” I say, my voice tight with controlled emotion. “Is there anything else?”
Her triumphant expression falters as she realizes the lack of impact her so-called “proof” has had on me. But she doesn’t back down, instead doubling down on her air of superiority.
“Isn’t that enough?” she snaps, trying to regain control of the situation. “He was obviously with me while he was seeing you.”
“Maybe,” I concede to her even though I know it isn’t true. “But the thing is, people change. And if this is all you’ve got, then it’s not enough for me to doubt him. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to my friends now.”
With that, I turn and walk away, leaving the girl fuming in my wake. As I rejoin Alec, JD, and Luka, I can’t help but feel a surge of pride in our little team.
As I reach them, Alec pulls me into his side, his grip both protective and possessive. “Emma, what the hell was that?” he asks, a mixture of concern and curiosity in his voice.
“Relax,” I reply with a sly smile. “I deleted the pictures she threatened you with on her phone. It doesn’t seem like she has other copies and she doesn’t seem that smart, so let’s hope she doesn’t.”
Alec’s eyes widen in surprise, and then he dips his head down to capture my lips in a heated kiss. I can feel the gratitude and admiration behind the gesture; it sends a shiver down my spine.
