Page 127 of Cold As Ice

He wanted Rory, and she was with his friend. His teammate.

Which made me what?

His rebound.

His second choice.

A distraction while he pined after the girl he could never have.

I felt nauseous.

“E-excuse me,” I blurted, fighting my way through the sea of people to get to the restrooms. But stupidly, my path took me right past them.

“Madi, what’s wrong?” Rory called, and I glanced over.

Big mistake.

Austin looked furious.

Because I’d uncovered his secret.

“Nothing. I’m just… restroom.” The room spun, and I reached out, trying—failing—to grab hold of something as the world shifted beneath my feet.

“Shit,” Austin growled at the same time as Rory shrieked his name.

His strong arms caught me, helping me back to my feet. But he didn’t let go.

“How much did you drink?” He scowled.

“I…” I swallowed, acid burning my throat, tears burning the backs of my eyes.

God, I was a mess.

I’d taken Jeremiah’s advice, downed a few drinks for Dutch courage, and spent the last two hours doing my best to forget all about Austin Hart, maybe trying to make him a little bit jealous in the process.

All the while, he was lusting after his friend’s girlfriend.

“I-I need to go.” I wrenched myself out of his hold and took off toward the entrance.

“Madi,” Rory called, her voice drowned out by the music, blood rushing in my ears.

I didn’t stop until I was outside, the cool air instantly tempering the hot stains of embarrassment on my cheeks.

“Breathe,” I muttered, glancing up and down the sidewalk, trying to get air into my lungs. “Just breathe.”

I pulled out my phone to text Fawn. I needed to get out of here. I needed—

“If my sister didn’t suspect something before, she will now.” His voice rumbled through me.

“Just go back inside, Austin.” I whirled around and pinned him with the bestfuck youlook I could muster. “We have nothing— Sister?” My brows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”

“You caught that, huh?” His mouth quirked, guilt shining in his eyes.

“I… I don’t understand.” Except… that sense of familiarity I’d had at Sugartown when I first met her. “Oh my God.” Realization slapped me in the face. “Rory is your sister.”

“Yeah, and a relentless pain in my ass.”

So much made sense now.

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