Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100294 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 501(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“She is a cheater,” Georgia is the first to say, as if that were a reason for someone to die. If Madeline were mine, which she is, she’d figure that out soon enough; I wouldn’t kill her if she cheated. I’d kill him. I don’t care if he knew she was single or not. It would be for my own sanity.
“Oh yeah,” Madeline clues into whatever Georgia means. “That day you busted me.”
“He busted you for what?” Grant asks.
“Let her speak,” I bark, making everyone’s eyes widen. I clear my throat like it was an accident that I spoke so loudly. It was not.
“Lana is always getting chosen as captain or something like that.” She waves her hand. “You know, you heard Kory and me talking about trying to get a private vote. Well, we did, but Lana and Coach Murphy lied about the results. I snuck into that office to find the votes. Lana lost.”
“But Coach said she won?”
She nods a yes to Grant. “Someone knew what we were up to, and I never got a chance to ask for the private vote, but it happened.” Madeline jumps up from my bed. “And remember, Georgia, we thought it was so weird she’d done that.”
Georgia nods adamantly along with her.
“Yeah, that was me.” I don’t want her wandering down the wrong path. There’s no use in hiding things now. We all need to focus if we are going to figure this out before someone tries to pin this shit on Madeline.
“What was?” Madeline turns toward me.
“I pulled a favor with my brother and asked him to make the private vote happen.” I try to keep my face neutral.
“You’re saying you went out of your way to ask the dean a favor that doesn’t benefit you?” I’m going to lay Grant’s ass out later.
“I didn’t ask the dean. I asked my brother.” I glare over at Grant in a silent shut the fuck up. That is until I see Madeline staring at me with softness in her eyes. That same expression she has when she’s speaking alone with Georgia and I catch them across a room. It’s more open. Madeline has a tough exterior, but get below the surface, and I know it’s sweetness. I want that sweetness, and that is the benefit. Grant was wrong.
“Why would you do that?” Madeline asks, but it’s not really directed at me. I hate how shocked she is that I would go out of my way for someone. It’s a perception that I’m determined to change. At least in her eyes. I’ll start there.
“Yes, please fill us in on why you would do such a thing, Luke.” Grant must have a death wish. It’s all fun and games to poke at me now, but it won’t be the next time we’re on the ice.
“Lana’s a bitch.”
“So you did it to get back at her?” Madeline’s shoulders draw back a fraction, but I catch it. When you’re on the ice, you pay attention to even the subtle movements; it can give you an idea of where your opponent is about to go.
Fuck me. I walked my ass right into that one, and there is only one way to fix it. I bite the bullet.
“I did it for you, Buttercup,” I tell her. “Why would I do shit for Lana?”
“It doesn’t matter.” She’s quick to brush it off. “We have other things we should be focusing on. I’d rather not focus on Lana.” All my focus is pinpointed on Madeline, and I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to.
I can tell that the fraction of softness I’d gotten seconds ago is now gone. How do I manage to fuck shit up with her even when I’m trying to lure her to me?
My trying to win her over isn’t working as well as I want. When a strategy isn’t working, you adapt or lose, and I never fucking lose when it matters. You have to know when it’s time to pivot, so that’s what I do, but with a plan because I know from the short time I’ve been around Madeline, she won’t be letting the situation go.
In my opinion, Coach Murphy isn’t my problem. It’s not my business. I didn’t fucking kill her, and she’s always been sketchy. She’s a tad too chummy with students. It’s weird.
“And what is it you think we should be doing?” I ask, going along. It’s my new tactic, and sadly for the dead coach, she’s going to be my in with my buttercup.
Is that being a dick? Sure. Do I care? Not one fucking bit.
Chapter Seventeen
MADELINE
Luke takes a step back as he asks the question. It’s one I don’t have an answer for, but I know I can’t leave it be.
“Maybe we call the cops?” Grant suggests, picking up a baseball off Luke’s desk and tossing it into the air.