RILEY’S POV

I have one rule and that is, to never date an athlete again. I only made this decision after my ex, the top star of the hockey team, cheated on me with the leading cheerleader of their club. I had loved him so much and still couldn’t believe he would do that to me. Well, that was my past now and I had moved on and stayed well hidden or so I thought.

You would think that’d be easy after what happened with my ex, but life apparently has a twisted sense of humor. Because right now, I’m cornered by four hockey players, who look like they want something from me and will not take no for an answer.

Noah Carter, who is the captain of Ridgewood Academy’s hockey team and a walking red flag, leans against the lockers with an infuriating smirk. He’s the kind of guy who’s too good-looking for his own good, with tousled dark hair and an aura of effortless confidence that screams trouble.

“We need your help,” he says, like this is some kind of business transaction. “And you don’t have to be scared, it’s not a dangerous task.”

I cross my arms and glare. “I am not scared and moreover, I don’t do favors, especially for hockey players.”

Behind him, his teammates, Jaxon Reed, Liam Hayes, and Ezra Knight watch me like I’m a puzzle they’re trying to solve.

Jaxon is the most quiet and brooding of them, he is also leaning against the lockers with his hands in his pockets, his dark eyes watching me like he’s trying to figure me out.

Liam, on the other hand looks like he’s enjoying this way too much, grinning like this is some kind of joke.

And Ezra? He is always unreadable. He doesn’t smirk like the others, doesn’t tease, but just stares, like he already knows what I’m going to say before I say it.

I shift my body, tightening my grip on my books. I am expecting them to say something else but since they don’t, I decide to. “Whatever you want, the answer is no.”

Noah tilts his head, his smirk getting very obvious. “Not even if it involves getting revenge on Blake?”

My breath catches.

Damn him. Now that got my attention.

I straighten my shoulders, ignoring the way my pulse jumps at the mention of that bastard’s name. I don’t want them to see that it affects me, that he affects me.

Because Blake Harrington is my stupid cheat of an ex. Giving it another thought, that star player of Blackridge High’s hockey team does not deserve the satisfaction of knowing that I still care.

I school my expression into something neutral. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Noah chuckles, shaking his head like I’m amusing. “Come on, Riley. We both know Blake’s been running his mouth about you since the breakup.”

I bite the inside of my cheek, resisting the urge to ask what exactly Blake has been saying. I already know. He’s been parading his new cheerleader girlfriend around like a trophy, making sure everyone knows he traded up.

I hate him and I hate that I still feel hurt from the betrayal.

Noah must see how different emotions are running in my eyes, because his smirk changes into something more calm and understanding.

“We know you want to make him pay,” he says, with his voice now lower and smoother. “We can help you.”

I narrow my eyes. “And what exactly do you get out of this?”

Liam snickers. “Noah’s got a stalker, that is the reason we need you.”

Noah groans, rubbing a hand down his face. “She’s not a stalker. She’s just persistent.”

“She snuck into his car last week,” Jaxon mutters.

“That is not all, she left a shrine of his photos in her locker, crazy right?” Ezra adds, completely deadpan.

I raise an eyebrow. “Seriously?”

Noah sighs. “Her name is Chelsea…”

Oh wow. In this school, there are two types of people: those who rule it, and those who survive it.

Chelsea Parker? She’s among the rulers and she has been Ridgewood High’s undisputed queen since freshman year, and she knows it. Perfect blonde hair, perfect body, perfect fake smile. She is the kind of girl who looks harmless until she opens her mouth.

Noah continues. “and she’s convinced we are made for each other and refuses to accept my rejection. The only way to get her off my back is….”

“By fake dating me? And you think it is going to fix that?” I interrupted him.

“Of course, it will make her understand that I like someone else and she will back off,” Noah says. “And this way, Blake will be miserable too.” He leans closer, his voice dropping into something almost persuasive. “Think about it. If you move on with me, the captain of his biggest rival, what do you think that’s going to do to his ego?”

The answer is obvious.

Blake lives for hockey rivalries. He takes them personally. If I were to start “dating” the captain of his biggest competition, it would drive him insane.

I hesitate, my mind thinking of all the ways this could go horribly, horribly wrong.

Fake dating Noah Carter would put me in the spotlight, and I’ve spent the last few months avoiding it.

But at the same time, this is my chance. My chance to finally turn the tables. To make Blake feel even a fraction of what he put me through.

It’s reckless. It’s messy. It’s probably a terrible idea.

But I look up at Noah, at the way he’s watching me, waiting for my decision with an almost smug certainty and I do something stupid.

With a smile on my face, I give him an answer. “Deal.”

The second the word “deal” leaves my mouth, I realize I’ve made a mistake.

Noah’s smirk deepens, his eyes flashing with something that makes my stomach twist. He looks too pleased, like he already knew I’d say yes. The kind of confidence that’s infuriating. Like he’s got me exactly where he wants me.

“You’re not going to regret this, Monroe.”

I already do.

Liam claps his hands together, grinning like we just made the most entertaining bet of the year. “Alright, team meeting. We need to make this look real—fast.”

I frown. “Team meeting?”

Jaxon, who’s been silent this whole time, pushes off the lockers. He’s got this intense, brooding energy that makes it feel like he sees straight through people. And now, his dark eyes are trained on me.

“You and Noah have to be seen together. A lot.”

Ezra nods, leaning against the lockers like this conversation is the most normal thing in the world. “The first move should be public. Something that catches Blake off guard.”

Noah tilts his head. “You free after school?”

I cross my arms. “Why?”

“Because if we’re doing this, we need to sell it. And that means making our grand debut as a couple.”

A couple.

The word makes my stomach twist. I glance between the four of them, suddenly very aware of what I just agreed to. Fake dating Noah Carter, of all people. One of the most popular guys in school.

And the worst part?

I don’t back out.

I should. I should tell them I changed my mind, that this was a bad idea. But then I think of Blake.

Blake, who cheated on me.

Blake, who laughed in my face when I confronted him.

Blake, who told his teammates I was just a “phase” before he found someone better.

I straighten my shoulders and meet Noah’s gaze. “Fine. What’s the plan?”

By the time the final bell rings, I’m already regretting my decision. I barely have time to grab my things from my locker before Noah finds me. And when I say find me, I mean he throws an arm around my shoulders like we’ve been dating for years.

I freeze. “What are you doing?”

He grins, steering me through the crowded hallway like he does this all the time. “Making it look real.”

“By suffocating me?” I hiss.

Noah chuckles, completely unbothered. “Relax, babe.”

I choke. “Don’t call me that.”

But he ignores me, leading me through and making people stare more.

And oh, do they stare.

Everywhere we go, people stop what they’re doing to gawk at us. The whispers start immediately.

“Is that Riley Monroe?”

“No way. Her and Noah Carter?”

“She must be blackmailing him.”

“This has to be a joke.”

I force myself to keep walking, to ignore the eyes burning into me from all directions. I knew this would happen. I knew the moment I agreed to this plan, I’d be under a spotlight.

But knowing it and experiencing it are two very different things.

Noah, on the other hand, is thriving. He doesn’t even glance at the people whispering about us. He just owns the moment, like it’s a game he’s already won.

The closer we get to the exit, the bigger the crowd gets. Students are gathered outside, talking and laughing in groups, and that’s when I see him.

Blake.

He’s leaning against his car, with his new girlfriend. The same girl he cheated on me with. She is a blonde, with a nice set of dentitions and an-almost-perfect body shape..

The moment he sees me, his smile disappears and he looks unsure. He must be shocked to see me with his rival, an act he would never have expected from me in his whole damned life.

Good, I hope it stings.

Noah seems to notice, so he tightens his grip on my shoulders, lowering his voice so only I can hear.

“He’s looking.”

I swallow hard. “I know.”

“Good,” Noah murmurs.

And then, before I can react, before I can process what’s happening, Noah turns to me with a dark smile and pulls me closer.

My heart slams against my ribs and plants a soft peck on the side of my cheek.

Then I realize, in that moment, that Noah Carter only knows how to play dirty.