Chapter 5 Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Evie
I stood outside waiting for a cab. I desperately needed a car, but first, I needed a job. I couldn't keep living like this forever.
I was still watching the road when Ryder's car pulled up beside me.
I blinked in surprise as he stepped out.
“Hey, Evie.” He smiled.
“Ryder?”
“I thought you weren't coming out again.”
“Oh, that? I'm sorry.” I immediately understood what he meant.
“It's fine.” His smile faded. “But is Asher threatening you? Is that why you haven't moved into my apartment yet? I've came here several times, but you wouldn't come out. Even the day I brought you, the door was locked. I've been worried about you.”
He fired the questions so quickly I almost laughed.
“It's nothing, Ryder. Don't worry about me anymore. I'll manage here.”
“Are you sure? Why the change of heart?”
“It's nothing.” I forced a casual smile.
He studied me. “If Asher's threatening you, tell me. I can help.”
“He isn't.”
He sighed. “Fine. But promise you'll tell me if anything happens.”
“I promise.”
“And the fake-girlfriend thing?” He asked.
“Still on. I'm not backing out.” I grinned.
His face immediately brightened. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Thank God. I thought you'd changed your mind.”
I laughed. “We're still pretending.”
“Then let's go.”
He opened the car door for me.
“You don't have to do this, Ryder.”
“We’ve to make this convincing, Evie.” he said with a grin. “If we're pretending to be together, we have to do it properly.”
I smiled. But before I could get into the car, Asher's car pulled up and stopped directly in front of us.
My smile vanished.
His window rolled down and his cold blue eyes locked onto Ryder with a murderous glare immediately.
Ryder's fists clenched as he glared back.
Then Asher looked at me.
“Get in, Evie. I'm taking you to school.”
Is he serious?
“You don't tell me what to do, Asher. I’m not going anywhere with you. Leave me the heck alone.” I snapped.
His jaw tightened. “So, you'd rather follow this bastard you call your boyfriend?” His eyes cut to Ryder. “He's nothing but a snake wearing a man's skin. You have no idea what he's capable of, Evie. Yet here you are, defending him like some lovesick fool.”
Ryder scoffed. “Watch your mouth.”
Asher's eyes narrowed. “Or what? You'll bark louder?”
Ryder growled while Asher only laughed coldly.
Then his gaze returned to me.
“And you…” His voice dropped. “How could you betray—”
He stopped abruptly, his jaw grinding.
I frowned.
What the hell was he about to say?
“Betray you, right?” I finished. “That's rich coming from a saint.”
“Careful, Evie.” He warned.
“Don't you dare speak to her like that, bastard!” Ryder stormed toward him, but I quickly grabbed his hand.
“Don't.”
“He just insulted you. He insulted my girlfriend and I won't accept that.” Ryder snapped.
Asher's sneered at word girlfriend.
“He's not worth it.” I deliberately held Asher's gaze. “He's really not worth it.”
Asher went still.
His eyes dropped to our joined hands before slowly returning to my face. Something dangerous flickered in them, but I didn't wait to find out what.
I pulled Ryder toward the car.
“Let's go.”
Ryder gave Asher one last glare before getting inside.
As we drove away, I glanced through the window and Asher was still there, watching us.
He thought he was the only one who could hate?
He was about to learn I could hate just as fiercely.
“What! Isn't that Ryder and Evie?”
“Are they together now?”
“The bitch went from dating Asher, to desperately kissing him days ago, and now she's with his stepbrother?”
“I can't believe Ryder dumped Selena for her. Thank God Selena has Asher now.”
The whispers followed us as Ryder held my hand after opening the car door and led me inside.
Every student was staring at us.
“Don't listen to them, Evie,” Ryder murmured.
I shrugged. “Their words mean nothing to me anymore.”
And it truly doesn't.
Then I spotted Selena approaching with her minions and an idea struck me.
I smiled and reached up to adjust Ryder's collar. He glanced at me, immediately understanding and he played along with a smile.
“I'll pay you a million dollars after this, Evie. You're a good actress,” Ryder whispered.
I winked. “Make it two million.”
We laughed, but it died when Selena stopped a few feet away, arms folded with her minions behind her.
The hallway fell silent.
She glared at me before turning to Ryder.
The almighty Ryder suddenly looked nervous and I couldn't blame him. I'd seen how much he'd loved Selena years ago. The playboy who flirted with every girl had actually changed for her.
And now he couldn't even look her in the eyes anymore.
This’s going to be interesting.
“I know exactly what game you two are playing,” Selena said smugly. “Especially you, Ryder. But honestly, I don't give a damn.”
Her eyes shifted to me.
“You can have him, bitchy Evie. I've got a much better man which’s Asher. A man you already lost.”
My smile faded.
“He's mine now, and there's nothing you can do about it.” She smirked. “So go ahead. Play girlfriend with his stepbrother. Hold his hand, kiss him, do whatever you want. I don't care.”
She looked Ryder up and down.
“Besides, he doesn't even know how to fuck.”
The crowd burst into laughter and my fists clenched.
Selena deliberately bumped my shoulder as she walked past.
“What the heck are you all laughing at?” I snapped.
The laughter died instantly, and dispersed gradually.
I turned to Ryder.
His head was lowered, his jaw tight.
He tried to hide it, but I knew her words had hit where it hurt.
“It's okay.” I linked my hand with his. “She'll regret saying that. I promise.”
He forced a chuckle. “That didn't get to me.”
Liar.
“I know she'll come back,” he added.
“Of course she will,” I said, though deep down, I felt sorry for him.
Suddenly, loud screams erupted behind us.
I rolled my eyes knowing Asher had arrived.
“Kiss! Kiss!”
Students began chanting.
Against my better judgment, I turned around just in time to see Selena's lips locked with Asher's.
My stomach twisted.
Then Asher's gaze swept across the crowd and landed directly on me.
He smirked.
Oh, he wanted me to see this? Fine. I tightened my grip on Ryder's hand and raised my middle finger at him.
His smirk vanished, gaze narrowing.
Without taking his eyes off me, he discreetly pushed Selena away.
I scoffed. He thought I cared?
“You're trying to make him jealous too, aren't you?” Ryder asked beside me.
“No.”
He gave me a look.
“We hate each other now,” I shrugged. “I'm doing this for you.” It was a half lie.
Ryder nodded, pretending to believe me.
He changed the topic. “We've got a match today against Asher's team. You should come watch.”
“I'll be there.” I grinned.
“You sure?”
“Of course. But I’ve class now.”
“Alright then. Go before you're late.” He smiled. “See you later, baby.”
I blinked. “Baby?”
“It's just for the act.” He winked.
He walked away, leaving me staring after him.
Wow.
I took a few steps, then glanced back.
Asher was gone.
“Go, baby! Go! I’m rooting for you!”
I screamed over the deafening crowd as Ryder skated past Asher, stick in hand.
The arena erupted.
I jumped to my feet, clapping. “That’s it! Come on, baby!”
Across the rink, Asher’s murderous glare practically burned into me.
He’d been shooting daggers at me every time I cheered for Ryder.
I ignored him.
“Oh, yes!” Mia screamed beside me. “Your boyfriend is getting all your support!”
“Mia!”
“What? He’s your boyfriend.”
“Fake,” I whispered.
She rolled her eyes. “For the next month, fake or not, he’s your boyfriend. So enjoy it and make Asher regret keeping you from Ryder’s apartment.”
I laughed. “That's one of the plans.”
Before I could say more, a loud voice rang out.
“Go, Asher! Go, Asher!”
I turned.
Selena was practically screaming her lungs out.
“Your baby is here waiting for you, Asher!” she yelled, throwing me a smug look. “Win this game, baby! You might get a juicy reward tonight!”
The people around her laughed.
She threw her arms up. “Everyone, hail my man!”
I rolled my eyes.
Almost everyone already does.
Mia snickered. “Bitch is so stupid.”
I giggled. “Shh.”
Then I jumped up. “Come on, baby! You can do it!”
Ryder stole the puck and raced toward the goal.
The crowd roared.
He glanced at me, smiled, then lifted his stick and blew me a kiss.
I caught it dramatically, pressing a hand to my chest.
“Oh my God, Evie! He blew you a kiss!” Mia beamed. “Did you see Asher's face? He looks ready to kill someone!”
I chuckled, glancing at Asher and yep. He looked furious.
Was he actually jealous of someone he claimed to hate?
Before I could think about it, Ryder stole the puck and sped across the rink again.
Asher charged after him and the two collided hard against the boards.
The referee's whistle pierced the arena.
“Penalty!”
The crowd erupted.
Ryder pushed himself up, glaring at Asher.
Asher glared back.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The referee quickly skated between them, warned them, and sent them back into position.
The game continued, but the tension only grew.
Every time Ryder got near the goal, I screamed until my throat hurt.
Then the final whistle blew and Asher's team won.
The arena exploded.
“Asher! Asher! Asher!”
I slumped back. Damn it.
Ryder's team skated off, disappointed.
Across the rink, Selena rushed to Asher, wrapping herself around his arm like she'd won the game herself.
I snickered.
Then I noticed that Asher wasn't looking at Selena. His furious eyes were fixed directly on me.
I quickly looked away.
“I'm telling you, they cheated,” Mia complained. “There was no way they were supposed to win that last play.”
“Definitely.” I nodded. “I'll be back.”
I hurried toward the players' exit to find Ryder.
I spotted him moments later.
His face was flushed with anger, hair damp with sweat, hockey stick still clenched in his hand.
But the moment he saw me, his anger faded slightly.
“Ryder.”
He looked at me.
I gave him a sympathetic smile. “I'm so—”
“Can I please do something, Evie?” he interrupted.
I frowned. “What?”
“Please.” He looked almost desperate.
“Do what?” I asked.
He stepped closer, wrapped an arm around my waist, and kissed me.
My eyes widened.
Christ. What’s he doing? This wasn't part of the deal.
Hundreds of eyes turned toward us, they gasped.
Ryder pulled back slightly. “Please, cooperate with me, Evie. I'll do anything you want.”
His voice sounded almost broken.
I hesitated, then reluctantly kissed him back. Thankfully, he didn't deepen it.
But instead of the familiar rush I always felt whenever Asher touched or kissed me, there was nothing.
And somehow, that realization made me feel guilty.
Why the heck was I comparing Ryder to Asher?
I quickly pulled away.
“You bastard!”
A furious roar came from behind us.
Before either of us could react, Asher stormed forward and punched Ryder across the face.
“Asher!” I gasped.
The hallway erupted.
Ryder stumbled back, wiping blood from his lip. But instead of fighting back, he smiled coldly.
“Pained, isn't it?”
Asher's expression was murderous.
“She belongs to me now. No longer yours.” Ryder taunted. “Evie Faye is mine.”
Asher's eyes slowly shifted to me and the look in his eyes made my stomach drop.
“Is that what you think, Ryder Blackwood?” His voice was frighteningly calm. “Then watch me.”
I swallowed as he started walking toward me.
My courage vanished. I turned to run, but before I could get far, his hand caught my wrist and pulled me back.
“Asher—”
I didn't finish as his lips crashed against mine.
My entire body went still, my mind blank for one stunned second.
He bit my lower lip, and I gasped.
The kiss wasn't gentle or sweet. It was raw, possessive, angry, and charged with years of tension
and hate.
I should've pushed him away.
Instead, I kissed him back, biting his lip just as fiercely.
It was nothing like Ryder's kiss. This was a battle, a challenge.
Two people who claimed to hate each other, yet neither willing to surrender.
Damn! Shame on my weak heart.
No matter how hard I tried to hate Asher Blackwood…it always went weak for him.
And this kiss?
It might've just started something neither of us could finish.
