“Is that who he was?” Noelle asked, craning her neck as she watched him disappear into the crowd. She was on the periphery of the hockey world, only mildly aware of its most basic inner workings, and what she did know was solely due to her friendship with me.

“Yup.” I drained the last of my drink. “The enemy.”

“Hot enemy.”

Zara nodded. “I would climb him like a tree, B.”

“No,” I said. “He’s a jerk.”

A social media alert popped up on my phone. It was an update for The Sideline, a gossip site centered around our local college’s varsity athletes. If there was a rumor floating around, The Sideline would cover it. Everything from who was doping—allegedly—to who’d just signed a cushy pro contract.

I followed the stupid site solely due to my paranoia that someday, one of the stories would feature me. With the recent breakup, my fears might have finally come true. Hands shaking, I tapped the notification and bit my bottom lip while the page loaded:

The Sideline

Moving on so soon? Which newly single member of the Bulldogs was spotted getting cozy with a new flame at the afterparty tonight? Wonder what his ex thinks about getting 86’d and replaced in the span of a weekend.

My heart roared in my ears as I clutched my phone. Eighty-six was Luke’s number. Not that I needed the hint; he was the only Bulldog who was newly single.

He was with someone else already.

Didn’t even miss a beat.

But who could he have moved on with so quickly? Then it hit me…Sophie. Sophie Crier. I’d been suspicious about all those late nights since the beginning of the semester when they’d been “working on their marketing group project.” When I confronted him, though, Luke made me feel like a crazy, jealous girlfriend. But this explained everything, including his sudden about-face.

“Bailey?” Zara said. “Earth to Bailey?”

I stared at the screen, the display blurring. “Hold on a sec.”

Denial creeped in, tempting me like a siren’s call. Maybe it wasn’t true. Maybe The Sideline fabricated the story like they were sometimes known to do. It had to be fake, right? Luke would never do that to me. At least, not again.

I took a screenshot and sent it to Luke.

Bailey: Care to comment?

Three gray dots appeared. Then disappeared. Then appeared. Disappeared…and didn’t return. Five minutes later, I was on the dance floor with the girls when my phone vibrated.

Luke: It’s not what it sounds like.

Which meant it was exactly what it sounded like.

Two could play at that game. But first, I was getting another drink.

5. sure, let’s call it that

CHAPTER 5

SURE, LET’S CALL IT THAT

Chase