“It was nothing, really.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”

He interlinks his fingers then releases them. “Last year, you said you’d hook me up with Lucy then, well, you told me I don’t deserve her and to fuck off. You threatened that if I approached Lucy in any way, you’d cause problems for my parents—they work for your dad’s company.”

I pause. For some reason, I don’t think I would’ve made that threat without anything to back it up. Perhaps I cared for Lucy and I thought Prescott really didn’t deserve her.

As much as I loathe Old Reina, she had reasons for acting the way she did. She wasn’t stupid.

She was just emotionless—on the surface. No idea how she coped with things inside.

Maybe that’s why I lost my memories and came back with this new version of me—a version that has made more peace with her emotions and shows them on the outside.

“What happened between when I promised you and when I told you to forget it?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Nothing.”

“Think carefully. Something must’ve happened.”

“I guess you caught me fooling around with a sophomore—but it was just a kiss and we were drunk and she looked so much like Lucy. Fuck. You think it was because of that?”

If I thought Prescott wasn’t serious about Lucy, I would’ve definitely offed him. “Could be. Were you also close to Bree?”

“A little. I mean, you were best friends with her.”

Or maybe I pretended to be best friends with her for other reasons.

Old Reina had an interesting brain. It’ll take me some time to get into it, but I’ll eventually figure out her thought process.

“Are you going to be on my side or do I have to treat you as an enemy?” I ask him.

“I want what’s best for the squad.”

“Wonderful. And Prescott?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

He lowers his eyes. “No.”

“If I deem you worthy and if Lucy agrees, I’ll lift the ban.”

His expression lights up as he stares between me and Lucy, who’s struggling to have Naomi hold her up. “Is this another game?”

“No games.” I pat his shoulder. “Don’t disappoint me.”

After practice, I shower and walk out with Lucy and Naomi. They keep following me around. Even though they’re not voicing it, I know they won’t leave me alone for fear I’ll be attacked again.

If I didn’t know who attacked me, I might be scared as well. I might look over my shoulder and search for those green eyes that were eating away at my soul.

Now, I have a different type of plan, one they don’t need to know about. If they did, they’d tell me not to do it.

Since I woke up at the hospital, I haven’t been as sure about anything as I am about this.

My phone vibrates. My lips pull into a smile as the name pops up in my notifications.

Cloud003: Any gloomy clouds today?

My heart flutters with tiny bursts of happiness. He remembers. I don’t know why I feel so touched that he does.

Reina-Ellis: I’m trying to get rid of it.

Cloud003: How’s that working for you?

Reina-Ellis: Not so well.

Cloud003: I’m sure you’ll make it. You’re a fighter.

I bite my lower lip.

A fighter.

Why does that single word fill me with so much energy? It buzzes under my skin, demanding I shout it.

I’m a fighter. A survivor.

Reina-Ellis: How do you know that?

Cloud003: I just do.

I smile.

Cloud003: After all, you’re my slut, remember?

And he had to ruin it.

Jerk.

I type that word and send it over. He replies with a winking emoji. For some reason, it feels so intimate, like maybe he’s winked at me that way in real life. Maybe our connection was more than sex after all.

Despite Reina’s snobbish attitude, she reached out to him and asked to meet him, and I know for certain Old Reina didn’t put herself out there without a reason.

Did I know it was Jason back then? Honestly, with Reina’s level of secretive conniving, it could have gone either way.

“Aren’t you coming?” Lucy motions at her MINI Cooper.

“I have to meet Alex.” I cock my head toward a taxi. “I already called my ride.”

“Text us if you can hang out later.” Naomi opens the passenger door.

“I will.” I wave at them, keeping a smile plastered on my face until they disappear from view.

I lied.

I’m not meeting with Alex, but I had to say that so they wouldn’t question me.

If they knew where I’m going, they would either stop me or insist they come along. It will only work if I go there alone like I did before.

If I want to recover my memories, I need to go back to where it all started.

I slide into the back seat and tell the driver, “Blackwood Forest.”

I remain behind as Reina walks with her two friends. Lucy and Naomi are the ones who brought her out of her room yesterday and the ones she likes to spend most of her time with.

In the past, she would’ve been all over Brianna’s plastic personality—another thing that’s changed about Reina.

Owen told me earlier about some sort of war between Reina and Brianna over the captain position and how Reina kicked her supposed best friend off the team.

It sounds so much like Old Reina, and yet, it isn’t. I can nearly taste the tangible change in her.

The way she talks, walks, and looks is the same, but the attitude isn’t.

The constant talking back isn’t.

The fucking smile certainly isn’t.

That day when she brushed past me without a glance, I felt something I never thought I would feel again.

Grief.

I was grieving the new Reina, thinking she’d completely disappeared.

The moment she came out of her room with her friends, I released a breath. Then I got fucking angry at myself for letting her crawl under my skin this way.

She’s been doing it subtly, but it’s there. Every time I wake up, she’s the first person who comes to mind.

And to my fucking dismay, they’re not thoughts about the best way to destroy her. No. They’re thoughts about her.

Her state of mind. What does she want? Where is she going? Who is she thinking about?

If I let my brain loose, it’ll be the reason for my downfall, so I fill it with different thoughts.

Reina is mine to rule and own.

That’s the only reason I’m letting her get away with occupying my thoughts.

At the parking lot, Reina waves at her friends. Her little leather skirt barely reaches the middle of her thighs. The black color contrasts with her skin, making it look like the most delectable meal waiting to be served. Her top falls over one shoulder, revealing the curve of her neck as she pushes her blond strands to one side.

If temptation had a name, it’d be Reina.

Her hips sway gently as she turns around, hips that are made for my fucking hands as I grab them and slam into her warmth.

My cock twitches and I groan, readjusting my sunglasses. It’s been less than a week since I had her all to myself.