Scorched Earth: A Revenge Romance

Chapter Eight

I squint at my planner lying on the kitchen island. Scheduling the month on paper has always helped me visualize my workload better. Judging by the sea of red markings, the next few weeks are going to be packed.

Our senior sports journalist had quit their position just as the college season was about to start, leaving the rest of us at the Newbridge Daily Herald scrambling to figure out how to replace him.

We had decided that the remaining senior reporters would split the sports section coverage until a replacement was found. For the next few weeks, I'd be handling boys' varsity basketball and girls' ice hockey.

Mina was thrilled when I told her the news, "Perfect! Now I don't need an excuse to drag you to the games, and we can keep each other company. When's your first one?"

"Tonight. I'm just going to swing by and watch a practice to get familiar with the game before the season starts."

"Amazing! I'll tag along. We could hang out with the guys afterward, too," Mina says, pushing herself up from where she had been sprawled out on the couch.

"Really? On a Thursday night?"

"Getting to know Kian's friends could be good for me."

"And how exactly is that supposed to be good for me?" I scoff, leaning back in my chair, arms folded tightly over my chest as my fingers tap impatiently against my elbow.

"Think about it like investigative journalism. You'll produce better articles if you know the team," Mina reasons, leaning forward with a grin.

I exhale slowly, considering her words, "Well, you've got a point there."

"I always do," she says, pretending to adjust invisible glasses perched on her nose.

"Oh really? Remember when you were convinced that wearing watches on our ankles was the next big fashion trend?"

"Hey! I can't help that the world isn't ready for that idea yet," she protests, rising from the couch.

I bite my lip to suppress a laugh and turn my eyes back to my planner. Ever since their movie night, I had settled into a delicate truce with Kian. I hadn't seen much of him since October began. They'd managed to go on one more date in the past few weeks, which was about all their schedules allowed. When he came to pick up Mina, we exchanged as few words as possible with her around, slipping into an uncomfortable silence during the brief moments she wasn't.

This new assignment would mark the abrupt end of our truce. I suspect Kian won't take kindly to me invading his space. The corner of my lip twitches into a smirk at the irony. But knowing that Mina and Adrian would be there eased my reluctance. And as Adrian's so-called "good luck charm," how could I say no? This was the least I could do after what he had done for me at his house party.

I head to my bedroom to get ready. Opting for a casual look, I slip on my favorite pair of jeans and a cozy gray quarter-zip sweater emblazoned with "Newbridge" across the front. After gathering my long curls into a simple ponytail, I'm ready to leave.

Scanning the living room, I come up empty. I assume Mina must be getting ready as well. Just then, she emerges from her room, wearing a black long-sleeved workout set that accentuates her figure. Her gold jewelry adds a touch of elegance, making her look effortlessly stylish.

"One of us isn't quite matching the vibe," I tell her, crossing my arms.

"Well, I'm not dressing down if we're going out afterward," she says, fiddling with one of her chunky gold hoops.

I let out a sigh as I head to the door, slipping on my sneakers before we head to the Sports Centre on campus. On my way out, I grab the digital camera I borrowed from the NDH—maybe I'll get some shots of their practice while I'm there.