Rival: A Feuds Novella (The Feuds Series) by Avery Hastings Read Free Book Online Page A

were lifted by wings, soaring higher than she ever had. Every now and then, Seth interrupted to offer her his advice. It was like the two of them together were the perfect, symbiotic team. Davis’s mind rushed ahead, thinking of what it would be like to work together all the time. Part of it was her chemistry. His hands on her waist, his eyes locked on hers. The way he stood back, arms crossed over his chest, watching her body move. Appreciating her rhythms and enhancing them with his own. Their bodies matched. Together, they were effortless.
    When it was over, he pulled her into a long hug.
    “You have no idea,” she said, shaking her head. “I—” She tilted her head up, her eyes meeting his, prepared to tell him how grateful she was. But before she could get the words out, he rested a finger on her lips to quiet her and bent his own head down until his lips were on hers.
    The kiss was more intense than the last; hot and passionate, his mouth moving against hers in the same sort of rhythm they’d found on the dance floor, his warm hands caressed her cheek. Davis had never experienced a chemistry that felt bottomless, like she could hurtle through it and with it forever, never feeling scared—only the highest peaks of exhilaration.
    She couldn’t help gasping as they pulled apart. “That was—”
    “It was,” he agreed, looking a little dazed himself. “There are no words.”
    She nodded.
    “I’ll see you soon, little bird?”
    The pet name made her stomach flutter as if she were a bird, as if his words were true and magic had happened in their session. Like she
had
grown wings and under his touch could soar. She didn’t regret it, this time. She couldn’t. The risk—the thrill of something forbidden—made her want it more. But it wasn’t the thrill of the chase; giving in felt even better than she’d expected.
    “See you soon,” she said, grabbing her things and blowing him a kiss before she exited the studio.
    “
Bisous,
” he called after her—a nod to the French song her routine was set to. She laughed as the door swung shut behind her.
    Davis made herself wait to DirecTalk Vera until she’d rounded the corner and was out of sight of the studio.
Meet in Cooper Park,
she said.
Big news.

Chapter 9
    Twenty minutes later, the girls were sitting next to each other on a chrome bench, soaking in the early-afternoon sunshine. “You and Seth,” Vera had said immediately, before Davis had even said anything at all. “It really happened.”
    Davis nodded, smiling to herself. “Vera, he is
so
…”
    “I want every single detail,” Vera told her, producing a plastic water bottle from her bag. “But first … mimosas to celebrate the occasion.”
    “You’re ridiculous.”
    “My parents have a big stash. You know that. Besides,” she said with an eye roll, “we’ve gotta have something to get us through kiddie day at the Apex.”
    The girls sipped their mimosas and Davis recounted every single detail, just as Vera had asked, until they were light-headed and giggling uncontrollably.
    “I need water,” Davis said finally, reaching for her own—pure—water bottle. “I just realized, I need to be on top of my game today. Gaby’s going to be at the Apex, too, probably. She is so hateful,” she said, gulping water. Davis opened her mouth to tell Vera about the text, but the thought of recounting it stressed her out. She didn’t want to think about it yet again. She needed to stay strong. Anyway, Vera would blow a fuse and then who knew what would happen?
    Davis took another sip, steadying her nerves. Why had she had any mimosa? If there was any time
not
to go nuts, this was it.
    “You need to forget about her,” Vera said. “She’s trying to get in your head, and it’s working. You’re getting in your own way. Mind over matter, my friend. How do you think I got to first chair in the youth orchestra? It’s not because I goofed around or wussed out. If I’d let Steph Collins psych me