RIVALS TILL THE END
CHAPTER 1
The hotel hallway smelled like cheap carpet and victory, that faint mix of stale air freshener and the lingering buzz of celebration still echoing from the ballroom downstairs where their debate team had absolutely crushed the nationals finals.
Riley’s back hit the wall outside her room with a soft thud, heart hammering so hard she could feel it in her throat, while Xander loomed over her like he owned every inch of the corridor.
His team jacket was still slung over one shoulder, tie loosened, the top two buttons of his dress shirt undone just enough to show the sharp line of his collarbone, and God, she hated how good he looked when he was this smug.
“You only won because the judge was blind,” she hissed, tilting her chin up even though her pulse was s
