Rival: A Feuds Novella (The Feuds Series) by Avery Hastings Page A

someone.
    She stumbled, but two strong hands gripped her shoulders and stopped her from falling. “I’m so sorry,” she said, a little out of breath. She looked up and met a pair of blazing eyes, hazel bordering on golden, like a cat’s. Then her own eyes wandered downward.
    He was shirtless and wearing only a towel secured by what looked like a very loose knot. Davis felt her face heat up and she quickly darted her eyes back to his face, which she realized she recognized.
    “Seth!” Davis exclaimed, immediately regretting it.
    “I’m sorry … do we know each other?” He cocked an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face.
    Davis took a deep breath, hoping her embarrassment was imperceptible. Not only was he insanely gorgeous, with sandy brown hair just slicked back from a shower and eyes that practically glowed against his olive skin—he was also one of the best dancers in the Olympiads. He’d nearly won the year before, and now he was working as a top-level trainer.
    “Well, it’s just … everyone knows
you,
” she said, flushing for a second time. “I mean, from the Olympiads last year. You had that amazing routine to the waltz from Tchaikovsky’s
Sleeping Beauty.
I remember that
battement en rond;
it was so beautiful, so surprising.” Davis stopped, realizing she was rambling.
    “I’m impressed,” he told her, looking amused. Davis couldn’t help but notice him tugging at the knot around his waist. “You remember it so vividly.”
    Davis nodded, trying to appear confident. Inside, she was quaking. She tried to remember Vera’s mantra: never let them know you’re faking. “That’s because no one’s ever pulled it off like you did,” Davis said, her eyes lingering a little too long on his mouth, which was curved into a slight smile. “Everyone remembers it,” she continued. “It was kind of big news for a while. So can we just chalk this up …”—she paused, indicating her near fall—“to another complicated dance move.”
    He laughed, tilting his head back. “Sure,” he said. “Yes. You’re a dancer, too, aren’t you?”
    “Normally a much more graceful one,” she said, feeling her confidence returning with the ease of his banter. “But yes. I’m training for this year’s Olympiads.”
    “Really?” His eyebrows lifted in interest, and Davis opened her mouth to respond.
    “Here I am!” chirped a bubbly voice. Davis turned to see Vera’s lithe form rounding the corner, her trademark red nails striking a startling contrast against her pale skin and blond hair. “Sorry I’m late—oh.” She stopped in her tracks, staring at Seth’s naked torso.
    Seth smiled in return.
    “Well, gotta get going,” said Davis, steering her friend in the opposite direction before she could say anything potentially awkward. “Nice to meet you, Seth.”
    “See you around, Davis,” he said, giving them a casual wave.
He knew her name
. Davis was thankful Seth couldn’t see her face anymore—she was sure it was as red as Vera’s nails.

Chapter 2
    “Holy hell,” Vera said. “Who was
that
? He was, like, totally confident about being half-naked. As he should have been.”
    “Shhhh.” Davis gripped her friend’s elbow hard.
    “Whatever, he can’t hear us. He’s
hot,
girl. You should bump into him more often.”
    “How did you know I bumped into him? Were you spying on me?”
    Vera smiled impishly, her blue eyes alight with mischief. “Are you telling me that you stopped a hot, half-naked stranger to flirt?”
    Davis shook her head, laughing as she steered Vera into the spa reception area. You’re so full of it. My god,” she told Vera, distracted by the scent of lavender in the air. Davis could feel the heated stone floor through her thin ballet shoes; it instantly calmed her. The room was lined with plush white chairs and a row of changing rooms concealed by gray linen curtains. Davis peeked behind one to find its mirrored cubbies stocked with thick cotton slippers and