SIN-BIN (Sinners on the Ice #1)

by Anastasija White

“Keep your nose out of my business, Jordan. It has nothing to do with you.” “But it has something to do with your boyfriend. He was going to go pro, because he’s a very talented hockey player, but you’re going to ruin it for him.” My cheeks puff out, and I’m ready to fucking strangle her. “I thought he should know.” “You wouldn’t⁠—” “Oh, I did. I couldn’t let this opportunity go to waste. He wasn’t happy. Dumbfounded, actually. Stunned to the core.”

I fucking hate this bitch.

“Didn’t he tell you? He went to San Jose to sign his contract with the Thunders. He was going to stop by your dorm before his flight.” “Oh, I didn’t know…I didn’t see him today. We probably missed each other. Well then, bye.” “Ava, wait⁠—” “Bye, Clay.”

Everything becomes clear. He probably came to my dorm and met Jordan. He found out I was pregnant, but he didn’t call or text me once. He just left me on my own and went to sign the contract. One I didn’t even know about.

Just like Jefferson, who couldn’t call an ambulance for fear of his future, Colton chose his career over me.

“What do you want?” I snap and whip around. “You shouldn’t have wasted your time on her. She’s trouble.” “You are a waste of my time. Ava is everything. Get lost.” “She’s pregnant.”

“I’m very sorry, Colton. I hope you can figure this out. She’s putting your whole career at risk.” I take a deep breath and drag my eyes to her face. She’s such a snake. Goddamn it, I should’ve insisted on Ava moving in with me.

“If you tell anyone what you just told me, or if you show this picture to anyone, even your fucking mom, I’ll ruin you. I’ll make sure no guy at this school even looks your way, because they’ll know what a fucking bitch you are. Do you understand me, Jordan?”

I turn the volume up and try to focus on the screen, but it’s hard. All of a sudden, the door opens, and Layla bursts back into my room. “Thompson is here.”

“I thought my life was falling apart when I saw the test results. I spent almost two fucking hours crying on my bed. For two fucking hours, I was pitying my own existence. Then I thought, Colt and I are in this together. We’ll figure it out. We’ll talk, and we’ll decide what to do.”

“I just got back from San Jose; I signed the contract—” he blurts, the words rushing out of his mouth. “I don’t fucking care!” I shriek, bursting into tears. “When Jordan told me you knew about my pregnancy, I was ready to fucking kill her. It was my secret, and I wanted to tell you myself. I went to your place. I hoped to talk to you so we could figure out our decision together. I was so blinded by my fury, I didn’t even realize you knew until I was already in your apartment. My boyfriend knew I was pregnant, and he did nothing. He didn’t call me. He didn’t text me. I’m eighteen. I’m a freshman with no future, and you left me when I needed you.”

“Go away,” I mutter, staring him right in the eyes. “Ava, please⁠—” “Go the fuck away.” “Babe, please, this isn’t us. Let’s talk⁠—” “There is no fucking us, Colton. You left me when I was scared. You disappeared when I needed you. So please, do me a fucking favor and see yourself out.”

“I wanted to secure my future, so I could take care of you. Of our baby. I wanted to give you the life you deserve.” “I don’t need anything from you, Colton. I’ll figure everything out on my own.”

“There’s no need to pretend like you care, like you’ll give a damn about me once you graduate and leave the state. You can carry on with your life as if we never happened.”

“I don’t care what you say, Ava. You’re mine. And soon enough, you’ll be proudly flashing a ring on your finger so the whole fucking world—so every single person on this planet—will know you’re Colton Thompson’s wife.”

The only thing he said was this: Ava has trust issues. You made her believe you didn’t care about her. Even if it’s not like that in reality, you left her when she was in a really vulnerable state. It’ll be hard to make her listen to you.

She’s way more important to me than she realizes. She’s my fucking life, and it’s time for her to know that. Keeping my feelings to myself damaged our relationship just as much as my silence about my trip to San Jose. I need to fix it.

Since meeting her, I’ve been a one-woman man, and I’m sure I won’t love anyone else.

My girl is furious, but it makes her even more beautiful to me.

She cares enough to be angry with me, and that’s the only sign I need.

“I’m not the one who threw everything away. You not telling me about the Thunders is the best evidence of where you see me in your future. I don’t belong here.” “I went to San Jose to sign my contract. It was about my career, about our future.” “There is no ‘our future’, Colton. You’re leaving as soon as the school year is over. You’re going pro, while I⁠—” “Come with me,” I interrupt her, and her jaw drops.

“You can transfer to another college. Or just skip a year until our baby is old enough⁠—” “What makes you think I’m going to do that?” I take a step closer, taking her chin between my fingers. “Because I know you.”

“You don’t,” she finally mutters and takes a step back, letting my hand fall from her face. “I knew you were going to leave, and I was happy for you and your future no matter what, because you’re talented and playing hockey is your life. I would’ve never thrown a fit just because you’re moving forward. I would’ve supported you through and through. That’s what people do, Colton, when they care about others. While you? You didn’t think about anyone except yourself. You didn’t even try to contact me after you knew⁠—” “That’s bullshit,” I snap, as lightning crosses the sky. “How do you know anything about how I reacted when Jordan told me about your pregnancy?” “If you cared, you would’ve found a way to contact me. On your way to your father’s. On your way to the airport. On your way to your hotel.”

“Just to make sure I knew you weren’t running away, that you weren’t leaving me alone in this. I would’ve been angry with you for not telling me sooner, anyone would’ve, but I would’ve known you were going to come back and we would talk. You did nothing.”

“Some habits die hard, Ava. I’m used to keeping things to myself. Yes, I put off talking to you till the very last minute, but I wanted you to know. I went to your dorm, hoping to see you during your break⁠—” “Instead, you saw my roommate, found out about my pregnancy, and carried on with your plans as if nothing change...