Page 11 of Beautifully Conflicted

“That’s the million-dollar question. I was sorta hoping that might be an opposing team thing. Not that I thought he’d be happy to see me—I knew that’d be a shock—but since we’ve only ever been rivals, I hoped taking that out of the equation might change things.”

I feel somewhat bad only telling him part of the truth, and keeping the wholeangry Bennet is hotthing to myself. I figure since the goal is to make nice, it’s okay to leave out the part about how I can’t seem to stop myself from egging Bennet on.

It's just, he’s so fucking…mmmwhen he’s ready to blow a gasket.

“It might help if you aren’t socompetitivewith him.”

I think that’s code for don’t poke the bear. Or don’t shit where you eat. And yeah, he’s totally right, but…mmm.

“I hear you, but it’s sort of my default response when he’shimself.”

“That’s the thing, he’s not himself around you. Or he’s not the Bennet I know. That’s why I think you must’ve really pissed him off somehow.”

“Well, clue me in if he ever tells you what that was.” Despite the thrill I get out of antagonizing Bennet—in a certain part of my anatomy—I’ve never intentionally wronged him. I’m just as curious as Aiden is to know why I get the not-so-special treatment.

“You seriously don’t know what started all this shit between you two?”

“Not a clue,” I tell him, leaving out the part about how I’ve only ever wanted him to like me, and not just as a teammate. Aiden seems nice, but I don’t know him well enough to share that secret.

“Well, like I said, maybe try not to be so competitive with him off the field.”

“You’re asking a football player tonotbe competitive?” I give him a wry smile.

Aiden chews on his bottom lip. “It sounded more realistic in my head. You get what I’m saying though, right? If you don’t let your default response take over, maybe you two can find some common ground or something.”

“I hear you.” I nod my head. “I’ll try. Got any tips on what sort of common ground we might have?”

“Aside from the obvious?” Aiden sighs tiredly.

“Obviously,” I grin, swiping my phone open so I can check my Clash of Clans real quick before class starts. I attacked another clan when I got up this morning and need to see how the campaign is going.

Aiden peeks over my arm to see the screen. “That’s a lot of gems,” he says, referring to the amount of game money I have.

“I’ve been playing for a while.” Although I could buy gems using real money, I earned mine by being a badass.

“Come over tomorrow and we’ll compare clans. Maybe I’ll have an idea for a peace offering between you and Bennet.”

“Deal.” I shut off the screen and pocket the phone so I can give the professor my full attention.

***

Thirty seconds. We’ve been in the same room for thirty seconds and Bennet already looks like he wants to kill me. And all I did was wink at him.

He saw me as soon as he walked into the lecture hall the team uses to study film and go over the playbook. I was one of the few people already seated when he walked through the door, on the far side of the room about midway up the rise. There weren’t any other people between us to impede our line of sight, so when I saw him notice me, I winked.

I would’ve waved, but that seems sort of juvenile, and besides, I’ve always been led to believe a wink is sexy. That’s what girls say, anyway. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve overheard them swooning to each other when the guy they’re crushing on makes that simple gesture, and I totally get it.

Even though no one’s ever winked at me, I’ve witnessed that exchange between two people, and I know the subtle movement can come off as private. Intimate almost, despite the fact they’re surrounded by people. Who wouldn’t get a little thrill out of that slight yet intense exchange?

Apparently not Bennet, since he’s shooting daggers at me across the room.

Though he only pauses to glare for a second, time seems to crawl as those icy blue eyes narrow, and his cheeks flush in anger. It’s no wink, but my brain must interpret it as our own form of intimate exchange seeing as how I know this look is reserved for me alone. And it doesn’t stop my heartbeat from kicking up a notch.

As he clears the doorframe, he makes an abrupt right turn, going up the near risers a few rows and taking a seat on the opposite side of the room, about as far away from me as he can get. His roommates file in behind him, none of them sparing me a glance. I don’t think they noticed me over here. I doubt it would be due to them ignoring me or something, out of some blind loyalty to Bennet.

That might be wishful thinking, though.

However, they were the ones to point out how we’re on the same team now, so I’m gonna let myself believe they’re keeping an open mind.

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