Page 6 of Beautifully Conflicted

A wavy line forms on Aiden’s forehead. “But he called you Lucy.”

“So?”

“Isn’t that a nickname? Why would an enemy give you a nickname?”

“I don’t fucking know.” I throw my arms in the air and spin in a circle to expel some of my pent-up anger before I direct it toward Aiden. “And before you ask, I don’t know why he picked that one either. All I know is I hate him, and I don’t want him here. How could you bring him over?”

Aiden holds his palms up in front of him. “I didn’t even know who he was until thirty minutes ago. It’s not like you ever told me you have an enemy. Are there others? What else don’t I know about you?”

“What do you mean? You know everything about me,” I whisper-shout, which makes Aiden’s face fall a little bit, whether from guilt or hurt I’m not sure.

The two of us bonded during rush freshman year when we both got roped into joining a frat neither of us wanted to be in. Our dads were legacy members who wanted us to follow in their footsteps, and neither of us wanted to disappoint. But right from the start, it wasclear the two of us weren’t gung-ho about Greek life, and we latched onto each other.

That makes it sound like we resent the frat, although the opposite is true. The rest of the guys are cool, and they’ve never bitched about the amount of time we spent doing our own thing, football for me and school stuff for him, which was a major fear going in. For Aiden in particular, as a gay man, the idea of joining a frat where tradition and brotherhood sometimes outweigh character, it’s been a good experience. Everyone is really accepting and supportive, and I think both of us are happy we’re part of it. But the biggest benefit I got from the whole thing was becoming friends with him.

He’s so fucking nice and loyal… genuine. I’m as close to him as I am my teammates, maybe even closer, which is why I can’t believe he’d do this to me.

“I didn’t know you had an enemy.” Aiden shakes his head sadly.

Did I really never mention that? The football team knows all about Damien, but Aiden isn’t on the team. I suppose I could’ve overlooked it.

Maybe he really didn’t know…

“I guess it didn’t come up outside the locker room, but only because it’s not something I think about outside football. It’s not worth my time off the field.”

“You actually have an enemy, though? How is that even possible? Everyone loves you.” His swaying head looks more confused than sad now.

“Trust me. Damien is no friend. He’s been a thorn in my side on the field for years. I can’t stand his smug face and childish smack talk.”

“He said you’re going head-to-head off the field, that’s hardly smack talk.”

Sweet, innocent Aiden. He doesn’t see the underlying challenge in those words.

“For Damien it is. Especially when he winks at me.”

“Lots of people wink.”

“Not like that. It’s…” I try to put the visual into words, but a shudder wracks through me before I can finish that sentence. “Get rid of him, Aiden.”

My roommate’s doe-like eyes get even wider. “I can’t just uninvite him.”

“Why not?”

“Because it's rude.”

“So, you’re picking him over me?”

“I’m not picking anything. I brought him here because he’s your teammate. I’m sorry I didn’t know who he was to you before, but now that he’s here maybe you should make the best of it.”

Aiden’s fair skin starts to turn pink, a telltale sign I’m putting him in an awkward spot, but it’ll be even more awkward if Damien sticks around.

“He does defense” I rationalize, waving my hand dismissively. “I’m offense. As long as he sticks to his side of the ball, I won’t have to deal with him.”

Aiden’s head tilts to the side. “So, youdon’tgo up against your own defense at practice?”

If Damien had said that, I’d accuse him of taunting me, but Aiden is genuinely guessing about what goes on at practice. Unfortunately, he’s right.

Fuck!I’m literally gonna have to battle that asshat every day for the rest of my college career. I scrub a hand down my face, shaking my head to clear the depressing thought.

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