Page 7 of Beautifully Conflicted

Aiden steps forward and puts his hand on my arm. “Maybe if he's on the same team as you he won’t be so bad.”

“Oh, it’ll be bad alright.” I stalk away from him and walk the length of the kitchen to calm myself down before facing him again. “We’re coming up on my last season, Aiden. I don’t want to be miserable for it.”

My best friend’s expression is sympathetic even if his words aren’t. “That’s why you need to keep an open mind. If not for your own sanity, then for the sake of the team.”

“I hate how logical you are,” I grunt as my eyes fall shut in defeat. “Fine, let's get this over with.”

Aiden follows me back to the living room where I find Damien playing Madden with Cruz while the rest of my roommates watch with mild interest and chat about…seaweed?

One silver lining, at least Jagger and Cam have their hands where we can see them, so I don’t have to yell at themagainfor getting handsy outside their bedroom. Unfortunately, Damien is sitting smack in the middle of the couch, so I’ll be forced to sit next to him one way or another.

With a heavy sigh and a little plea to whoever can give me strength, I take the spot closest to the chair Cam and Jagger are sharing. Cam arches his brow slightly, asking if I’m about to lose my shit, and I shake my head almost imperceptibly.

I’m not sure he believes me since I’m pressed so close to the armrest of the couch there’s almost a foot of space between me and Damien. Still, he doesn’t call me out on it, just adds his two cents to the ridiculous conversation our guest is having with Liam.

“Seaweed, really? There’s literally things that can swallow you whole in the ocean and seaweed is what freaks you out?” Cam shakes his head at Liam.

“The question was what’s the creepiest thing in the ocean, not the scariest,” Damien says without taking his eyes off the game.

My bullshit meter jumps to five out of ten just hearing his voice. “What the fuck are you guys babbling about?”

“Damien asked us what the creepiest thing in the ocean was,” Liam volunteers, like that’s a perfectly normal topic of conversation to have with people you just met. Although, Liam sure as shit doesn’t seem to have an issue with it.

Cruz’s happy puppy personality must be rubbing off on him. That or Damien charmed him, which doesn’t bode well for the rule I planned to implement about not letting him through the door again.

I angle my body just slightly toward Damien, so I can spot the crap. “Why the fuck would you ask that?”

“Why not?”

“What does it have to do with Madden?”

“Nothing.”

“So why ask that?” I repeat myself, and my tone must signal my dwindling patience since he finally says more than two words.

“I was thinking about jelly. Well, peanut butter actually, but that got me thinking about jelly, then jellyfish, so… Yeah!” He pumps a fist when he scores, and even though his arm is covered by his shirt, I can tell how thick and strong it is.

Stupid show-off can’t even wear a shirt that fits.

Since I promised to play nice, I decide to pick on his head instead of his clothes. “Jesus fuck your mind is a train wreck.”

“Bennet,” Aiden warns from the other side of Damien.

“Are you saying your mind doesn’t wander?” Damien scoffs.

“It doesn’t wander illogically.”

“Damien just sees a lot of squirrels.” Cam tries to play peacemaker, which pisses me off even though I know he’s just trying to make the best of an awkward situation. “Jagger’s the same way.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” I grunt.

“They get distracted easily.”

“I do not.” Jagger squints at Cam. “I just take the long way to finish my thoughts sometimes, that’s all.”

“Whatever you say, Kitcat.” He kisses Jagger on the cheek and holds his hand up for Cruz to toss him the controller, but before Cruz can make the throw I butt in.

“Did you wash your hands?” I ask Cam.

---