Page 12 of Beautifully Conflicted

As the last seats fill, Coach comes into the room with his staff and makes introductions, then jumps into an overview of what the next few months are going to look like. It’s a lot of learning the plays mixed with weight training, so while we’ll have some time on the field, it won’t be scrimmaging. It’ll be more like running specific plays, allowing the offense to get their timing down, and the defense to practice stopping the play.

We won’t be wearing pads so there won’t be any tackling, which I was expecting. Still, it’s a tad disappointing since it means I won’t have a reason to roll around on the ground with Bennet.

I’m admiring the rigid set of Bennet’s broad shoulders, and how his dark hair brushes along the back of his neck when Coach says something that catches my attention.

“This time around we’re going to change things up a bit. You’ll be paired with a workout buddy according to position. Not the same position you play, but the one you play against. Offensive line paired with defensive line, linebackers with running backs, etcetera. We’ll have a friendly little competition to see who’s more ready for the season by the time it rolls around, offense or defense.”

He keeps talking, explaining the rules I think, but it goes in one ear and out the other as my mind races.

An eager thrill ripples up my spine.

What if…?

Chewing on my lip, I cross my fingers when he starts assigning buddies, hoping for the pairing of my dreams. By some miracle my name is read right after Bennet’s, and when he looks over his shoulder at me like he wants to wrap his hands around my neck and squeeze…Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m sitting down, or everyone would know how excited I am.

We’re going to be paired together for months.Months.

And the best part, Coach wants us to push each other.

Now, I have a legit reason to poke the bear. But in the interest of not popping boners during practice, I really should try not to piss him off.

That should be easy enough if we don’t talk about football.

Bennet

The universe hates me.

I’m not sure what I did to deserve that, but there’s no other explanation for me getting paired with theoneperson on this team I want to avoid.

Seriously, what are the odds? Slim enough I should buy a lottery ticket—except for the fact that getting saddled with Damien isunlucky.

“You gonna be okay?” Cam asks as we head to the locker rooms to change into our workout gear.

“If that fucker so much as winks at me one time, I’ll lose my shit,” I huff under my breath.

“You can’t,” Jagger warns. “That’ll give the defense the edge and we want to win.”

“What the fuck do we win, anyway?” I didn’t hear much of anything after Coach said my name next to Damien’s, so even though I know the goal is to have either the offense or the defense more ready for the season, I don’t know what the reward for that is. Bragging rights, maybe?

Cruz halts mid-step and I almost plow into him as he whirls on me with an astonished look. “Nikes.” He deadpans.

“Like the shoes?” I feel my brows drawing together as that word rattles around in my brain.

“Yeah,” he draws cautiously, like he’s waiting for me to lose my shit, and yeah—if anything could do it, that’s it.

I’ve been collecting shoes for years, not in aput them on the shelf and look at themtype of way—I wear mine—but they’re my prized possessions. The only fashion I get into, and I’m always looking to add to my collection.

“You’re saying if the offense is better prepared for the season than the defense, Coach is going to give us each a pair of Nikes?”

“Yeah,” Jagger says as we push into the locker room, which smells faintly of disinfectant instead of sweat since no one’s been in here for months.

“Is there a price limit?” I ask.

“Hell if I know.” Jagger lifts a shoulder as he opens his locker. “But if there is and what you want is over the limit maybe you can at least knock a few bucks off the sticker.”

That’s an attractive thought.

Sneakers aren’t cheap. I have some of the cash that wasn’t spent on school, since I got a full ride, but I’m far from being able to buy whatever the fuck I want. I also don’t have a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal to pad my bank account, so I’m selective about which sneakers to invest in. A free or even discounted pair… I’d never say no to that.

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