Page 7 of Collide
I would rather do it on the gum on the bottom of his shoe, but I can’t exactly say that. “Right. It’s research on college athletes and burnout for my grad school application,” I say.
“Great. Then meet Aiden Crawford, the captain of our hockey team.”
My eyes widen in alarm. The captain? They’re making me do my research with thecaptain? “Oh. Uh, that’s cool but I can work with a third or fourth line. I don’t want to disrupt the team.”
“You won’t be disrupting anything. Besides, Aiden needs it,” he says, a tight string of tension suffocating his words. They clearly had a heated conversation before I entered. That would explain why the captain is simmering beside me. “Right, Aiden?”
This time I turn to him. Wavy brown hair and flawless skin meet my eyes. His side profile could be mistaken for one of the models off Amara’s firefighter calendars. But despite all that he still looks like a prick.
“Coach, this is a waste of my time.” His deep voice is filled with poorly contained irritation. “This can’t be my only option.”
Surprise, surprise. My prediction of the hockey captain has been proven to be accurate. “My grad school paper is not a waste of time,” I say.
“Maybe not for you,” he retorts, without even looking at me. The guy can’t even bother to insult me to my face. This is my worst-case scenario, and now I have to deal with him on top of it?
“Look, I don’t need to sit here and listen to you be an asshole.” I fail to suppress the anger that boils to the surface.
That’s when he turns, deep green eyes narrow when they meet mine, but Coach Kilner interrupts the charged look.
“All right, that’s enough. Aiden you don’t get to argue about this.”
“I’m not doing this, Coach. I’ll do fundraisers and teach the kids, but not this.”
He’s acting like I’m not even here. His little tantrum is inciting the anger that Langston had kindled earlier. Aggravation shoots up my spine. “Don’t think I’m so eager to do this with a hockey player either, Clifford.”
“Crawford,” he corrects.
Coach sighs. “I’m not here to babysit either of you. I've given you the assignment. The rest you can figure out like adults.”
“But Coach—”
“You know the consequences, Aiden.” He shoots him a stern look and Aiden’s jaw tightens. “And Ms. Preston, you’re free to discuss a switch with your professor. But even you know you won’t get a better candidate than the captain.”
When he walks out, Aiden curses under his breath. He runs a frustrated hand through his hair before turning to me. “Look, I’m sorry but I can’t help you with this. You can find someone else.”
He doesn’t sound the least bit apologetic. “Clearly. You’re not exactly the belle of the ball.”
The way his head rears gives me a spark of satisfaction. “I’m the captain of the team. I’m quite literally the belle of the ball.”
“You’re also the asshole of the ball, and those two don’t mix well.”
He glowers. “Glad that’s established because we won’t be working together. I’m not your research experiment.”
“Good! I don’t want you to be,” I say, pushing my chair back. “Damn hockey players.” I slam the door behind me. I couldn’t have gotten out of there quicker if there was a fire. Judging from the way his eyes flamed there might as well have been.
Cold January air doesn’t cool my skin as I storm over to the psychology building. Halfway there, I’m wrapped in a bear hug.
“Sampson,” I wheeze.
Tyler Sampson loosens his hold. “Ah, so you remember me?”
“Shut up, I saw you before break,” I say, pushing him away.
Sampson is the only hockey player I can stomach without breaking out in hives. We grew up together because our dads are best friends and we’ve stuck by each other’s side at every grueling family event.
He watches me. “Why do you look so pissed at that building?”
“I’m not pissed at the building. I’m pissed at the devil inside it.” I take a deep breath, glancing at him. “You’re going to laugh.”
