Bennett (On the Line 2)

“Don’t feed me that line of shit, Bennett.” Orion leaned across the desk and glared at me. “How many years have you worked your ass off to get to the first line here?”

“A lot. But we don’t all make it to the big league.”

“If you don’t make it, it’s your own damned fault. Bear down, man. This should light a fire under your ass to play harder than ever. You want to make more money? Do it. You’ve got the talent.”

My throat tightened with emotion. “Thanks, Coach. I appreciate that.”

“I mean it. You want something bad? Go after it.”

I nodded solemnly.

“And Bennett?”

“Yeah, Coach?”

“I’m not just talking about the big league.”

I dropped the bar I’d just deadlifted to the floor of the weight room and stepped back, breathing heavily. Orion’s words from an hour ago were still running through my head.

He was right. I had to dig deep and go after what I wanted. What did that mean in terms of Charlotte and me?

I’d had a hell of a time getting her off my mind after our one night together. Her confidence in bed was really fucking hot. We’d clashed a bit at dinner, sure, but if I was being completely honest with myself, her headstrong nature was kind of a turn-on. The fortitude I’d seen in her impressed me.

It wasn’t so much that I was pissed off at her; I was pissed off that she didn’t want to see me. And I could admit I’d overstepped a boundary by drilling her about her ex-boyfriend that night.

I’d have to be the bigger person. I grabbed a towel I’d left on a bench and wiped the sweat from my hands and face. I was done lifting, but I wanted to reach out to Charlotte before getting lunch.

I typed out a text on my phone.

Me: Hey, Charlotte. Just wanted to say I’m sorry things went badly at dinner that night. Can we try again?

The little circles that meant she was writing back appeared on my screen, and I stared at it as I waited.

Charlotte: Thanks for the non-apology, but I’m busy. See you at the doctor’s appt.

She was made to annoy me, I decided as I wrote another message.

Me: I said I’m sorry, how is that a non-apology?

Charlotte: You said you were sorry things went badly, which implies it was a mutual thing.

Me: Could you be any more of an attorney? Are we in court right now?

Charlotte: What is it that you want from me?

Me: Just to spend some time with you. See what’s between us, maybe.

Charlotte: I need a boyfriend right now like I need a third boob.

Me: A third boob would be kinda hot.

Charlotte: I have court in ten minutes. I’ll see you Friday.

Me: See you then, sunshine.

I tossed my phone to the bench and glared at it. So much for being the bigger person.

Charlotte