Dare You to Hate Me

Aiden always knows.

Senses.

It’s unnerving.

“We need to talk,” I inform him, crossing my arms over my chest and ignoring the looks I get from his buddies.

I think I hear a murmured, “Awe shit” from one of them and Caleb say, “Here we go” but I don’t bother giving them a look. If Raine kept her word, not even the team’s running back knows what storm is brewing inside of me.

Aiden stands and walks around the guys, someone mumbling the Jaws theme song while others join in that makes me want to smack them all

before the six-five tight end stops in front of my tense body. “Are you okay?”

Am I okay? I snort. “That’s one hell of a question, Griffith.”

More noises from the peanut gallery behind us leaves Aiden threading his fingers with mine before tugging me along with him toward the basement door. My heart thumps, thumps, thumps loudly in my chest as little tingles shoot up from our joined palms.

He’s never held my hand before. Not even when we were younger. He would give me hugs in comfort, put his arm around my shoulders and tell me it’ll be all right, but he’d never hold my hand.

A lump of unspoken feelings forms in my throat, making it hard to swallow. I have to reach in deep, pushing the way his hand fits against mine out of the way, and remember why we’re having this conversation.

I slip my palm from his despite how much I enjoy the warmth and roughness of his calluses from all the work he does with his hands. Distractions while having this talk isn’t what I need, so I take a few steps back to distance myself from the way he smells and how his hard body towers over me like an open invitation to wrap my legs around him.

“You got me kicked out.”

He stares.

“You made Sydney kick me out.”

His jaw ticks.

“Are you really going to stand there and not say a fucking word? I can’t believe you would tell her to do something like that! Did you not think I’d find out? Did you not care? Did—”

“Why the hell are you angry for leaving that shithole when you have somewhere ten times better to sleep?”

That makes me scoff, the frustration flowing through my veins. “Oh, and I suppose it’s better because you’re here? You need to get your ego in check, buddy.”

His nostrils flare as he steps forward, fists clenching and unclenching. “Because there are walls that don’t have mold, ceilings that aren’t leaking, and people who aren’t trying to scratch your eyes out or get into your pants every two goddamn seconds. That’s why.”

“You’re kidding, right? You can’t really say that anymore considering where your cock was, so don’t play the Saint Aiden angle like you’re better than the others who wanted in my pants. You got what you wanted.”

Another step forward. “Is that what this is about? We slept together and I had to leave early for campus? It isn’t like I ditched you considering you’ve been living here in my bed for weeks now. I didn’t use you.”

“This isn’t about that!” I yell. “And you’re such an asshole for even thinking it is. You told somebody to kick me out of the place I was staying. A place I got by myself. Somewhere I could stay that didn’t involve me having to suck somebody’s dick just to get a few hours of sleep. That’s screwed up, Aiden! Admit it. Own up to it for once instead of trying to play the goddamn superhero. That shield on your arm doesn’t actually make you Steve Rogers.”

The door opens from the top of the stairway and footsteps hesitantly descend, halting the conversation. When Caleb pops up, he’s rubbing the back of his neck and clearing his throat. “Hey, so…er, the guys are sort of eavesdropping at the top of the stairs and they’re hearing everything you’re saying. Yelling doesn’t really help if you want this kept between you two. Thought I’d warn you.”

Aiden gives his red-faced friend a terse nod before Caleb disappears again, exchanging words with the people I now know are getting a free show at the top of the stairs.

“Your friends know my big secret now. I’m sure they’ll love my company even more whenever they see me.” I look away, hiding the way my cheeks heat. I don’t want to be embarrassed for what had to be done in the past. Aiden’s words are pinned in my mind.

You’re a survivor.

So why don’t I feel like one?

He finally speaks up again. “We’re not going to get anywhere if we’re yelling. And the guys won’t do or say a damn thing about what they heard. I’ll make sure of it.”

“I don’t care if they do,” I lie.