Page 6 of Breakaway Hearts

“Fine, but she has to know why you’re asking; you can’t pretend it’s to study or something stupid.”

“Deal.” I turn to Ben. “You can easily imply it’s for class purposes with Danica if you need the excuse.”

“Or, if she knows you’re with the team, she might just hand it over.”

I roll my eyes at Miles, though he’s not wrong. For the players at least; equipment managers don’t get near the recognition they deserve.

My target is putting her phone back into her bag and heading for the doors when I reach her. She isn’t looking where she’s going, so she nearly collides with my chest before I gently catch her. Not that I think Ben should orchestrate something like this, but it’s a meet cute straight out of a romcom.

“Hey.” I smile at the quiet curse and surprised look on her face, as she tilts up to meet my eyes.

“I’m sorry.” She sighs like the weight of the world is on her shoulders. “I wasn’t looking.”

“It’s all good, I should have been paying more attention to where I was going.” I give her a shy smile, like I was too busy watching her and am embarrassed she caught me.

Most girls would eat that shit up, but she responds by biting her bottom lip, hesitating like she’s arguing with herself, before she glances at the door again.

She’s about to bail.

“I’m Owen,” I say before she can. “It’s nice to meet you…”

“Madison.”

She was gorgeous before, but there’s something about her reluctant smile that hits me right in the chest. It’s like I caught her trying to escape and that earns me more of her time.

“Are you heading out?”

It would be an opportunity to ask for her number and win the bet, but I’m not opposed to playing her game instead.

“I was.”

“Not anymore?” I latch on to her hesitation.

“It depends.” She bites her bottom lip again, considering me, and I find myself hoping she likes what she sees. I forgot how it’s the not knowing that makes people like Ben nervous, which you don’t get when they approach you.

“On how entertaining I am?” I offer.

“Something like that.”

Her smile reaches her eyes this time and I feel like I’ve won something.

“You have the most beautiful eyes,” comes out of my mouth, unbidden. “It sounds like a cheesy line, but…” I bite my bottom lip with a sigh. “What are you studying?”

The question surprises her. She’d blushed and smiled at the eye comment, but I could tell I was losing her.

“Pre-law,” she admits, squaring her shoulders. Like she expects me to tease her for it. Or maybe some jackass implied she couldn’t do it.

“Beautiful and smart.” I nod approvingly. “What kind of law do you want to practice?”

Again, the surprise.

“Criminal,” she says without hesitation.

“Badass.”

“What about you?”

I’m pretty sure she asks more to get the focus off her than because she’s interested, but I got my biggest smile from her with that one word.