Twisted Hate: An Enemies with Benefits Romance

Shouldn’t you be resting right now?
I should. But I wanted to see you.
Asher’s laugh dragged me out of my thoughts. “Part of me is offended
you’re so blatantly ignoring me.” His tone was drier than the gin in his glass.
“Another part is intrigued.”
Heat warmed my cheeks. Admittedly, I was awful company right now.
I also bet Asher didn’t get ignored often, and not only because he was a
Ballon d’Or winner. If he weren’t such a talented soccer player, he’d make a
killing as a male supermodel. 
Sculpted cheekbones, green eyes, dark hair…and I felt nothing except my
earlier frustration over my situation with Josh.
I pissed myself off sometimes for more reasons than I could count.
“Your ego can take it,” I said lightly, trying to shake off my melancholy.
“Though I’m surprised the cap is actually working.”
Asher had pulled his baseball cap so low it shadowed half his face, and
his plain T-shirt and jeans were a far cry from the stylish outfits he usually
wore. Thick stubble covered his usually clean-shaven cheeks and jaw. Still, I
was surprised by how many people passed by us without sparing him a
second glance.
He was right. People saw what they expected to see.
“Why are you in D.C., anyway?” I asked, switching subjects. “You said
you were in town for a last-minute trip?”
“Can’t say, or my agent will kill me.” Asher finished his drink. “But I
have several meetings in the U.S., and one of them is in D.C.”
I was surprised his U.S. trip wasn’t all over the news. Then again, I didn’t
follow sports updates, so maybe it was, and I just didn’t know.
“Does it feel weird, being so famous?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine having
my every move dissected.
“It was, but I got used to it.” He flashed a sardonic smile. “Can I tell you
a secret?” When I nodded, he said, “I never wanted to be famous.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Come on.”

---

Some celebrities shied away from the spotlight, but Asher seemed to
thrive in it. He was always dating the latest supermodel, driving the fastest
car, and attending the hottest party.
“It’s true.” He leaned back in his chair. “There’s a certain liberation to
being a so-called nobody. No expectations, no pressure, just me and my love
for the game. For the longest time, I held myself back because I was afraid of
hitting the big time. Me, a nobody from Berkshire, playing for the biggest
clubs and against the best players in the world? I didn’t deserve it. But I love
football—or soccer, as you Americans call it—and that mindset affected my
game. I didn’t even realize until my old coach called me out on it. And
now…” Asher shrugged. “Like I said, I got used to the fame. But more
importantly, I can play to my potential. I just had to get out of my own way.”
I didn’t deserve it.
The words echoed in my head and filled my lungs with sudden, icy
realization. Oh God. Maybe the reason why I—
“Enough about me,” Asher said. “Let’s talk about why that guy is staring
at me like he wants to rip my head off for the past fifteen minutes.” He tilted
his chin toward someone over my shoulder.
Had someone finally recognized him?
I turned, and my realization gave way to shock when I saw Josh sitting a
few tables over. I had my back to the door, so I hadn’t noticed him arrive..
Instead of looking away, Josh held my gaze, his eyes dark and his jaw
lined with tension. The air suddenly crackled with an electricity that lit up my
nerves.
“He’s the guy from the wedding, right?” Asher drew my attention back to
him. Amusement glowed in his eyes. “Boyfriend?”
“Not really.” Not anymore.
The amusement deepened. “It’s complicated, then.”
“You could say that.” Complicated, messy, and one of the few beautiful
things I’d experienced in my life.
Even though I was no longer looking at Josh, the sparks from our two
seconds of eye contact remained.