Meet Your Match

6. Hate Is A Strong Word

I hate that you can make me feel that way.

Her words had been reverberating inside Draco’s head for the last week. When Shannon had referenced Granger’s use of the word hate, it was clear Granger had forgotten what she’d said. She’d looked up at him and then down at his arm for what felt like minutes—her eyes burning into his Mark. It had taken every ounce of self-control he possessed not to pull his arm off the bar and out of her view. The whole time she looked at it, he prepared himself for what she would say. 

I know you hate me, Granger. It’s okay if you hate me. You should hate me. I hate myself.

He had been completely unprepared for her to say that she didn’t. That she only hated what he’d said—hated that he could make her feel that way. There was so much he wanted to say to that.

I know, that’s why I said it. I said it to hurt you. I wanted to hurt you. I’ll do it again. You should hate me. I’ll hurt you. 

But he hadn’t needed to say anything after all. Whatever she’d seen on his face had been enough. She had shrunk away from him, spilling her drink before practically running out the door.

“You ready?” Thomas’s voice cut through his thoughts, pulling him back to the present.

“Yeah, ready,” he said, reaching down to retrieve his bag from the damp grass. He winced slightly when his fatigued muscles disagreed with the movement.

Even though his legs always burned with impending soreness as they walked off the pitch toward home, Draco liked working out with the football blokes. Ever since he’d mentioned to Thomas that he missed how school sports had kept him in shape, he’d been joining in for their conditioning sessions. He had zero ability to actually play football, and even less desire than that, but the conditioning drills were good for general fitness. They ran, they jumped, they lifted weights.

In addition to the physical benefits, the Sunday morning workouts usually helped to burn off the considerable amount of frustrated energy that he seemed to be stockpiling these days. 

Usually. 

Today he’d been distracted no matter how hard he pushed himself. Granger with one foot propped on a stool so her skirt hung over her thigh. Granger giving him a playful smirk and remarking on his faux darts prowess. Granger looking up at him through her lashes before telling him I don’t hate you. 

He groaned inwardly. Merlin, the bar was truly on the floor if that’s what qualified as words of affirmation for him nowadays.

“You’re staying for breakfast right?”

Draco looked up and realised they’d already reached the couple’s house. He would have walked right past if Thomas hadn't said anything.

He hesitated, but his stomach gave an audible growl before he could decline. Thomas smiled, gesturing for him to follow.

“You have what you need?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Draco said, heading for the upstairs shower. He didn’t come back to the house for breakfast every time, but it was a frequent enough routine that he kept a change of clothes and some toiletries in his bag. He stripped his shirt off on the stairs, thankful to be rid of the sweat-soaked fabric.