Page 30 of Enemies to Lovers

“Damn near it, then. Everything falls into your lap. That internship was all yours unless I did something. So I did something.”

Anger prickles up my spine, setting the hairs on the back of my neck on their ends. “That’s what you think of me?”

“I know it.” He reaches for his cheek but must realize he doesn’t have a beard to scratch and curls his fingers into a fist instead. “I’ve been witness to it for twenty years.”

“And I thought you were a smart, sweet guy. Look how wrong I was.”

“I’m sorry for hurting you.” He exhales through his nose, the warm breath invading the space between us. “I want the internship.”

“Well, you’re not getting it.”

“I wasn’t going to ask you for it.”

I let out a hollow laugh. “No, I mean, I’m going to work my ass off to get that spot.” He thinks I don’t try? He’s about to see just how hard I can work.

He sits straight, giving me some much-needed breathing room. “So am I.”

“Good.” I turn to my laptop, setting my finger on the touchpad to scroll through more of the syllabus. “I’d hate for you to think it ‘fell into my lap.’”

He stays silent, and a victorious butterfly flaps its wings in my stomach. Since I’ve shut down the conversation, I give him a little wave so he can move his butt out of the seat next to mine and up to the back row where he’s comfortable.

The chair creaks as he rises to his feet, and his hand is on his laptop as a tall, attractive woman in her forties with long blonde hair enters. She’s in a pair of pink scrubs and a white coat. A to-go coffee cup rests in her right hand while a clipboard is in her left.

“I’m Professor Clark, and this is your hands-on lab course. We’ll be working with pets and strays and closely with shelter animals.” She sets her coffee down on the podium, and grudgingly, Miles sits next to me. I press my lips together and inch away from him.

“If you read the syllabus, you’ll know one of the main objectives of this course is to learn to work with other vets. It’s rare to open a solo practice, and you’ll find much more success if you’re in a group or partnership.”

I missed that in my not-reading of the syllabus. I don’t mind group projects, though, as long as they aren’t asshol—

“Take a look at the person sharing your desk,” Professor Clark says through her bright red lips, “and say hello to your lab partner for the duration of this course.”

Immediately after class, I beeline to my car and give Logan a call. He hates talking on the phone.Hatesit. But he’ll do it for me.

“Everything okay?” he asks without a hello.

“Movie tonight?”

“That bad, huh?”

I slump against the driver’s seat, narrowing my eyes as I watch Miles from across the lot. He’s a tall guy. Six-foot-something, I’m sure. But with the way he’s slouched, he looks four feet.

“My plan of avoiding He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is going to be impossible, and I need popcorn and one of the Chrises.”

“Well, there are two movies that will qualify. Are you in a Pine or Pratt mood?”

“Either one.”

“‘Kay. I’ll get tickets.”

“I’ll bring the blankets.”

He sighs, knowing that means I need hugs. I’ll be nice, though, and only lay on his shoulder. We say our goodbyes and hang up, and I’m grateful my brother is so tolerant of me. It’s amazing we came out of the same womb, let alone at the same time.

I chuck my phone into my cup holder and start the engine. I better get out of the parking lot before I’m tempted to run over an unsuspecting buttface.

***

The scent of buttered popcorn fills my nostrils, and my mouth waters like Pavlov’s pup. I salivate my way to the counter, Logan keeping with my pace instead of his own. He’s good like that; most people get super frustrated by my little legs and small strides.

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