Page 47 of Enemies to Lovers

“The best ones are.” He squishes his face, and Brewster gives him all the kisses, and my nose scrunches. Sure… love on all the strangers, but give me the cold shoulder. How nice.

I let out a sigh and drain the rest of my orange juice. “Well, it was nice meeting you.” I head to the front door, unclipping Brewster’s leash from one of the hooks on the wall. There are at least a dozen jackets piled on the hooks, leaving only one for the dog leashes. I love how much life is here, but that only reminds me that the longer I linger, the more likely I’ll run into someone else.

“Do you need a ride?” Paxton asks, his arm stretching over my head for a jacket hanging on the fourth hook. “I’m headed out.”

“I have Brewster…”

He laughs. “I’m used to dog fur.” He plucks a black hair from the shoulder of his jacket.

“Then, yes. Thank you.” I clip Brewster, and as Paxton opens the door for the both of us, Brewster whines and fights me. Oh, I so don’t need his stubborn butt right now.

“Come on, boy. Time to go home.”

He lets out a piercing whine that sounds like a freaking fire alarm, and panic rushes through my chest, giving me a boost of adrenaline. I move behind him and shove him out the door, using all the strength I have against his eighty some-odd pounds. Hershey licks my calf as a goodbye, and I quickly shut the door before Brewster can bolt back in.

“You might want to consider another visit in the near future,” Paxton says, nodding to my dramatic dog. I only laugh, unwilling to answer. I’d spend all spring break here because my backbone is made of jelly.

He helps me hoist Brewster into the back of his work truck, then I pop in the passenger side with an exhausted sigh. Our drive is full of Paxton’s music of choice—country—and the occasional whine from Brewster. My heart is so sunk into my stomach by the time Paxton pulls up to my condo, I have to force my body to move.

“Thanks again,” I say as Brewster hops from the back of the cab.

“No problem. It was good to finally meet you in person.”

I nibble on my lip, nodding, the urge to prod him for more info on what Miles has said about me teasing my tongue.

Instead, I give him a wave and turn on my heel. I won’t care. I can’t care. If I care, I’ll care too much, and I’ll only end up disappointed.

I want to text Val, talk to her, get some kind of clue about how she’s feeling. When I wake up by myself, I can’t say I’m surprised. Thinking she just needs a breather, I give her one, going through my day resisting the temptation to bug her.

I make it till two in the afternoon, when I finally break down and go with something non-threatening.

Miles: How’s Brewster? Any accidents today?

What I mean ishow are you? Do you regret anything? Can I have more than one? How about forever?

She must miss the subtext, because all she sends back is a crying emoji. I analyze it for an hour before responding.

Miles: Anything I can do?

Val: I’m bringing in a sample to the lab on Monday. You can help me test it then.

Miles: Sounds good.

And that’s it.

Spring break passes by agonizingly slowly, my body ticking every time I pull my phone out.I read and reread the messages, torturing myself with that stupid emoji, wondering if she’s crying because of Brewster or because of me or both or neither. I scratch my beard so much I have to shave, so I don’t show a bald spot.

When I get to the lab on Monday, Val’s already there. Her hair is pulled up into a curly bun, tendrils framing her round cheeks. She’s laser-focused on whatever is on the computer screen at our station, her teeth digging into her bottom lip, her brows pushed in.

She’s wearing pink under her lab coat. White and pink will forever hold a vivid image of her in my arms.

Someone sneezes, and I blink out of my daze. I’ll follow Val’s lead on this one. I already feel like I’ve screwed up too deeply to fix it, but if by some miracle she gives me another chance, I sure as hell will take it.

I make my way to our station, and I spot Dr. Goff standing at the front with Professor Clark. They’re chatting, and he offers me a wave when he catches my eye. I wave back, hoping he doesn’t see the tremble that runs up my arm.

Another observation day… Can’t say I’ve impressed him all that much. He did say he’s happy I stayed upright during the second observation. I think I laughed, but I was more worried about how red my neck was.

Val’s gaze moves from the screen to me when I approach, and the wrinkles above her nose relax. “You shaved.”

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