Page 60 of Enemies to Lovers

I stare at my hand on my knee and wish it was someone else’s.

A bing sounds from my laptop, pulling my attention immediately. I tuck my earphones in and take a deep breath. Dr. Goff’s friendly and wise face appears on the screen.

“Hi Miles,” he greets, his grin widening under his trimmed beard. I ring my hands outside of view and pray my voice doesn’t shake.

“Hi, Doctor. How… how are you?”

His shoulders bounce with amusement. I hate that my nerves amuse people, but I suppose I’d rather that reaction than discomfort.

“I’m good, Miles. How’ve you been since the semester ended?”

Horrible. A nervous wreck. And it’s not even the internship that’s got me tangled up in barbed wire.

“All right.” I scratch my beard. “Just working.”

“How’s the long-haired domestic?” he asks, interlocking his fingers on his desk, fully engaged.

“He’s good. Healthier.” I chuckle to myself, the image of Mr. Chonk diving face-first into his food dish. “Still very much a foodie.”

“Any luck on getting him adopted?”

I shake my head, the corners of my lips twitching downward. “Not yet.” We’ve even put up a sign on his door that he’s a “name your price.” It’s an extra motivation to get him out the door into a loving family. No takers, though. “I think I’ll spotlight him on the socials page next month if he’s still there.”

“I’m sure the right person will come in soon. Not many people can resist a cuddler.”

We share a laugh, and I wonder if he can hear the frog in my throat. I don’t mind the niceties, but the more we chat about anything but the internship, the deeper my heart sinks into the pit of my stomach. My fingers twitch toward the notebook I have sitting next to my laptop. I jotted a few questions down for him; if there isn’t an internship offer, I’ll damn well take advantage of his knowledge.

“Uh… I have a few questions for you…” I start, but he holds his hand up.

“Before we get into that, I have a question for you.”

The frog in my throat croaks as I sit up straight. “Sure.”

That friendly smile appears on his face again. “How attached to that job of yours are you?”

I swallow hard. “Uh… I…” I take a deep breath, internally yelling at myself to calm the hell down. He’s only asking. Tell him the truth. “I love those animals. Really love the job, too. But I knew going in it wasn’t forever—only a way to work with animals until I could treat them.”

Dr. Goff nods. “Unfortunately, saying goodbye to animals comes with the territory.”

“Very unfortunately.”

He unlocks his fingers and smooths his tie. “I’d like to run something past you. Pick your brain.”

He wants to pick my brain? “Uh… sure.”

“I’ve worked with the shelter, but never in the capacity I’d like to. I’d really like to start a program to give top-notch care to the residents there so they have a higher chance of getting adopted out.”

“We do have a vet on site…”

“Yes, and he’s retiring soon, no?”

“You are well informed, Doctor,” I say through a laugh. My hand goes to my beard again, but I stop myself from scratching. “So you’d like to partner with the shelter?”

“Personally, I’d love to. But I’m stretched thin, and I know how to delegate.” He gestures to me, leaning back in his chair. “Which brings me to you.”

My stomach hollows, and my breath goes clean from my lungs. “O-okay.”

“I’m sure you’re well aware of the internship I offer a single student every year.” He pauses, so I nod. “Well, I’d like to offer that to you.”

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