Page 62 of Enemies to Lovers

My doorbell rings, and Brewster lets out a deepwoofthat has my soul jumping from my body. I laugh at myself as I make my way to answer.

A mop of unruly hair attached to the most handsome man alive greets me, and I’m already in such a great mood, I swing the door open and wave him on in. Bonus that he’s got Hershey with him.

“That didn’t take you long,” I joke as he follows me inside. “I just got off my call with Dr. Goff.”

He unhooks Hershey, and Brewster bounces his way over, showing off his lobster. They are the cutest pair.

“Me too,” Miles says, tucking the leash into his pocket before scratching at his beard. He’s let it grow out again. I can’t see the dimple anymore. “How’d it go for you?”

“Amazing.” I poke him playfully in the shoulder. “You?”

I know the answer already, but I want him to say it. I want him to tell me everything, share everything, and damn it, I need him to celebrate and be happy.

But the downturn of his lips is not promising. My stomach twists into a knot, and I mimic his expression.

“Wait… Did you not get it?” He had to have gotten it… because I didn’t. And the disappointment I had when I got the no was nothing compared to the excitement I felt when I realized it meant a yes for him.

His eyes widen. “I…” A breathy laugh escapes him, and his gaze drops to my hand. He reaches for it, and I let him take it. “You know?”

“That you were offered the internship?” I close the gap between us and boop the tip of his nose. “I assumed.”

“But… you said your call went—”

“Amazing. It did.” I take his other hand in my free one, and we intertwine our fingers. It feels so natural, so right. “The conversation with Dr. Goff sparked something, and I finally figured it out.” His brow furrows, and I lift a shoulder toward Brewster. “I think I know why he’s having such a hard time adjusting.”

“Really? What’re your thoughts?”

I lean in, like it’s a secret, even though we’re the only two here. “Women.” I shake my head. I can’t believe it took me this long to realize it. “Brewster has a rough time with the females.”

He mulls that over while I babble about the women at the dog park, his aversion to me, but not Logan. He’s nervous around women, and Miles confirms my theory.

“Kelsey said she had a rough time with him at the shelter. He was skittish, little more cautious around her. I thought it was her perfume.”

“I think that’s part of it,” I say, practically bouncing. “The scents of women’s deodorant and perfumes trigger something nervous in him. So I’m going to wear some Axe for a bit, be a little more conservative with my use of flowery Febreeze… do what I can until he can trust me. Poor thing must’ve had some bad experiences.”

The corner of his mouth lifts, and his fingers twitch between mine. “You don’t seem upset about this.”

“I’m sorelieved. It’s an answer, and I have several solutions.” I look to Brewster, my heart already attached. I hope he takes it and knows I’ll take care of his.

Miles clears his throat, snagging my attention. He looks at me like he’s in absolute awe, but I have no clue why. He’s the one who just landed the coveted trophy we’ve been fighting for all semester.

“Hey.” I playfully pinch his stomach, and he jerks back. “Why aren’t you ecstatic right now? Out celebrating with your fam? You got the internship!”

A smile wraps his lips. “I haven’t accepted it yet.”

I blink. “Excuse me?”

“There’s the matter of this.” He waves his pointer between the two of us.

“I told you not to give it up for me.”

“I won’t, it’s just…” He takes my hand again. He breathes in, nice and deep, blowing it out in wisps. His breath smells of Hawaiian Punch. “You know what I felt when he told me?”

“Shock?”

“Yeah, a bit.” He chuckles, running a thumb over the bumps of my knuckles. “But… mostly nothing.”

My nose scrunches, and he smooths out the lines with the pad of his forefinger.

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