Page 66 of Enemies to Lovers

Apollo had started his own journey, but we’d decided that we wanted to partner together to make the world a better place. And we’d be wiping out corporate greed while we were at it, starting with my business.

Some of that corporate greed would be rubbing elbows with me at this shindig, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted to form a good first impression or not.

But before I’d made it out the door to the one next to mine to pick her up—I hadn’t seen a point in fabricating who was living next to her anymore—Shad called.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“Few things,” he said. “One, did you know that Joey was going to be there today?”

Anger immediately ignited in my belly.

I grimaced. “No.”

“That’s why she asked you,” he said, sounding apologetic. “Two, can you talk to her about getting her out to lunch with me and my wife this week? It’s been months, and I can see the strain on my woman’s face. I can’t take it anymore.”

The excitement and nerves in my belly immediately died.

I’d thought she wanted me there because she wanted me. But she wanted me there as a buffer for her ex.

I’d deluded myself into thinking that she wanted me there because she’d had enough time to think and she decided that she missed me. Wanted me.

Fuck.

I guess I should’ve expected that. I mean, why would a woman like Baker want a man like me? We’d already established that she was too good for me.

I grimaced as I straightened my spine, resolve and determination taking root inside of me.

Maybe if she spent time with me when she was “healthy” I could show her the value that I brought to the table.

Maybe…

“Shad…”

“Please,” Shad begged. “Frieda’s fuckin’ beside herself with how she’s acted. But Baker’s so goddamn stubborn, like her. Neither one of them is gonna give in, and I gotta figure it out.”

“I’ll see if I can sneak in a conversation about that,” I said. “But I’m not pushing her. If she doesn’t want to talk about it, I’ll drop the subject immediately.”

He sighed. “That’s all I can ask for I guess.”

“I’m walking out the door,” I said. “I’ll keep you updated.”

The walk from my front door to hers was short.

I didn’t bother to hide my arrival because I knew Audric was in there with Lottie, distracting her from my arrival.

I did, however, roll the bike out of the garage and down in front of her house so she wouldn’t overthink things.

She wouldn’t hear me pull up, but she’d chalk that up to not paying attention and being distracted.

I knocked on her door, and Audric answered with a knowing grin.

“Copper,” he drawled. “I’m surprised I didn’t hear you pull up.”

I flipped him off and pushed inside, seeing both of the kids on the floor.

Holt’s head flipped my way, and he immediately was waving his hands.

I walked over to him and lifted him into my arms while Lottie watched on.

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