Page 89 of Obsessed with the Heartbreaker

“You?I thought you were a hermit.”

He chuckled, scratching the back of his head, strangely bashful. Had I touched a nerve? “Iama hermit, but some people still manage to cling to me. Like spider monkeys.”

That made me consider the Professor in a whole new light. “So you have powerful friends? Inthisfield?”

“I have friends who are powerful in many fields.”

It sounded like he wasn’t going to share anything more, so I rolled the papers onto themselves and got up. “I’ll look into these.”

“You do that, and send your applications by the end of the week.”

Narrowing my eyes, I said, “I don’t take orders, Professor.”

“And I don’t take charity cases. But here we are.”

Thatblunt-asshole attitude was something I understood and appreciated, so I just smirked his way and left.

My heart was racing already. For some reason, all I wanted was to go get Antony and tell him all about this. I wanted him to be happy for me to beproud of me, which was stupid. It was also why I shouldn’t go get him.

I wouldn’t go after him like a puppy looking for praise.

I wouldn’t.

Chapter 28

Antony

Settling down with my friends on a table in the cafeteria with our lunch, I half-listened as Eliot ranted-rambled about his classes and his homework, which, to someone who had known him as long as Scott and I had, translated into ‘I’m really into it but complaining is my favorite pastime’. Which was good.

You just had to learn to pick up the clues.

“And it’s like, dude.” When Eliot saiddude, you knew hereallyliked something. “They give ussomuch reading material for one day to anotherandthey also make usthinkabout what we read! And I’m like, do you want me to read this shit until my eyes bleed? Should I keepanalyzinguntil my brain becomes meringue and it comes out of my ears?Christ, just, when will it be enough to just go to class?”

“I think the point is that it’s notenoughto go to class,” Scott said with a grin on his face as he punctured some pasta with his fork. “Thinking has actually been said to be good for you. I heard about that the other day.”

“And I’d like a spoonful if it’s all the same to you,” I said, picking up some vegan lasagna with my fork.

Lately, I’d started paying more attention to the vegan and vegetarian options in the cafeteria, not because I actuallywantedto become one, but because…As stupid as it sounded, it made me feel closer to Henry, the surprise vegetarian. I imagined, like a starry-eyed romance novel protagonist, whether Henry would have also chosen the same meal as me.

God, I was so fucked.

“Ant, you’re ananimal. Those are mybrains.”

“But they’remeringue.How can I say no to that?”

“I wouldn’t say no,” Scott said, siding with me. I put up my fist and we bumped them like good bros.

“I hate both of you.”

“Youlove us.”

“Arguing like a married throuple again?”

My head whipped to the side so fast, my neck almost cracked.

It was Henry.

Standing right beside me, lunch in hand, in the cafeteria.

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