Page 94 of Undeniably Enemies

“Can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Figured not. How’s Octavia?” I touch her lower back and shift her around a couple and their huge dog so she doesn’t get tangled up in them. “I called her the other day and she said she was doing well, but I’m not sure how honest she’d be with me since she doesn’t like to worry anyone.”

“I have no clue,” she admits honestly. “No one does. My parents were at the compound yesterday and said she seemed in good spirits and healing well. I can only hope that’s true. It’s only been a week or so since she fell.”

“I don’t have grandparents anymore. I mean, I never had a grandfather on my dad’s side, he died before I was born, but I lost the rest when I was just a kid. I think it’s great that you still have yours.”

“My mom’s parents are gone, and I didn’t exactly know them well before that. They lived in Australia for my entire life. But I can’t imagine a world without my dad’s parents.”

I smirk down at her. “Nor I. They’re like my surrogate grandparents.”

“Can I tell you a secret?” she asks, her voice just above a whisper as we get closer to our building.

My hand presses more firmly into her lower back because I haven’t bothered to remove it. I can’t seem to find it in me to try.

“You can tell me anything.”

“I had more than a crush on you growing up. I was kind of low-level obsessed. It’s why I didn’t know it was you when you texted.”

A strangled sort of laugh hits my lips. “I don’t understand.”

“I was eighteen and desperate to get over you. You were dating that girl who we won’t mention, and I was just going to college, desperate to shake the Wren I had been in high school. I didn’t save your name with your number because I was afraid I’d use it or stare at your name like a googly-eyed girl.”

“I had no clue you liked me like that. Not even a little. I didn’t see you that way, but you were also so much younger than me.” I lean in closer to her and whisper in her ear. “Can I tell you a secret, one you can never tell your brother or anyone else?” I unlock the front door of our building and we head up the stairs.

“Shoot.”

“I could have stopped that night. I just didn’t want to. You were incredible and I wanted… I just wanted you.”

She throws me a side-eye. “You realize we likely shouldn’t be saying these things since we’re friends and stuff now, right?”

I shrug. “Still good to air it out.” Especially when I’ll never be able to think of her as only a friend. I hate that term now even though I’m the one who suggested it. I want her. I just haven’t quite figured out a way to have her and keep her, especially since I don’t think that’s what she wants with me.

She smiles as she reaches her door and I reach mine. I smile back and for a moment, we just stare at each other, neither of us going inside, both of us trapped in this spell I never want to break.

“What are you doing Thursday at six?” she asks. “If you’re free, we could do this again.”

“I’ll be at the gym.” No matter what I have to do to get there. “Maybe that night you’ll let me buy you dinner.”

“Maybe. I guess I’ll see you then. Oh, and tomorrow morning too. Obviously.” She rolls her eyes in a self-deprecating way.

I mock her eye roll. “Obviously.” I pause. “Good night, Wren.”

“Night, Jack.” The door shuts behind her, and I blow out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding. Already looking forward to Thursday at six. And tomorrow morning. Obviously.

28

“You did a good job in there,” Daffy says to me as we exit the patient room and head toward a rolling cart that has a laptop on it so we can put in the necessary orders. “You were right about the strep, and you saw it instantly. Not a lot of students get that. I think you impressed Arnold too.”

Arnold is the third-year resident we presented the case to for him to sign off on our work. To me, strep is one of the more recognizable throat infections, but I’ll take her compliment anyway.

“Thank you,” I reply with a smile. Daffy is sweet and always big on positive praise. She’s great with patients and never short or dismissive when there’s a teaching point. In my four weeks here in the ER, I’ve learned so much from her. She’s also hopelessly and tragically in love with Jack, but as one of his former victims myself, I can hardly blame her for that. “I appreciate that so much. I’ve learned so much from you this rotation.”

It’s been a wild two weeks. My grandmother fell and broke her wrist, though thankfully she’s doing much better after surgery. Jack and I have been hanging outa few nights a week. I see him at the gym at least two days a week now after work. I’ve stopped competing with him because he’s in ridiculous shape and while I’m in good shape, he schools me every time while pretending to lose. Occasionally we go to dinner after or bring it to one of our places and hang out and watch something together.

Then we leave and that’s that. No touching. No kissing. Just a ton of lingering, heated looks neither of us can seem to stop. I keep having to remind myself why being with him is a bad idea and with each time we hang out, that gets harder and harder because I only want more and more.

Oh, and I officially sent in my request to match here. So yeah, that’s why Jack and I can’t be together.

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