Page 8 of Finance Bros

She looks disappointed but eventually leaves me alone. I manage my first deep breath of the day. It’s not that she’s unattractive, but sheisoverwhelming, and there’s something slightly wild behind her eyes whenever I look directly into them. Like she’s not entirely tethered to reality.

However, she’s smart, she knows her shit, and I’m here to learn. Also, I’m not the only new meat in the office. Nathan could be single. Ryan may or may not be, but I know full well he’s not into girls. I wonder what he’s thinking about his own mentor, who, despite his mobility challenges, is a young, handsome man with no wedding ring. They sure seem to have a lot to talk about. I have yet to look over at them and not see them deep in conversation with full eye-contact and everything.

Why doesn’t he just sit on the dude’s lap for fuck’s sake?

Why the fuck am I picturing that? And why does the image of it make me have to forcibly unclench my fists?

Just before four-thirty, Isla returns from her meeting, afresh coating of lip gloss on her full lips. “Want to grab drinks after you’re done with your debrief? I can tell you all the office tea.”

Here’s my best opportunity to reverse this tide, and I jump for it. “Can’t. I have plans with my girlfriend after work.” Not a lie. “But I look forward to tomorrow. Thanks so much for a great start.”

Her smile wobbles, but it doesn’t fall. “Girlfriend, huh? What’s her name?”

Does she think I’m lying?“Kaylin.”

“Hm.” She looks me up and down again. “All right. Well, enjoy your evening.”

“Thanks,” I say, rising from my chair. “You, too.”

Making my way to the conference room, I find myself walking next to Nathan. “Heard a few things about your mentor,” he says in a low voice.

“Yeah?”

He gives me half a mischievous grin. “You like ‘em freaky?”

I sigh. “Shut the fuck up.”

The interns meet with Georgie for a half-hour debrief of our days and we’re allowed to ask questions and give observations. Ryan is characteristically quiet, and I’m uncharacteristically so. Everyone else wants to know more about the challenge and past challenges. It’s enough to hold my attention and distract me from the fact that I’ll be stuck in rooms with my ex-stepbrother for the entire summer.

About half of us make it onto the same elevator after the meeting.

Ryan stands in a corner, eyes trained on his phone. Jia, Nathan, and Miguel are also on board. Nathan gives me a nod. “What do you think about the challenge?”

I think it’s already stressing me the fuck out. “Sounds fun. I’ve got a few ideas popping.” I don’t. I’ve got nothing.

Miguel says, “Since there aren’t any rules, we could pool our cash and have a better start.”

“Yes…” Nathan says, his dark eyes calculating. “I’d absolutely be down for that.”

Miguel brightens, looking to me and Jia. Ryan might as well not be on the elevator. He’s got all his walls up. Typical.

I hedge. Like I said—teamwork isn’t my strong suit. Every group project I’ve ever been part of ended with me doing way more work and micromanaging people to the point of visceral hatred on all sides. “I’ll think about it.”

Miguel cocks his head in Ryan’s direction. “Ry?”

Ry?He’s got a fuckingnicknamefor him already? Just hearing it grates on my nerves. The hairs on my arms stand straight up.

ButRyshakes his head without looking up from his phone. “I’ve been told I don’t work well with others.”

Miguel laughs like Ryan just said something hilarious and isn’t being a complete dick.

I glare at him, not that he notices. Same old asshole.

His eyes flick up and meet mine. Nausea—instant nausea—makes me nearly double over. I don’t look away because fuck him. His pale cheeks flush just as fast as bile rises up my throat. The strong physical reaction to what amounts to maybe two seconds of eye contact makes me sick and dizzy. I don’t know why I let him get to me like this. I don’t know why I keep looking at him, period. He doesn’t lookthatdifferent.

When he dips his head down to study his phone screen, I let out my breath and force a grin for the other three interns. This is shaping up to be the worst summer ever.

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