Page 16 of Deep In Love
“Huh?”
The muscles in my face defy my brain, and my jaw falls slack in bewilderment.
“It’s great that you and Mateo are learning to get along.”
The only response I can offer is a grunt, because I wouldn’t say that we “get along.” Trivia was a one-off where the need to crush the rest of the participants outweighed any animosity between us.
I pull out my notebook with flair, hoping it will inspire Cheryl to start the meeting.
“Was there a specific reason you wanted to meet?” I ask, flipping to a clean page. “Is it the manuscript? Lab work? The BIO 201 course?”
Am I spiraling?
Maybe.
“No. No. None of those things.” She waves me off. “I’m just waiting for—" A knock rattles the door, and joy blooms on Cheryl’s face as she calls out, “Come in!”
I’m ready to jump out of my skin, confused as hell, when I hear the two words that send me into a tizzy.
“Hi, bruja.”
Chapter 5
Mateo
Charlie is super fucking confused. Mouth agape, rapid blinking, deer-in-the-headlights confused, and I want to kiss the befuddled look off her face.
Her notebook slips from her grip and tumbles to the floor, and she scrambles to retrieve it.
“Sorry we’re late. The coffee shop was slammed.”
Dan slips into the office and plants a wet, nauseating kiss to Cheryl’s lips.
I drop an iced latte in front of Charlie, who still wears the adorable stunned look. She rubs an eyeball, blinks at the drink, then glares so forcefully the skin around her scar pulls taut as her eyebrows scrunch together.
“What are you doing here?” she hisses under her breath.
I ignore her. “I made sure Amy made your coffee so the ratio of espresso to milk was right.”
She examines the to-go cup like it’s a bomb, and I slide into the chair beside her. She tentatively lifts the drink to her lips. The caffeine hits her tongue, and the tension in her shoulders falls away.
A rogue strand of honey-blond hair falls in front of her face, and she blows, shifting the piece out of her view. Her lips form a perfect O, and I squirm in my seat, my cock twitching at the sight.
Charlotte Bowen is so distractingly beautiful that, at times, I lose function of my faculties. When she cornered me in the kitchenette this morning, I nearly spilled scalding coffee on myself from the shock of seeing her.
Cheryl and Dan whisper on the other side of the desk, and with every furtive look, Charlie descends deeper into a whirlpool of negative thoughts.
It happens often, and when it does, her hands begin to shake and her skin pales, darkening the pink of her scar.
“Mateo, what is happening?” Her question is accusatory, and I’m unable to hide my smile.
I spent my time at the library this morning, avoiding her so I wouldn’t spill this secret, until her stomping around finally caught up to me. But I still managed to hold my tongue then, so I refuse to ruin the surprise now.
She pulls her lip between her teeth, and I avert my gaze. Thankfully, Dan clears his throat and draws her attention before I do something truly stupid—like kiss her.
“We’re so glad you could make it,” Cheryl starts, buzzing with enthusiasm.
“You said this was mandatory,” Charlie grumbles under her breath.
