Page 27 of Best Frenemies

“How about I pick up breakfast tomorrow morning?” he offers, like it’s a good alternative to me getting the rental to myself. “Anything you want and it’s yours to devour.”

“Meh. I like the ‘you moving out of the condo’ thing better.”

“I know a great little diner that has the best blueberry pancakes you’ll ever taste,” he continues, completely ignoring my comment on purpose.

“I don’t like blueberries.”At least, not ones laced with the disdain I’d feel sitting across the table from the Donut Stealer himself.

Another laugh escapes his throat as he searches my eyes. “Why do I get the feeling that you’re being difficult on purpose right now?”

My attention is already back on my book. “Probably because I am.”

But my gaze’s Mack reprieve only lasts so long. He squats down to meet me at eye level again, making it downright impossible to avoid him. “Katy, I’m really sorry for eating your donuts. Will you please forgive me?” He reaches out to gently pat my knee. “I promise I won’t do it again, and for the rest of the week, I’ll be a good boy and on my best behavior.”

I snort at that, even rolling my eyes when he saysbest behavior. His idea and my idea of good behavior are two very different things.

But his big, lopsided smile is so close right now that I can make out the facets of green and brown and gold within his eyes, and I can even see that he has the tiniest hint of a scar above his right eyebrow. This argument needs to end. Pronto.

“How about you just go do your paddleboarding thing and leave me be?”

“Not until you forgive me first.” His green eyes are persistent, practically begging me for mercy.

It all feels like…too much Mack for my equilibrium.

A huff jumps from my lungs, and before I know it, I’m saying the only thing I think will get him to not be so inside my personal space. “Fine. I forgive you.”

“Yeah? You forgive me?”

I nod.Anything not to have to stare so deeply into your stupid gorgeous eyes any longer.

“Fantastic,” he says through a growing smile. He pats my bare knee again with his big hand. “Now, I’m going to leave you be, and tonight, I’ll handle getting dinner.”

And then, he’s back on his feet, walking toward the ocean with his paddleboard tucked beneath his arm.

Sheesh.Here, school, it doesn’t matter. One way or another, I end up on the losing end of our battles.

How is it that Mack always manages to get what he wants?

“Excuse me? Do you think your friend is going to be coming back to the beach soon?” an excited voice asks from above me, breaking into my reading just as Killian Shadow is about to discover what killed him.

I know I’ve read this before, but that doesn’t make the interruption any more acceptable.

“Hello?” one of the other college girls from yesterday adds when I don’t answer her friend quickly enough.

I swear, tomorrow, I’m making a poster board sign to stick in the sand beside me that reads,“Thanks for not talking to me while I’m reading.”

I look up from my book to find the whole hot-bikini-girl gang looming above me, their towels and cooler settled dangerously close to my current spot.

For the last hour, I’ve been gloriously Mack-less. He’s been out in the sea, doing his paddleboard thing, and I’ve been chilling with my toes in the sand, falling into a world of humor and mystery. We were coexisting in the bubble of the beach without disturbing each other, and my earlier rage was actually starting to abate.

But here he is again, seating himself in my business, through a bunch of college girls who’ve been captivated by the idea of partaking in some of hiscocktails.

“Your friend,” the blonde repeats when I still haven’t answered and nods toward the water. “Do you think he’ll be coming back to the sand soon?”

I shake my head, eager to dispose of their presence. “He’s not my friend.”

“But you know him?”

“Yeah.” I nod.Getting to know every ounce of his annoying habits on a personal basis at this point.

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