My Rebound (On My Own #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,78

I should do it,” she said kindly. Of course, the look she gave Dr. Michaels could’ve cut someone to the quick so I didn’t think the kindness was for him.

“Of course. Whatever. It’s not like I have a say,” he growled, and my eyebrows winged up.

Dr. Jackson cleared her throat. “It seems that one of our students was caught cheating and is facing expulsion. I can’t explicitly tell you who, as that would be against the rules, but I can say that the internship and a program spot has opened up that I think you’ll like.”

I blinked at her, my chest tightening as I tried to absorb what she was saying.

“Who?” I asked and then shook my head. “Never mind. You just said you couldn’t tell me who. Sorry. I mean, what internship are you talking about?”

“You know,” Dr. Michaels growled. “The one you applied for already. You’ll be able to start this summer. And now that a certain student is no longer with us, you’re going to be able to work with me as you wanted. Everything’s working out for you, isn’t it?” he asked, his tone bordering on petulant.

I blinked and looked at Dr. Jackson. “I don’t understand.”

She reached out and patted my hand for a moment before she leaned back again. “As I said, one of our students was caught cheating and is on academic probation, facing expulsion. What that means for you is that the spot you wanted before has now opened up.” She met Dr. Michaels’ gaze as he gestured for her to carry on. “However, I know that we discussed you possibly being able to work with another professor and me.”

I blinked, trying to catch up. “I still don’t understand,” I said.

Dr. Michaels narrowed his eyes. “It’s come to my attention that I allegedly nearly broke some ethics rules when I decided to work with the previous student. Now, the advisory board isn’t sure they want you working with me alone.”

I blinked and looked between them, suddenly having enough. Just...enough of everything. Of how I’d been treated. Of how this was going down now. Just...enough. “They’re right,” I said honestly, surprising myself and, apparently, Dr. Michaels.

“Excuse me?” he asked.

“I don’t want to work with you,” I said. “You lied to me and everyone else. You tried to ruin my academic career and most likely what comes after my bachelor’s degree. All because you wanted the kid whose parents gave the school money. And while I’m probably shooting myself in the foot for even daring to say this, no, I don’t want to work with you. You may be in the field that I want to be in, but you’re not the only one. And it’s taken me a long time to realize that I need to make my path and not follow the one I was set on at the beginning.”

“You’re saying you’re just going to walk away after all of your complaining before?”

“Roger,” Dr. Jackson snapped.

“What? She went to how many professors and tried to plead her case? And now she’s just walking away? No, I don’t believe it.”

I shook my head. “You can believe whatever you want,” I said honestly. “But, no, I don’t want to work with you. This is my last semester with you anyway. My exam is already turned in. Anything I say to you right now can’t hurt me. I’m sorry you had to change your plans, but you were rude to me. You lied and changed how I had to go about getting things done. You could have honestly hurt my chances of getting into the grad school I want. This next year, I’m going to do all that I can to make sure I can get in where I want and need, without using people who push me and throw me down when things get too tough.”

“Good for you,” Dr. Jackson said as she cleared her throat. “I have another option for you. Rather than you working with Dr. Linde, because I know that’s not a field you’re interested in at all, I want you to work with me.”

I blinked. “I thought you didn’t have space.”

“Oh, we’re going to make it work thanks to the open spot with Dr. Michaels. The budget won’t be a concern,” she said.

“I don’t understand,” I said.

“We came to a decision that you were going to continue down the path you need to, and now, you’re going to work with me. Dr. Michaels won’t have a student this next year as