Office Grump An Enemies to Lovers Romance - Nicole Snow Page 0,111
are?” I’m confused.
“Yeah, but Mag’s more coordinated, and taller than me. He can get tickets faster.”
“Don’t worry, bud. We’re a team.” Magnus stops throwing balls to give Jordan a high five.
“Okay, team,” I say, feeling a big case of smiles coming on. “The food’s come, so you might want to eat before you worry about the beaver.”
Back at the table, Mag and I reach for the pepperoni at the same time.
Our fingers brush against each other on the pizza stand, and I giggle like a schoolgirl.
He smiles at me with the same magnetic look that leaves my panties in flames every single time. My breath catches in my chest, and yes, God help me, I blush for the millionth time.
What a strange year so far. It feels like I’m destined to live out one of Mom’s goofy novels.
“Can I try a slice of your pizza?” he asks Jordan as soon as he’s cleaned his plate.
“Thought you didn’t like wings on your pizza?” Jordan looks up and snorts, his eyes disbelieving, but not angry.
Mag smiles at him. “I thought I’d see why you’re so obsessed.”
“Whatever, man. Go for it,” Jordan says.
20
Happy New Year (Magnus)
“Here we go, guys!” Armstrong says, pulling up in front of my building.
Christmas music still pipes softly through the car. The man’s a fiend for holiday music, and I know he won’t give it up until late January.
Jordan jumps out ahead of us. I step out and hold the door open for Sabrina.
She makes no effort to move, looking at me with a raised eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I head home? I really have to work tomorrow.”
I hold my hand out for her.
Her fingers tangle up in mine so easily.
“Only if you want to,” I say.
She smiles at me and lets me help her out of the car.
As soon as we’re inside, Jordan goes to the guest room and comes out fifteen minutes later in pajama pants with fluorescent balls painted across them. “About tomorrow...Seth’s mom—he’s my friend that got the milkshake dumped on him for being dumb—usually takes me to school, but I don’t know if she’ll want to drive downtown to pick me up before we go back to Winnetka.”
His face is so serious. I wait for the next line.
Will he suggest he can’t go to school tomorrow? Or does he doubt I’ll get him there in one piece? With winter break over, it’s time for him to return, just like Marissa would’ve wanted.
“And?” I say, bracing for a rumble.
“I can’t miss tomorrow. I have a chemistry test,” he says.
I relax, putting my hand on his shoulder.
He doesn’t flinch or jerk away. Maybe, just maybe, his disdain for me is fading.
“I’ll take you to school tomorrow.”
“You?” He raises an eyebrow. “It’s almost an hour away and could be a lot longer in traffic.”
I laugh. “I know. I went to school there, remember?”
“But I thought time was money?” he asks.
“I’ve got plenty of both. I’m not really working while you’re here and we’re waiting on your mom to wake up,” I say.
Jordan looks at Brina skeptically.
“He’s making me do his job,” she says with a sassy face. “Big shoes to fill, but I’ll do it with heels.”
“That’s crazy. Whatever, then, if Mag doesn’t mind, I don’t either. Good night, guys.” Jordan says, flashing one last look over his shoulder before he retreats back to the guest room.
I chuckle once he’s out of the room, relieved there wasn’t another dustup.
“He thought I wouldn’t take him to school.”
“See how right I was?” Amusement dances in her gorgeous brown eyes. “I told you, once he got to know you, he’d warm up. You bonded over baseballs and robo-moles. Congrats.”
“What would I do without you?” Even though I roll my eyes at her, it’s too real a question. “Want a glass of wine? That’s the one thing missing with our pizza.”
“Sure.” She goes into the living room and lets out a dramatic sigh as she falls back on the couch.
“What was that about?” I ask.
“Just tired,” she whispers, yawning again.
I hit the kitchen to pour a glass of wine and something harder for myself—a scotch, maybe.
“Drink your wine,” I tell her once I’ve returned with our drinks. “It’s a nice sendoff to pleasant dreams.”
Her fingers curl around the stem of her glass.
“Thank you,” she says. “For everything this weekend, Mag.”
She pulls herself up, so she’s no longer reclining across the couch. Now she’s sitting up, sipping her wine, bringing back memories of that kiss I stole in Phoenix.