He chuckled, a dimple coming out. “I want to help you.”
“You don't have to.” I shook my head. “Seriously.”
He cupped my head in his hand, his other one gently grazing my arm in such a sweet gesture. “I know I don't, Grace, but I want to.”
I closed my eyes, nodding at his kindness. “You don't know what you're getting into.”
“I'm okay with that. I'm happy when I'm with you. You sort have become one of my best friends.” He grinned lazily, like those words didn't slay me.
Walls crashed down around my heart at his admission. My face flushed, and my throat got dry. I wanted to overanalyze the best friend comment, but I needed to compartmentalize my emotions. So, I tucked it way in the back and clapped my hands. “Get comfortable. I'll make the coffee and grab all my notes from my room.”
“Sure.” He leaned against the counter, looking real comfortable. “What's the project about, anyway?”
“A real-life application of what we've learned. I used countless examples from the internship.” I started the pot of coffee and found him grinning at me. “Why are you smiling? I'm having a midlife crisis right now.”
“Nah, you're not.” He rolled his eyes—playful Brock, my favorite kind. “I've never seen you wear something like that. I like it.”
“Oh, this?” I blushed, head to toe. “It's nothing.” I turned around, pretending to clean the already spotless counter.
“You look different. Nice, but different.”
“Yeah, I’m more of a tomboy if you haven’t figured that out yet,” I said without emotion.
It was easy to assume he hung out with models and women who had more confidence than I did, but I swallowed back the self-doubt. There was more than enough to worry about than if my damn outfit was cute enough. “I’ll be right back.”
After grabbing the notes and changing into sweatpants and an old shirt, I headed back to the kitchen to see Brock sitting near my computer. “What are you doing?”
“Oh, hey. I was doing an extra search on your computer for the project. Sometimes they end up in the downloads file.” He scrunched his nose but shook his head. “No luck.”
“Thanks for trying.” I sighed, joining him at the counter with all my notes and materials. “I feel hopeless. I don’t know where to start, and you don’t need to be here. Seriously.”
“I’m here because I want to be. End of discussion,” he said with a deep voice.
Okay, then. “I’ll calm my stubborn ass down and accept the help.”
“Good. Now, shut up. I’m typing.”
Chapter Fourteen
My eyes stung so bad—red,watery, and strained from looking at my laptop for hours on end. Everything in life happens for a reason, so my mother always said. Why didthishave to happen?
“I think I’m going to warm up the coffee again.” Brock stood, wiping his hands over his face with an audible yawn. “You need a refill?”
I looked at my mug, empty, but the adrenaline from not passing this class was enough caffeine for me. “I’m good.”
“I forgot how much I don’t miss this shit.” He put the mug in the microwave, pushing himself up to sit on the counter. I took in his eyes, the bags under them and saw the clock read four thirty in the morning. We had to be at work in five freaking hours.
“Brock, words cannot tell you how much you’ve helped me tonight. You’re amazing. A freaking life saver. But, you can go. You look exhausted, and we have work soon.”
“Grace, you’re not coming in.” His face twisted. “I know you won’t like my answer, but too damn bad. Your education is significantly more important than one day at the internship.” He shook his head, biting his bottom lip. “You need to finish this.”
“I can do both. I’ll—”
“No. I hate to play this card on you, but I’m vetoing you.” He narrowed his eyes and set his jaw in determination. “I can find the contract I have with the school. Technically speaking, I can tell you to stay here. Don’t force me to play dirty.”
I eyed him, then nodded, covering my own mouth with a yawn. “Although I hope to never say this again, you’re right.”
He grinned, lazily, and grabbed his mug from the microwave. I rubbed my temples at the pounding there and went through the stack of notes and lists we had accumulated over the five hours we had been working. “Come to think of it, I might even take a half day tomorrow.”
