Page 45 of Omega's Formula

“And you have to live with him.”

“Just the next two weeks. Bureau requirements. Then I can tell him to shove it.” I try for a smile. “It’s fine. I can handle him.”

Ellie looks at me for a long moment. She’s reading me, the way she always has, the way she’s done since we were kids and I was the only one who understood her.

“You’re lying,” she says finally.

“About what?”

“About hating him. Or about being able to handle him.” Her eyes narrow. “Maybe both.”

I don’t answer. I don’t know how to answer.

“What’s going on, Nolan? Really?”

I think about the kiss in the woods. The kiss yesterday. The way my whole body lights up when he’s near, the way I can’t stop looking at his mouth, the way I wanted him so badly this morning that I had to leave the apartment just to breathe.

“I don’t know,” I admit. “It’s complicated.”

“Complicated how?”

“I don’t—” I run a hand through my hair, frustrated. “The chemistry is... intense. We’re matched at 98.8% and I can feel it, all the time. It’s like there’s a magnet in my chest pulling me toward him. And I hate it. I–”

I stop. Ellie is staring at me with wide eyes.

“You what?”

“Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”

“Nolan.”

“I kissed him,” I blurt out. “This morning. In the woods. I kissed him and I liked it and I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.”

Ellie is quiet for a long moment. Then, to my complete shock, she starts laughing.

“It’s not funny!”

“It’s a little funny.” She wipes her eyes with the back of her hand. “You married your nemesis and now you’re falling for him. That’s literally a romance novel.”

“I’m not falling for him.”

“Sure you’re not.”

“I’mnot. It’s just chemistry.”

“Uh-huh.” She settles back against her pillows, looking exhausted but slightly less murderous than before. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“Ellie—”

“I’m still mad at you,” she interrupts. “For not telling me. For making this decision without even asking what I wanted.”

“I know.”

“But I’m also...” She sighs. “I’m glad you told me the truth. Even if it took a hospital full of gossips to make it happen.”

“I’m sorry. I should have told you from the beginning.”

“Yeah. You should have.” She reaches out, takes my hand. “But I understand why you didn’t.”