Page 12 of Say Yes to the Nemesis

The two women hurry off, Jennifer’s heels clicking all the way down the hall. My gaze slides to Ryan. He purses his lips, shoves his hands in the pockets of his jeans, and sizes me up.

A part of me, in the back of my head, saysYeah, of course Ryan is the bachelor you’re supposed to lust after. You didn’t think getting a hundred grand was going to be easy, did you?

Eventually, I break the silence, leaning against the wall. I’m careful to put a couple feet between us. Just to be safe. “So…”

If I stand too close, I’ll remember too much. How he used to ruffle my hair and call mekid. How I once stole one of his T-shirts and slept in it for a month. How we once ruined a fancy New Year’s Eve party by fighting so loudly that we missed the countdown—I shattered a champagne flute, he yelled over the rest of the restaurant, and now we’re both banned from Atlanta’s finest five-star restaurant.

Ryan smirks, which makes me faintly nauseated. “I’m surprised to see that you even made it to work. I just assumed you’d be too busy being your usual charming self. You know, starting fights with priests, glaring at anyone who breathes, and giving panic attacks to puppies.”

My brows lower and I glare at him. “And you’re so charming?”

He laughs, which makes me want to punch him right in his pretty face. “You know what?” I put my hands on my hips and slant a look up and down his body. “I can’t decide whether you are more delusional or cocky.”

It’s easier to insult him than admit how badly I want him to look at me with something besides disdain. Easier to pretend I hate him than admit I’ve never really stopped wanting him.

He flashes me a smile. God, how great it would probably feel to slap him. My fingers itch with the desire to cause him bodily harm.

“It’s only cocky if I can’t back up what I’m selling.”

I can’t deny what everyone in Atlanta already knows about Ryan Haart’s reputation, so I change the subject. Crossing my arms, I roll my eyes and groan. “Just because you have a big ego doesn’t mean you aren’t the worst human being on the planet.”

Ryan folds his arms across his chest and smirks. “You’re never going to winThe Last Kiss. You realize that, right?”

“Like I would even want to. What would my prize be at the end of the labyrinth? Not exactly Ariadne.”

Ryan blinks. “I don’t even know what that means. No one does.”

“The Minotaur? You know, half man, half bull, lived in this elaborate, confusing structure called the labyrinth. Theseus volunteered to…”

“Jesus, Chirp.” He cuts me off again. “Are you kidding with that story? Get to the point already.”

“Fine.” I glare at him. “The point is that you’re an idiot. The dumbest jock of all the morons.”

“You’re cooked.” He studies me for a moment. I can’t read his expression. “Good luck, Wren. You’re going to need it.”

I turn to stomp down the hallway, but Ryan stops me with a question. “Hey, Wren. Remember that time we played truth or dare in your basement?”

I freeze. How could I forget? It was the night I thought my heart would explode from sheer joy. Then shatter from crushing disappointment. All at Ryan’s hands.

“I remember.” My voice is tight. “What about it?”

He pauses. For a moment I think he’s going to apologize. Instead, he says, “I dared you to kiss me. You chickened out back then. You realize that you’re going to have to do a lot more than kiss me while the world watches?”

“In your dreams, jerkoff.” I wince. I swear, it sounded cooler in my head. As I walk away, he calls after me.

“Bye, Chirp. I’ll be seeing you real soon.”

Raising my middle finger, I stalk away. My heart pounds in my ears.

Making this TV show is going to be a disaster.

As I’m opening the door to the parking lot, Elena catches up with me.

“Carina!”

I stop and wait for her, like a dutiful golden retriever. My work crush on the older producer is almost embarrassing. She holds the door open and I step out.

“Don’t worry about Ryan.” Elena sounds so calm. “He’ll play along.”