“This project will be a partnered assignment, showcasing the lives of you and your partner as well as interviewing them in various stages of their semester in a documentary style format. The best of the best will have the opportunity to work with Lorelei in her upcoming docu-series and to work as an intern at NWZ studios in the spring.” My professor, Teyana Hawkins, whose name I remember from my syllabus, smiles at the various faces in the room.
An internship with NWZ has been my dream job since I was 11, more specifically as a sports analyst for On the Ice. I would kill for this chance. Hell, if Prof. Hawkins said she wanted a kidney for it…I’d give both of mine.
ButfuckI do not want to work with my mother on this.
“I can’t wait to see what you all put together this semester. Since it’s the first day of classes, I will hand out everything you need for the assignment now so that you all can get a jumpstart.” Professor Hawkins’ voice is sweet as honey as she ruffles through a stack of manilla envelopes and cameras on a spare desk in the room.
“When I call your name, one person from each group will come up and retrieve an envelope with more details on the assignment as well as two color-coded camcorders to document everything.” Professor Hawkins double checks the list on her computer before beginning the roll.
“Alana Rhodes and Ariana Smith,” she starts, piquing my interest.
“Is she going by first names?” I ask no one in particular but I can feel the smugness rolling from the hockey player to my right.
“Bailey Kidd and Ben Thomas…Blake Wilder and Cleora Jones…Cora—”
Slowly, I turn my head to face the smug bastard already staring back at me with a smile.
“Hello partner, nice to make your acquaintance.” He grins.
Mondays are officially the worst.
nine
Blake
If I had knownthat Cleo would be in my first lecture of the day, I would have dressed up like a fucking movie star. But based on the way I felt her ogling me earlier, I’d say she liked what she saw.
Catching up with Cleo after the lecture is no easy feat, even while wearing a pink dress with bows on the back of it, she walks as if she were on the Olympic track and field team.
“Wait up!” I call out to her again, a sense of deja vu tingles my brain and I feel silly as she turns on her heels.
She sighs reluctantly but stops. “What is it?” she asks, her nose scrunching as I give her my best smile.
“Is that any way to talk to your new partner, Cleopatra?”
“Thatis not my name. Just call me Cleo.” She purses her lips, looking up at me.
Thank God for my birth father’s genes, if I would’ve had my adoptive dad’s height, I’d lose all my wow factor. Cleo’s the perfect height for me; not too short, but not too tall either. The absolute perfect height to take into my mouth and devour.
You think she’d want to kiss me? The last time we’d seen each other was a week ago and she’s been standoffish towards me. She can’t say that it was because she had the worst oral experience with me, either. Her body wouldn’t lie. And I for one pride myself on—
Crap. I’m getting unfocused.
“You sure? You look like a queen to me.” I smirk, laying on one of the dumbest pickup lines I know, thick.
Cleo grimaces slightly and sighs, shaking her head. “We need to discuss meeting times.”
“Princess, if you want to see me there’s no need to plan it. I’ll be where—”
“No.Nope.That’s thefirstrule of whateverthisis. If you and I are to work together, there will be none ofthat.” She frowns, adjusting the heavy pink tote bag on her shoulder. Instantly, I reach to grab it, ignoring her protests.
“There will be none of what? My panty-wetting charm?” Teasing her, I fix the heavy bag onto my shoulder.
“No. None of that. No flirting, no‘panty-wetting charm’.None of it, Wilder. I need to pass my classes and I don’t want any distractions, especially from an ice war—hockey player,like you.” She is nearly seething and if I had a brain that worked when it came to this girl, I’d be a little nervous.
Good thing my brain is perfectly useless because instead of being nervous, I sling a cocky arm around her shoulder.
“I solemnly swear that there will be zero funny business. Scout’s honor.” I smile cheekily down at her. She couldn’t be no less than 5’6” but at this angle, she looked tiny.
