“And you just listened?”
He doesn’t reply, which is his cue that the conversation is over. But you know what? I’m done trying to impress him or get on his good side. That didn’t work anyway, and I seriously want to cut ties right now, so why the hell is he making it harder?
“I find it hard to believe that you decided to volunteer just because Cecily asked you to.”
“She said you were short on staff, but if that’s not the case, then I can tell Dr. Stephanie you don’t want me around.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You implied it.”
I narrow my eyes and he stares at Tiger, who’s fallen asleep on my lap, curled up in a ball.
He slowly slides his attention from the cat to my face. “What should I help with?”
“Ask Dr. Stephanie.”
“She said to ask you.”
“You can lift the bags of food and litter from the truck outside and put them with the stock.”
He doesn’t make a move to leave, and I desperately need to get out of his vicinity. Surely he knows that he sucks all the air out of the room whenever he’s around.
Creighton might be tall, muscular, and a renowned fighter at REU, but it’s his freezing stare and cold eyes that are intimidating.
“What?” I ask when he remains in place.
“What about you?”
“Me?”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll go check on the animals and finish some paperwork.”
“And then?”
“You’re awfully talkative today.”
His blank expression doesn’t falter. If anything, it’s cemented. “What will you do after you check on the animals?”
I purse my lips, and he regards me with that shimmering intensity again. The one that brims under the surface with the promise of exploding in a supernova of colors.
No, not colors. Probably just gray.
“Don’t make me ask the question again.” His voice deepens, brimming with authority.
And usually, I’d hate it. I’d try to subtly rebel against any form of a command. Not now, though.
This is different.
And I really don’t want to see what happens if he asks again.
“I’ll go back to school,” I let out in a low murmur.
He shoves a hand in his pocket, his jaw clenching.
What is he getting mad about now? I answered his question, didn’t I?