Page 34 of Fighting Fate

No fucking kidding.

I narrow my eyes slightly, and he laughs. "Man, you're a campus celebrity. Hard not to know you. I'm Wyatt."

Great, Wyatt. Don't care.

His recognition of my campus fame is the least of my concerns. It's the way he looks at Milli, and his casual remark, that irks me.

"Nice to meet you, Wyatt," I say, forcing a laugh. "Yeah, guess I'm a bit known around here." I let go of his hand and turn back to Milli, who's watching me with an unreadable expression.

What just happened here?

Milli averts her gaze, breaking our eye contact. "You two seem to be getting along well," I comment, aiming for a casual tone.

Twirling a pebble with her shoe, Milli replies in a hushed tone, "You could say that."

Wyatt casually drapes his arm around her shoulders. "Just finished dance practice with Mills. Couldn't have asked for a better partner this semester," he says with ease.

Hearing the nickname "Mills" directed at her jolts me, prompting an involuntary tightening of my jaw. It's a term of affection I reserved exclusively for her. A surge of irritation and confusion hits me, but I try to mask it.

"Well, that's great, Mills," I echo, the name feeling strange and forced coming from my mouth. I take a moment to collect myself; Milli deserves better than my irrational jealousy. Forcing a smile, I add, "Glad to hear you're enjoying it."

Wyatt smirks at me. "Yeah, Milli's got some impressive moves," he says, his gaze lingering on her a moment too long. Turning back to me, he suggests, "You should check out our practice sometime. We're quite the duo, right, Milli?"

I raise an eyebrow, struggling to keep my cool. "Maybe I will," I respond, my words strained.

Suddenly, a sharp pain in my temple makes me lurch forward. I steady myself against Milli's jeep, shaking my head to clear the pain and force a smile.

Milli rushes to my side, her eyes meeting mine with a mix of confusion and concern. "Miles, are you okay?" she asks softly, her hand comforting on my arm.

I nod, not wanting to burden her with my issues. "Yeah, just tired from practice," I assure her.

She gives me a sympathetic look. Wyatt, oblivious to the situation, chuckles. "Well, see you tomorrow at practice, Milli."

Milli, still holding my gaze, replies, "Yeah, see you, Wyatt," and then likely smiles at him over her shoulder.

Wyatt glances between us, his smirk still in place. "Catch you later, Chasen."

I turn my focus back to Milli, carefully tucking a loose curl behind her ear, and watch as a blush, my favorite kind, spreads across her face. "So, he's your dance partner?" I ask, trying to sound merely curious.

She raises an eyebrow. "Jealous, Sunshine?"

With a playful scoff, I reply, "Nah, just making sure he's up to your standards."

Her eyes narrow slightly. "No worries, Miles. He's a star athlete, top of his class, and a Dance/USA Champion."

She glances at him, adding, "And have you seen him? Impressive, right?"

Inspecting guys' physiques isn't exactly my hobby . . .

I'm torn between thinking she's either messing with me or genuinely smitten. Either way, it's doing nothing for my growing headache. If it were anyone but Milli, I'd have bailed already.

"Most of the dance partners I have been with were way too skinny, and could barely lift me without causing a panic."

"But," I chip in.

She pauses. "But not Wyatt, he's . . . "

Rolling my eyes feels almost reflexive. She barely knows him, and yet here she is, going on like he's some kind of godsend.