Breaking the Jock

A Problem With Enzo 2

The room went strangely quiet.

I looked around.

Apparently, being paired with Enzo Moretti was enough to make an entire lecture hall interested in someone else's assignment.

Enzo didn't seem bothered.

He leaned back in his chair, one arm resting casually across the desk, while Lorenzo whispered something to him from the seat beside him.

Enzo glanced at his brother.

Then at me.

And smiled.

I didn't like that smile.

Professor Bellini continued assigning pairs as though nothing unusual had happened.

"Your first assessment will be a competitive strategy analysis. You will have four weeks."

Oliver leaned towards me.

"Four weeks with him."

"Unfortunately."

"You're going to kill each other."

"I have no intention of killing anyone."

"That's reassuring."

Zain looked at me.

"You've already decided you don't like him."

"I don't like his attitude."

"You've spoken to him twice."

"Exactly."

Zain shook his head.

I ignored him and returned my attention to the lecture.

Behind me, I could hear Lorenzo quietly laughing.

I didn't need to turn around to know why.

---

When the lecture ended, students began filing out.

I packed my things slowly.

Oliver stood beside me.

"You know we're going to have to meet them eventually."

"I know."

"Tomorrow?"

"Fine."

"Library?"

"Probably."

He grinned.

"You're very enthusiastic."

"I'm thrilled."

Zain laughed.

We stepped outside.

The courtyard was already crowded.

And, unsurprisingly, the Moretti brothers were there.

All five.

Matteo stood beside one of the stone pillars, checking something on his phone.

Lorenzo was talking animatedly to Nico.

Dante leaned against the wall with his arms crossed.

Enzo stood between them, listening to Lorenzo.

The moment we walked outside, Enzo's eyes found me.

He said something to his brothers.

Lorenzo looked over.

Then smiled.

"Oh, look."

Nico followed his gaze.

"Victor."

I sighed.

"They're like a tracking system."

Oliver laughed.

The brothers approached us.

Enzo stopped in front of me.

"Tomorrow."

I frowned.

"What about tomorrow?"

"Our project."

"I know."

"Library."

"What time?"

"Ten."

"Nine."

His eyebrow lifted.

"You want nine?"

"I prefer mornings."

"I don't."

"Then you'll be late."

He smiled.

"You'll wait."

"No."

"You will."

I stared at him.

He stared back.

Lorenzo looked between us.

"This is going to be entertaining."

Matteo sighed.

"Leave them alone."

"I'm just observing."

Nico nodded.

"So am I."

Dante looked at them.

"You're both annoying."

"Thank you," Lorenzo said.

Enzo ignored all of them.

"Nine?"

"Nine."

He nodded.

"Fine."

Then he turned to his brothers.

"Let's go."

Nico immediately wrapped an arm around his shoulders.

"Where are we going?"

"Home."

"Can we eat first?"

"You've eaten twice."

"I'm hungry."

"You are always hungry."

"Exactly."

Lorenzo laughed.

Dante shook his head.

Matteo simply followed them.

I watched the five brothers walk away together.

Oliver nudged me.

"They're strange."

"Yes."

"But close."

I glanced at him.

"Very."

There was something about that which stayed with me.

They irritated one another constantly, but none of them ever seemed far from the others.

I couldn't decide whether it was endearing or exhausting.

Probably both.

---

The next morning, I arrived at the library at exactly eight fifty-five.

Enzo was already there.

Alone.

For approximately three seconds.

The library doors opened behind him.

Lorenzo walked in carrying two coffees.

Dante followed with a book under his arm.

Nico appeared behind them.

"Morning."

I looked at Enzo.

"You brought an audience."

He smiled.

"They came with me."

Lorenzo placed a coffee in front of Enzo.

"You're welcome."

"I didn't ask for one."

"You never do."

Dante sat at the table beside us.

"We'll stay out of your way."

Nico pulled out a chair.

"I won't."

Enzo looked at him.

"Nico."

"What?"

"Go."

"But—"

"Go."

Nico sighed dramatically.

"Fine."

He stood.

Lorenzo laughed.

"You lasted twelve seconds."

"I was trying."

Matteo appeared in the doorway.

"Nico."

Nico looked at him.

"What?"

"Come on."

"Fine."

The brothers finally left.

I stared after them.

"They're ridiculous."

Enzo smiled.

"They're my brothers."

There was something warm in his voice.

I looked at him.

"You actually like them."

He gave me an incredulous look.

"Obviously."

"I wasn't sure."

"Why?"

"Because you spend most of your time telling them to leave."

He laughed.

"That's how we show affection."

I smiled faintly.

"Interesting."

He looked at me.

"Your brothers?"

"Different."

"How?"

"Chris talks too much. Jake doesn't talk enough. Ace barely reacts to anything."

"And you?"

I raised an eyebrow.

"What about me?"

"You talk?"

"Only when necessary."

He smiled.

"I noticed."

I opened my laptop.

"We're wasting time."

"You're impatient."

"I'm efficient."

"Same thing."

"No."

He laughed.

And somehow, the conversation felt easier than it should have.

---

We worked for nearly two hours before the rivalry really began.

Enzo leaned over my notes.

"That's wrong."

I looked at him.

"No, it isn't."

"You've interpreted the data incorrectly."

"I haven't."

He pointed at the page.

"Here."

I looked.

Then back at him.

"You're assuming the market remains stable."

"It does."

"Not necessarily."

He smiled.

"Prove it."

I stared at him.

"Gladly."

For the next forty minutes, the project was forgotten.

We debated.

We challenged each other's arguments.

We pulled up statistics.

We argued over theories neither of us actually needed to argue about.

Eventually, I leaned back.

"You enjoy this."

"Winning?"

"Arguing."

He smiled.

"With you? Yes."

I rolled my eyes.

"You're insufferable."

"So are you."

"At least I admit it."

"That's what I like about you."

I looked at him.

He seemed to realize what he'd said.

For the first time, his expression faltered.

Then he leaned back.

"I mean—"

"I know what you meant."

He smiled.

"Do you?"

"Yes."

I returned my attention to my laptop.

But something about his expression stayed in my mind.

---

Later that afternoon, we left the library together.

We had barely reached the courtyard when the sound of a motorcycle echoed across campus.

Enzo looked towards the gates.

His entire expression changed.

Dante was standing beside a black motorcycle.

Lorenzo was leaning against another.

Matteo stood nearby, while Nico was sitting on the hood of a car, swinging his legs.

Enzo smiled.

"That's my ride."

I looked at the motorcycles.

"You ride?"

"Sometimes."

"That's vague."

"It's supposed to be."

Lorenzo called over.

"Are you coming?"

Enzo nodded.

Then looked at me.

"You should come