I was so focused on the list that I almost missed him.
James.
He was leaning against the dormitory entrance, arms crossed, cowboy hat tipped low like he was trying to look casual. He wasn't pulling it off. The moment he saw me, his whole body went still in that way I was starting to recognize.
The way that meant he'd felt me coming before he saw me.
Mate bond. Right. That thing I was ignoring.
"Lumi." He said my name like he'd been practicing it. Like he wanted to get it exactly right.
"Cowboy." I kept walking, aiming for the door. "Little late for loitering."
"Wanted to talk to you."
"About what?"
"Tomorrow. The overnight." He fell into step beside me, which meant I had to either stop or have this conversation while walking. I chose walking. "We're in the same group."
I stopped walking.
"What?"
"Mr. Boone's group. You, me, four others." He was watching my face carefully. "I saw the list."
Of course we were. Of course the universe had decided that twenty-four hours in the wilderness with the one person I was trying to avoid was exactly what I needed.
"Great," I said flatly. "That's great."
"You don't sound like you think it's great."
"I'm overwhelmed with joy. Can't you tell?"
His mouth twitched. Almost a smile. "You're kind of mean, you know that?"
"I've been told."
"I like it."
I didn't have a response for that. Or rather, I had several responses, and none of them were appropriate for a conversation I was trying to end as quickly as possible.
"Goodnight, James."
"Goodnight, Lumi."
He didn't move from the entrance. Just watched me push through the door and disappear into the stairwell, his eyes on my back the whole way.
I could still feel them when I reached the third floor.
Ivy was awake when I got back, surrounded by a nest of snacks and textbooks.
"How was family dinner?"
"Good. Alexandra shoved potatoes up my nose."
"As one does." She didn't look up from her book. "Also, I saw James waiting outside. Anything you want to share with the class?"
"No."
