He grins. “Observing. With admiration.”
I shake my head. “I honestly never noticed.”
“That’s the part that kills me,” he says, mock wounded. “I can’t stop noticing you, and you didn’t even know I existed.”
“I mean, I find that hard to believe.”
“Well, it’s true.” He turns serious for a moment. “When I ran into you at the library... I swear, it felt like everything just clicked. Like the stars had been waiting for that exact moment.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Now I’m starting to think you orchestrated that run-in.”
He laughs, low and warm. “God, I wish I had. But no—fate was driving that day. I was just lucky to be in the car.”
I smile. “You’re very good at this, you know.”
He leans in just a little. “Only with you.”
And suddenly I feel like I’m floating.
I’ve never had a man look at me like this. Like I’m not just enough—but rare. Precious.
I lean back on the blanket, looking up at the sky.
The sunlight dances on my skin, and I think—for the first time in a long time—that maybe I really am lucky.
Maybe this is what falling in love feels like.
Eleven
Aubrey
“So Jack looked... upset the other night when we came home,” I say, trying to tread lightly.
“To say the least,” Ellie replies, as she swipes on her phone.
“Are you guys okay?” I ask.
“We’re just going through a rough time,” Ellie says, attention still distracted by her phone.
“Do you think he’s the one?” I ask the question that’s been on my mind for a while now.
“The one?”she laughs, then shrugs. “Is anyone? I don’t know. Sometimes I wonder if I’m meant to be married at all.”
“Really?” I’ve been curious about the same thing about both Ellie and Jack based on some comments Jack has made, but I’m not about to say it.
“Oh my gosh!” Ellie’s dark eyes turn on me. “The Columbia prof just texted me!”
“Really?” I’m instantly dialed into her.
“Yep.” Ellie’s eyes dart across her screen. “He wants to go out Thursday night.”
“Are you going to?” I glance over Ellie’s shoulder in an effortto read the text.
“Yeah. I mean, I have to, right?” Ellie frowns.
“I guess if you’re going to be a part of The Society you do.”
She nods, working her lips back and forth nervously. “What should I say?”
