I burst out laughing. “Oh, yeah, because that’s totally on everyone’s bucket list of classes.”
Topher looked at me, dead serious. “It should be. I mean, whowouldn’twant to learn about treaties that literally shaped the modern state system?”
I cut him off, grinning. “Stop. Just stop. You’re like a walking Wikipedia page, and it’sinfuriating.”
He grinned, grabbing another handful of popcorn. “I prefer ‘highly knowledgeable and incredibly humble.’” He flashed me that crooked grin that made my stomach flip.
“Debatable,” I shot back.
He chuckled, pulling me closer with a quick, playful tug. Butterflies took flight in my chest. AsJeopardy!droned on in the background, I found myself relaxing into him: his warmth, the steady hush of his breathing.
After the next question, I glanced up at him from the crook of his arm. He was thinking, eyes narrowed in concentration, his face so close I could see the subtle shift in his expression as the answer dawned on him.
Then his eyes flicked down to me, softening, and for a split second, I swore he was going to kiss me. My heart pounded in my chest, and I held my breath, waiting.
“Oh, don’t let me interrupt,” Josephine’s voice cut through the moment, laced with amusement. “You two lovebirds carry on.”
I blushed and opened my mouth to stammer out a response, but before I could, Topher’s lips brushed against mine. It was barely more than a whisper of contact. Yet it sent electricity coursing through my veins.
As he pulled back, a ghost of a smile played at the corners of his mouth. “Happy now, Mom?” he quipped, but his eyes never left mine.
The kiss was barely a brush of his lips, a fleeting touch, but it sent a shockwave through me that I couldn’t control. It wasn’t the kind of kiss that made your heart race. No, this was something deeper, something that stirred everything inside me, down to the parts I’d kept hidden. His gaze held mine, and it felt like he could see into the darkest corners of my soul. Like hewantedto devour whatever he found there.
It had been the lightest kiss, almost not there at all, but it rocked me like an earthquake, like no other kiss had. It obliterated every kiss before it.
My high school boyfriend? Gone. That guy in college? Never happened. Alex? Who? There was only Topher now.
The rush of feelings left me dizzy, as if I’d finally found what I’d been searching for, and now had everything to lose.
Oh no.This wasn’t good. I didn’t need anyone. I didn’t needthis.
I yawned in a way that I hoped was convincing and stood up quickly. “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll head to bed.”
I made my way out of the room, trying to ignore my pounding heart.
But of course, Topher followed, his footsteps trailing behind as I reached the hallway. “Kathleen,” he called softly.
I stopped, closing my eyes for a moment before facing him. He was standing so close I could touch him, concern etched on his face.
“What’s going on?” His voice was gentle. “You’re going to miss Final Jeopardy.”
“I’m just exhausted. I think I’ll go to bed.”
Topher raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced, but he didn’t push. “Alright. I’ll go to bed, too.”
“It’s not even that late,” I said, a little louder than necessary, hoping to sound nonchalant. “You should go back and hang out with your mom.”
Before he could respond, Josephine’s voice floated in from the living room. “No, no, you two go be together. I’m going to bed! And don’t worry about me. I’ve got earplugs and a white noise machine.”
My face heated, and I could feel the blush creeping across my cheeks.If only she knew this was all fake.
Topher gave a slight shrug, as if to say, ‘Well, guess we have no choice.’I forced a smile, my heart racing, and nodded as we headed into the bedroom.
An awkward silence hung between us. I busied myself with straightening the pillows. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Topher watching me.
His eyes lit up, as if he’d just remembered something important. “I looked up a program you might be interested in. Tulane has a social work degree. It’s impressive, and with a fellowship, you wouldn’t have to worry about the tuition because it would be completely covered.”
His words caught me off guard. Topher had been thinking about my future when I hadn’t even allowed myself to imagine what might come next.
