“At what?”
“At him.” Nick nods at the new guy. “I didn’t even notice the dude until I saw you making heart eyes. Try some subtlety for once.”
“Why are you blamingme? He looks like he rolled out of bed and straight into an L.L. Bean catalog.”
“And that’s supposed to be appealing?”
“Yes, it is.” I sigh, admiring the way the new guy’s body twitches as he scribbles in his notebook. When he pats down his short brown hair, his back flexes, and I have to look away.
Nick flicks my forehead. “Dude, you need to get laid, like, yesterday. Unless you’re still too much of a softie to hook up.”
Rolling my eyes, I knock him on the head and force my grimace into a smile. “Hookups are overrated, man. You might understand if you weren’t so picky.”
Nick snorts, and the lecture gets started. I dragged my ass all the way here, so I might as well try to pay attention. I steal a few peeks at the new guy here and there—yeah, Nick isn’t the only one who’s shameless.
Maybe I’ll call him Mr. Flannel since I don’t know his name, and his shirt is what catches my eye every time I glance in his direction.
Mr. Flannel is very straight-looking. I know that’s not athing, but jumping to that conclusion will make it easier to avoid a stupid crush. It’s a tactic that dates to high school—one that kept me out of trouble back then, and one that keeps me focused on this hour-long lecture today.
After Dr. Kumar wraps up with an overview of the groupproject, I stand up and head for the exit, but Nick grabs my shoulder to stop me.
“Hey, why don’t you talk to the new guy?” he asks. “You might stop staring at him if you get to know him as a person.”
I blink at him a couple of times. “Nah. I’m not trying to get all flustered this early in the day.”
Nick jabs my shoulder. “Hey, I think I’ll put you out of your misery and go introduce us.”
“Dude, don’t do that to me.”
“Watch me.”
Oh, come on.
Nick doesn’t say anything else, and I can only follow him for the short, awkward walk to the front.
“Hey, what’s up, man!” Nick waves, and Mr. Flannel jerks his head up, shoving his phone into his pocket. “I’m Nick. Are you new here?”
“Hi, yeah. I’m Callum.” His face tenses as his blue eyes flick between us with some kind of guarded caution.
Okay. Yeah. I need to introduce myself and do something other than stare at?—
Sheesh. Callum’s eyes are so blue. I didn’t even know that color existed in nature.
Nope. Gotta stay focused.
“And hi, I’m Ian. Nice to meet you.” I stick my hand out like the business major I’m not, and Callum gives me a shake that’s firm yet warm.
How is it possible for someone’s hands to feel rugged and soft?
“So, uh, how are you new here?” I ask, both because I’m curious, and also to make it known that I do indeed have a voice. Even if said voice conjures up the strangest phrasing my poor, scattered brain can think of.
“I transferred in from a community college in Wisconsin.”
“Nice, nice.” I fall silent, and Nick elbows me.
Yeah, no. I don’t want to know what he’s up to.
“Welcome to WMU, man,” Nick says. “Now that we’ve gotyou here, do you want to join us for that group project? Ian and I are down a guy.”
