I’m not calling, I’m texting. And you insisted you weren’t a boy.
That I did. Coffee sounds great, but have you eaten?
I did but it was hours ago.
I’m starving, so if you’re up for it, want to grab a quick bite? I know of a great spot not too far from campus if you’re still there.
I’m still here, but maybe we should do this another time. Honestly, nothing around campus that’s open this late is in my budget.
I’m not going to do this over text. My thumb hovers over the call icon for a moment before I press it.
She picks up on the first ring, hesitantly answering, “Hello?”
“I never asked if it was in your budget, Olivia. I asked if you’re on campus,” I remind her. “And I’m the one who asked you to have dinner with me, not the other way around. My treat.”
“Do you like to treat all of your friends to dinner?”
“No, just the ones I want to be more than friends with. Send me your location and I’ll walk with you.”
“Oh.” The single word comes out as a whisper, then she clears her throat. “Why don’t you get dinner first and then meet me later for coffee?”
“Because I’d like more time with you than just a cup of coffee.”
“Like… a date?”
“Yeah,” I chuckle, unable to wipe the smile from my face. “Damn, I really am terrible at flirting with you.”
“You… want to go on a date with me?”
My brows pinch. “I don’t think I understand the question. Why wouldn’t I?”
“Sorry, my brain must be short circuiting.”
“Tacos sound amazing, but if you’d really rather have coffee, there’s a café that’s still open for another hour.” Lance gestures with his fingers walking—a reminder she’s alone. “I’ll come to you, then we can head over together. There’s no reason to be walking by yourself at night.”
“Do you walk alone at night?”
“No.” I hate lying to her, but the thought of her trekking across campus by herself has me on edge.
“Okay, you win,” Olivia chuckles and sends me her location pin. “Here.”
“Perfect. I’ll see you in a few.” We hang up and I toss twenty dollars on the bar.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ve gotta see about a girl.” I wink and clap him on the back.
“She said yes? You’re really going on a date after all this time?”
“I can’t believe it either.”
He raises his drink. “Have fun!”
I sprint out of the bar and set my phone GPS to track her location. After following the walking directions for about ten minutes, I find Olivia sitting on the steps that lead to the entrance of a building. The campus is fairly safe, but seeing her alone with minimal path lighting makes my jaw tighten.
As I approach, she tucks her phone away in her bag, and I can’t help admiring how fucking gorgeous she is. It’s always like this, nearly starstruck at the sight of her. After years of admiring Olivia from afar, it never gets old. I love how she never wears a lot of makeup—a natural beauty and doesn’t need it. There’s a little coffee stain on her shirt, probably from when she ran into the shop door this morning. It only makes her feel more real.
Closing the short distance between us, she smiles but insists, “You really didn’t need to meet me here.”
