“That’s irrelevant,” I retort , crossing my arms.
Maria’s mouth parts. “You admitted you like him!”
“I did not.”
“Um, you absolutely did.”
She gives me a tender look. “It’s okay to like him.”
“It’s not and you know it!”
Maria lets out a breath she must have been holding since the dawn of time. “Have you considered asking if he’s friends with Ryan? Rich families like his are bound to socialize. It doesn’t have to mean they’re friends.”
Yes, I’ve thought about it. Not the asking part—the what-if-I’m-wrong part.
I’m not wrong, though.
“I just saw them the other day,” I remind her. “They went for coffee. That means I’m right.”
I take my break outside, breathing the stifling hot afternoon air. I lean against the warm wall, letting myself sag. My shoulders drop when I admit the truth. I have a huge, desperate crush on Caspian and it’s not going anywhere.
CHAPTER 26 – CASPIAN
I place a box of dark romances on the bookshop counter and clear my throat. Ann-Sabrina startles and hastily sets aside her book. It’s calledKlaus Is Comingand the cover shows a smoldering vampire whose pants are purely ornamental.
I give her an amused look. “I Saw Mommy Kissing Vampire Klaus.”
“Shut up.”
“This was the last box. You need anything else?” The hopefulness in my tone makes me cringe, but I don’t want to go home yet.
“A sex life would be great,” she sighs. Then she grins. “Don’t worry. I knowyou can’t help me with that.”
“I’m living like a monk these days anyway,” I mutter, my thoughts onceagain returning to Antonio. My current situation is so far from what I usuallydo with my free time that I wouldn’t be surprised if the staff at Gaywood were already organizing a search party.
“Have you thought about going back?” Ann-Sabrina asks.
She knows about Antonio. She’s full of ideas—none of which are doable. I’m not, for example, going to wear a mask, kidnap Antonio, and make him fall in love with me in a secluded cottage.
“You mean have I thought about going back and humiliating myself for the fourth time?” My shoulders slump. “All the time.”
“Oh, let’s go together! I can do the whole fake-orgasm thing à la Meg Ryan and tell Antonio I came just from looking at you.”
“I have no idea what you just said, but I know I don’t want it.”
“It’s fromWhen Harry Met Sally.The iconic moment at the diner whenSally teaches Harry a lesson?”
“Haven’t seen it.”
“It’s an ancient movie, but still funny. Listen to this.” Ann-Sabrina starts moaning like she’s in terrible pain. I look at her in alarm as the noises become louder and louder.
“Well? Did I convince you?” she asks breathlessly when she finally stops.
“Yes. You convinced me of the necessity of avoiding you in public.”
Someone clears their throat behind us. To Ann-Sabrina’s credit, she doesn’t even flinch. She just straightens the Fae crown she often wears in the store, takes a sip of water, and turns toward the door.
I recognize the customer immediately. He’s Rowan Harlington, the new literature professor whose reputation has half the campus breathing into apaper bag. He’s wearing a crisp blue shirt, sleeves rolled up enough to suggest his hands do more than grade papers.
