That’s where I’ve seen her.
She’s a nice person—kind and patient, but she doesn’t take people’s shit. I guess I’m no exception.
Normally, I would apologize, give a quick thank you, and be on my way. But for some reason, I kind of want to mess with her right now.
“Excuse me?” My brow lifts slightly, and my lips tug into the faint, downward curve of what I remember a smile to be.
“You’re welcome,” she repeats. “You know, for saving your ass with Stanley.” One hand moves to her hip, and she leans into it.
An amused breath escapes my nose. “You didn’t save—”
“I did.” She smirks, her head tilting, ponytailed bow falling along with it.
I roll my lips between my teeth to hide my smile. “Okay.”
“Okayyy.” She gestures an open hand toward me as if she’s waiting for more. I look down at her palm, then back to those striking blue eyes, tilting my head. A small tickle forms somewhere in my stomach. I don’t know why I feel the need to toy with her, but I keep following it.
“I feel like there’s something you want me to say here, but I’ve got nothing.”
“Thank you,” she says with a slight swing of her hand.
“You’re welcome?” My face twists, and my smirk deepens in feigned confusion.
“No.Yousay thank you to me.”
“Thank you to me.”
“Oh my gosh,” she scoffs. “What are you—twelve?”
“And a half.” I smirk with a quick lift of my brows.
She folds her arms across her chest and purses her lips to contain a smile. “You think you’re funny, huh?”
“Not usually,” I mutter through a breathy laugh.
She doesn’t say anything for a moment. She just smiles at me, her eyes becoming impossibly brighter, and I don’t know how, but I canfeelthem in my soul.
“What’s up with you and Stanley? You guys have a love affair gone wrong or something?”
“What?” Now, I actually laugh. “What kind of question is that?”
She shrugs. “I’m not judging you. It’s college. Lots of people like to explore their sexualities.”
“Witheighty-year-old professors?”
Her lips twist. “Should I note that you’re more put off by his age rather than him being a guy, or are we just gonna skate over that part?”
What? Did she just call me—
“It’s cool if you’re gay. You don’t have to be weird about it.”
My mouth slackens, and my mind fumbles. “I’m not… I don’t…”
“I’m kidding.” She laughs, nudging me in the chest. I let myself fall back a little. “I don’t think you had an affair with our eighty-year-old professor,” she sighs. “Unless—”
“Stop that,” I warn, and she giggles, the sound rich and warm to my ears. A chuckle erupts from deep in my chest—and that’s when it happens.
A tiny fire flickers inside me. It’s a flower budding and hitting that first kiss of sunlight. It’salmostsatisfying. Staring into the lightest eyes I’ve ever seen, excitement buzzes through me.
