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A smirk tugs at his lips, and suddenly my heart is beating way too fast.

“Nice to meet you, Eleonora.” His voice wraps around my name like he likes the taste of it. “I’m looking for the Dean’s office. Mind showing me where it is?”

I blink.

The giant plaque that says DEAN'S OFFICE is literally right behind me.

Seriously?

“Of course she can,” Chiara answers before I can speak, pushing me forward.

I stumble slightly and end up standing way too close to him.

And wow.

He smells so good that for a second my brain completely stops functioning.

“Okay,” I mumble, turning quickly toward the office.

Damiano falls into step beside me effortlessly.

“So, Eleonora…” His voice curls around my name again. “You a senior?”

I shake my head. “My sister is. I’m a junior.”

I shrug awkwardly.

He must be interested in Chiara.

“Good,” he says casually. “Then we’ll probably have some classes together.”

I stop walking and look up at him.

“You’re a junior too?”

His smile widens.

“I am.”

“Where’s your accent from?”

“You noticed, huh?” He laughs softly. “Wyoming, I guess. Though my parents moved to the U.S. from Italy when I was eight, so maybe there’s still some Italian in there too.”

“No way.” A smile slips out before I can stop it. “My parents moved here from Italy when I was eleven.”

His expression softens with interest.

“Where from?”

“Calabria. You?”

“Sicily.”

He takes a small step closer to me.

Close enough that my pulse stumbles.

“I was angry when my parents moved here,” he admits quietly.