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“Hi.” He smiles, his eyes glimmering. “How long have you been here?”
“Long enough to see you score twice.” I lift my chin toward the net. “Diego doesn’t look happy.”
“Maybe he’s having an off day.”
“Or maybe you’re just so much better.” I give him a bright smile. “He reached out to me. Told me he felt awful for what he said to you. I told him I wasn’t the one he needed to apologize to.”
His return smile falls. “I don’t need his apologies.”
“Okay.” I bite my bottom lip. “I saw you at the dining hall today.”
“Really?” His eyebrows hit his hairline. “Why didn’t you say hi?”
“You looked busy.”
“I was with my teammates.”
A whistle sounds, and he darts a look over his shoulder.
“I didn’t want to interrupt.” I shrug. “We’ve always run in different circles. I don’t see that changing now.”
“Thompson, get over here!” a deep voice bellows.
“Sorry, I need to go.” He steps back and then swings his gaze back to me. “You’ve always belonged in my circle.” He winks. “Don’t be a stranger.”
I stay for a few more minutes, my eyes never leaving his form, the butterflies in my stomach fluttering wildly. When I finally leave, the smile that plays on my lips makes my cheeks hurt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
happy halloween
MICHAEL
Nineteen years old
I think I’ve been inside the campus library twice. That’s sad, I guess, but I’ve never had the urge. If my grandma knew, she’d give me a lecture, I’m sure. She’s a librarian on a college campus in Michigan, and, all my life, she’s gushed about the place and her work. Then, there’s Mom and her obsession with books. She created a PR company and works with authors, helping them achieve their goals, and five years ago, she became a literary agent. I’ve never seen her happier than when one of her authors gets a deal with a traditional publisher and makes the bestseller lists.
I may not share her passion, but she’s inspiring as hell.
Women like Mom hold all the power in the world, no matter what most men think. My dad taught me that, and I live by the statement. It’s never failed me.
As I stroll past bookshelves, people look up from the tables where they’re working or reading, but I don’t pay them any attention. I’m here to find Isla. Nothing else matters. Finally, I clock her near the window. She’s sitting with her roommate, several books lying open on the desk between them as they type on their laptops. Her hair is pulled up in a messy bun, leaving her face and neck exposed. Focus trained on her screen, she chews on her bottom lip. Her brows tense and relax every so often as she types. She’s in a pastel blue tee, the light color delicious against her skin.
Her roommate elbows her, and she yanks her hands away from the keyboard.
Only then do I even bother to look at the blue-haired girl. She stares at me with one eyebrow arched, a calculating smile tipping her lips.
With a sigh, I take a few steps and stop at their table.
“Hey,” I say quietly. “Ash said you’d be here.”
“Hi. Tell Ash I’ll stop talking to him if he can’t keep things to himself.” Her tone has no bite to it, and her lips twitch, her cheeks pinking as she tries to scold me. “This is Blake, my roommate. Not sure you two have actually met before.”
I lock eyes with Blake and dip my chin “Hi. It’s nice to officially meet you.”
“You too.” Grinning, she snaps her laptop shut and stands. “I’m hungry. Think I’ll go get a snack. Do you want anything, Isla?”
Based on the way she widens her eyes at Blake, all she wants is for her roommate to sit her ass back down and not leave us alone. “Um, no, thanks. Come back here ASAP. If you don’t, I won’t share my notes.”
