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“Yeah.”

“Richard always knew how to get a woman’s attention.”

“What does that mean?”

“Just saying, Richard has quite a reputation with the ladies.”

Something about hearing Jerry say that made me second guess ever thinking of calling him.

When Professor Bennett finally dismissed us, I took longer than necessary putting my notebook away. By the time I stepped into the hallway, Richard was already walking toward me.

“Hello, Samantha.”

I looked at the flowers, then back at him.

“Hi, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.”

He held the bouquet toward me.

“I was beginning to think you had no intention of using the number I gave you.”

I accepted the flowers. “I wasn’t sure you actually expected me to call.”

“I wouldn’t have given it to you if I didn’t.”

I smiled despite myself. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”

Jerry stepped out beside me. Richard looked over, and his smile widened with genuine recognition.

“Jerry Collins. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

Jerry laughed and pulled him into a brief hug before they shook hands.

“You disappear after graduation and then randomly show up outside my class. I was starting to think you’d forgotten the rest of us existed.”

“Some of you are easier to forget than others.”

“You haven’t changed a bit.” Jerry laughed. “Still a fucking asshole.”

“And you are still talking too much.”

I looked between them. “You two know each other?”

Jerry turned toward me. “Know each other? I spent half my freshman year trying to keep up with this bastard.”

Richard laughed. “That’s because you couldn’t handle your liquor.”

The ease between them surprised me. They had history.

Jerry looked at the flowers in my hands and then at Richard. “I’ve been trying to convince Samantha to let me take her out for months. Guess my mistake was not arriving with flowers.”

Richard laughed, but his eyes remained on Jerry. “You’ve been asking her out?”

“Occasionally.”

“Constantly,” I corrected.

Jerry smiled at me. “I believe in consistency.”