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“Sometimes, something has to give,” he said, then picked up his cup, turning his head to the window.

His words somehow stuck with me, adding to my tension.

I shook my head to dispel the uneasiness that seemed to be constant right now, and I rang the bell and waited.

One of Maddy’s roommates opened the door, a pen stuck behind her ear and holding a book.

I raised my hand with a wave. “Hi, Jill.”

She blinked. “Matthew?”

“In the flesh.”

“Does Maddy know you’re here?”

“Well, hopefully she will in a minute. Unless she isn’t here?”

“She’s not.”

Disappointment hit me. “Oh.”

“She’s at the library. It’s by the school.”

“Great. Thanks.”

“You want me to take those?” she asked, indicating the small bouquet of flowers I had picked up for Maddy.

“No, I’ll give them to her myself.”

I turned and hurried away, knowing exactly where the library was. I had spent time with Maddy on FaceTime as she walked there several times. I knew the building. It was mostly empty as I went inside, and I walked toward the space she’d shown me so often, hoping I would find her there.

I rounded the corner and stopped. She was at a table, books spread out before her. She had her laptop open and a pad of paper covered in notes in front of her. Other notebooks were within reach. She chewed the end of a pen as she read the words on a page, her brow furrowed. A bottle of water was at her elbow, a covered cup next to it. A container that probably held snacks was open, and as I drew close, I could see various dried fruit and nuts inside.

She looked tired. Exhausted. She had shadows under her eyes, and her hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail. She’d lost weight. My worry became concern, and I studied her for a moment, checking for other signs that what I was seeing was more than exhaustion and stress.

I sat down a couple of seats away, and she didn’t even look up, she was concentrating so hard. I waited for her to notice me, but she never even glanced my way. I set the flowers on the wooden top and slid them toward her but got no reaction. I pushed them closer, and they hit her water bottle, causing it to waver. She frowned and put a hand out to steady it, her eyes finding the flowers. She glanced in my direction, puzzlement on her face that changed to shock when she realized who was next to her.

“Hey,” I said quietly.

She blinked. “Matthew?”

“That’s me.”

She turned slightly. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

She looked baffled. “Why?”

It was my turn to blink. Our reunion wasn’t going the way I had hoped. I had expected surprise, but along with it a smile and some kisses. Pleasure at seeing me. Not confusion.

“I missed you.” I paused. “I thought perhaps you had been missing me too.”

She stood. “Oh my God, of course I have.” She opened her arms. “I’m just so surprised!”

I embraced her, holding her close. She had lost more weight than I had realized. I could feel her ribs and the delicate line of her spine under my fingers. I pulled back and pressed my mouth to hers, keeping it chaste since I didn’t want her thrown out of the library.

“Hi,” I murmured.