Page 27 of For Emery

“False,” she said, almost beaming at my lack of knowledge. “According to John Baldwin, if given the choice, most women would opt for a smaller penis. They’re less likely to experience painful intercourse.”

I sat silently wondering how the hell I was getting outta there.

“I guess it’s a good thing you showed up today, given that you clearly didn’t learn a single thing in my course last semester.” She dropped the cards to her side and look curiously at me. “Why are you here, Mr. Grady?”

I hopped down from the table. “I was just looking for someone.” I made my way to the door and looked back at the rows of students. “Pay attention. Professor Reyes clearly knows what she’s talking about.” I locked eyes with Emery and winked. Then I glanced to Professor Reyes. “But I still think you should poll the girls about that size thing.”

Amused, Professor Reyes shook her head as I turned and stepped out into the hallway.

A few minutes passed before doors began opening and students filed into the hallway. Reyes’ was the last to release her class. Students stepped through the door and passed by me, leaned up against the opposite wall. The guys laughed when they spotted me. Many of the girls averted their gazes. The others…well, they looked me up and down appreciatively.

“Well, that was fun,” Emery said, stepping through the door and spotting me standing there.

“What?” My eyes drifted over her white T-shirt and long tan legs covered only by a torn-up pair of cutoffs. “That in there? That was Reyes showing how much she loves me.”

Emery rolled her eyes. “What are you really doing here?”

“Just stalking you.”

Her gaze lowered as she stifled a smile.

It took everything in me not to wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug. But her not running away from me this time helped me resist the urge. “Can’t blame a guy for missing his best friend.”

Every part of her body stilled as her eyes lifted to mine. It might’ve been the glare of the overhead fluorescent lights, but I could’ve sworn tears dampened her eyes.

“Let’s get out of here before Reyes spots you with me,” I said. “Wouldn’t want her to hold it against you.”

“I thought she loves you?”

“Love. Hate. Fine line.”

She snickered as we began walking down the hallway.

“Now, we can pretend I don’t already know you have an hour break between classes when I ask you to grab a coffee with me,” I said. “Or, you can make it difficult and make up some lame-ass excuse not to.”

“Why?”

“Because I think we’ve got some catching up to do. Don’t you?”

“What if I’m already meeting someone?” she challenged.

“Then you’ll cancel because you just ran into an old friend who wants to know what you’ve been up to.”

She pressed her lips together. I could almost see the indecision whirling through her brain.

I bent my neck and tried to meet her eyes. “Is that a yes?”

“Yes, you exhausting boy,” she huffed. “I’ll get coffee with you.”

“Let’s get something straight,” I said, pulling the strap of her messenger bag over her head so I could carry it like I did when we were younger. “There ain’t nothing boy about me. I’m one hundred percent pure Alabama man.”

“Ugh. I can see the cheesiness is still alive and well.”

I laughed as I turned in the direction of the campus coffee house and strolled toward it with Emery by my side. Her strides were longer than before. I didn’t need to slow down for her to keep up like when we were younger.

We walked in silence across campus, me racking my brain for something interesting to say, but coming up short. Four years had passed—a long time when they were such pivotal years in both our lives. There were so many questions I had for her, but was it better for us to start fresh or rehash our past in order for us to put it behind us?

I had no fucking clue.

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