Page 44 of Cruel Riches

She laughed. “Bullshit. He’s everyone’s type!” She nudged Laurel. “Even you think so, right?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Laurel asked, raising a brow.

“It means that you hate pretty much everyone on the planet,” Ruby said with a grin. “But even you can admit that Nate Lockwood is hot, right?”

Laurel rolled her eyes in a good-natured manner and smiled. “Yeah, I guess he’s pretty decent-looking.”

Ruby turned her attention back to me. “See? Everyone’s type.”

“Not mine,” I said stiffly. “I just want to see Harry.”

“Oh, he’s right there!” Ruby craned her neck, eyes focusing on a spot behind me. “Look!”

I turned to see Harry trudging up a path about twenty yards away, arms laden with books. He appeared to be heading toward the Montgomery lecture theater.

I waved a hand at him. “Harry!”

His head turned very slightly in my direction, but then his eyes snapped back to the front, and he kept walking.

My shoulders slumped. “That was weird.”

“I don’t think he saw you,” Ruby said, watching Harry disappear around a corner. “Also, it’s really loud at this café. He probably didn’t hear you calling out to him.”

“Hm. Maybe,” I murmured.

My phone vibrated a minute later. I frowned and looked down at the screen. “Speak of the devil. It’s him.”

Harry: Hey, were you just at the café near the library?

I tapped out a brief reply.

Me: Yes. I waved at you, but I thought you didn’t see me.

Harry: Shit. Sorry. I ran out of contacts, so I’ve been wearing my glasses for the last couple of days, and I hate wearing them outside in this weather because they always fog up (yes I know how nerdy that sounds…)

Anyway, I was heading to class and thought I heard someone call my name, but I looked over and all I could see were blurry shapes, and no one came up to me. So I figured I was just hearing things. But then I realized it might’ve been you, because I remembered you saying you love the coffee at that place.

Me: Yup, it was me, haha.

Harry: Sorry. I promise I wasn’t ignoring you! Feel like such a dick now.

I showed the messages to Laurel and Ruby.

“See?” Ruby said, holding up her hands in a triumphant ‘told you so’ gesture. “He didn’t see you, that’s all!”

“Yeah. This is why I usually don’t date, though,” I said with a frown. “Too much time spent wondering and worrying about guys when I should be focusing on other stuff.”

“Honestly, don’t worry about it so much,” Laurel said. “Men aren’t the whole point of your existence. You’re here to study and learn.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Ruby said with a giggle. Laurel playfully elbowed her. “Anyway,” Ruby went on, looking back at me. “You should ask Harry if he wants to hang out tonight. He won’t have any classes then, will he? So he has no reason to say no.”

“That’s true. And yes, Laurel, I’ll make sure to have all my class readings done by the time I go out,” I said, flashing her a teasing smile.

I sent Harry another message. Don’t feel bad, not your fault. I know you’re about to start a class, so you’re not free now, but how about later tonight? We could go into town and grab dinner somewhere?

His response came through instantly. I’d love to, but I’ll be on my way to Seattle.

Me: What for?

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