Page 38 of Royally Rivalled

For five hours, we dug into statistical models to pass the time, ignoring the elephant in the room—passing the dataset back and forth and editing her surprisingly good methods section. I never imagined a first-year MSc student could write so well. Many of our second-year doctoral students would struggle to explain their methodology, but I didn't tell her that. I kept it simple, making edits and explaining what we could improve. She took my criticism constructively, handling the heat.

“I think we need to simplify our unit of analysis discussion,” I said.

I looked up to see herirresistiblybiting her lipas she typed. What was that about?

“What?” She looked up.

“The methods section. The unit of analysis discussion drags.”

“Briggs—”

“He’s shit with any words,” I said.

“Okay, Mr English major,” Astrid laughed.

“That’s Your Grace to you,” I joked.

She smiled again in that way that melted me before. It fucked with my head.

After typing for a couple of minutes, she spun her computer around. “How’s this?”

As I read, a notification from her messenger popped up. I tried not to read it, but it was apparent, and there was for all to see.

Pity you had to be gone this weekend. I was hoping for a rain check.

I looked at the sender.Jeremy!

I tried not to show disappointment, but it ran across my face. I hated that I cared. So what if she was fucking that guy and wanted him so badly? It’s not like we were about to jump into bed. She felt nothing for me, right? I had no chance.

“What? Is it that bad?”

“It’s not great,” I lied. I didn’t even read it. I just wanted to get as far away as I could. “Maybe take a break from it? We’ll get back to it.”

A look of despair befell her.

I turned Astrid’s computer around, feeling some guilt about my reaction. It wasn’therfault she attracted assholes whose sole purpose was to rack up notches on their bedposts. She owed me nothing. I proceeded in silence as no matter what I said to apologise, I’d only dig a deeper hole.

Arriving in Glasgow, we settled into the hotel. I was granted an expansive suite on the corner of the hallway near several of ourstudents—convenient for chaperone purposes but plenty private. Satisfied, I went downstairs to read and grab some dinner. Unfortunately, there was Astrid yet again. No matter where I went, she was never far off.

Luckily, we weren't alone. She was with two female students—one of whom flagged me over.

“Parker! Come hang with us!” Elizabeth said.

I had no out, but we'd have distractions. I relented, depositing myself.

“Only if it’s okay. I was going to sit at the bar.”

“No, no, sit,” Elizabeth said.

“It makes no sense,” Carrie, the other added.

“We don't bite, contrary to popular belief,” Astrid said. “Unless you think we do?”

I didn't. I ordered a simple dinner and shared some wine with them. Carrie and Elizabeth departed to drink elsewhere, leaving me alone with Astrid. I wasn’t sure what to say.

“They like you,” Astrid said.

“Who?”

---