Page 23 of The Comeback

I hit send before I have a chance to think it through too much and stare at it until the dots appear and disappear a few times.

Fab: Are u drunk? Wrong #

A bark of a laugh spills out.

Me: Completely and unfortunately sober and its the right number

Fab: Well there’s no Elsa here. Too many concussions?

Me: I’m looking for an ice princess with the voice of an angel. You wouldn’t be hiding 1 there would u?

Fab: What? Are you calling me frigid or something?

Me: U said it not me. I was just thinking of how gorgeous you looked with all the skating and singing. Ya know

My palms get sweaty when she doesn’t reply right away. Shit, did I just screw everything up? I shouldn’t have said that. It’s true, but I don’t think she’s ready to hear it.

Fab: Mmmkay

That was clearly a bad decision. How do I turn this around? Reverse. Reverse.

Me: Can we meet up to work on that music assignment 2nite?

Jackson’s weird look stills the hand I’ve got ripping through my wet hair. I switch to drumming my fingers on my thigh while I wait another interminable length of time.

Fab: Can’t 2nite

Damn. I scared her off with that gorgeous comment. I’m about to shoot back a reply to apologize and attempt an explanation when those dots appear again.

Fab: Tomorrow?

I run my schedule through my head. Tomorrow is a morning practice day, so I can meet up with her after school.

Me: I can do that. Class until 4.

Fab: Can we do 5 then? Library?

I send a thumbs up emoji in reply.

Fab: See u then

At least that’s settled. Everything else…well I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

Chapter 17

Abby

Mynervesarebuzzingon the way to the library after class. I clutch my fall jacket around my shoulders. I’m not that eager to give up on it and surrender to the bulk of my winter one, but the late September wind has turned harsh. One day. One day, I’ll move to LA and never have to deal with this nonsense again. That idea is both terrifying and enticing.

All too soon I’m climbing the graceful stairway that leads up to the McLaughlin building that houses the stately library. The old building is one of my favorite places to study on campus. I spend a lot of my time in the lecture halls and intimate practice rooms of the performing arts section of campus. But I’m still a nerd at heart and appreciate the sweeping stacks of books waiting to be read.

“Wait up.” A voice I’d recognize across a room at a packed concert breaks through my thoughts. I pause, swinging my head around to catch sight of Sebastian taking the stairs three at a time. His muscular thighs strain the poor fabric of his jeans. Athletic prowess is apparent in every move he makes. Even in high school, he was leagues above most of the guys our age, but now. Now, he’s grown into his body, packed on more muscle, and he handles it with a fluid ease that has me wondering what else he can do with it. Nope, not going there. At least he can blame the rush of heat that flushes my cheeks on the frosty air rather than the unwelcome lust that rose at the sight of him.

He pulls the massive door open and waves me ahead of him. Always the gentleman.

I duck my head as I slide past, staying as far away as I can.

“Good afternoon,” the girl behind the desk calls out as we walk by. I give her a smile and a nod.

---