Page 102 of From Now On

“Uh-huh. He’sobviouslymissed me at movie nights.”

Mary rolls her eyes. “Well,Iwant you there. We haven’t hung out since before break.”

“We’re hanging out right now,” I point out.

“We’re eating lunch. I’m talking about sneaking cheap wine into the theater and listening to the guys go on about film angles while we pretend to care about anything except the shirtless-guy scenes.”

My smile comes naturally this time. So does a twinge of nostalgia. “I’ll think about it.”

“Promise?”

“Promise,” I say, then take a bite of salad.

“Hey! I thought that was you.”

Rylan appears out of nowhere, stopping right beside our table and smiling at me.

“Hi!” I reply, standing to give her a quick hug. “How are you?”

I haven’t seen Rylan since we left California. Seeing her now is an unexpected reminder that spring break happened. As this week has gone by, that trip has felt further and further away.

“Good,” she answers cheerfully. “Just grabbing lunch.”

“Do you want to sit with us?” I offer.

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I have class in a few minutes. It’s at the worst time, but at least the professor lets students bring food. Hunter’s saving my spot in line. I just saw you and wanted to say hi.”

I glance toward the two cash registers. I recognize Hunter’s broad shoulders immediately. He’s turned, talking to the girl in line behind him.

My stomach lurches unpleasantly when I recognize Holly Johnson. Is she why he disappeared at Gaffney’s on Tuesday? The main reason I tagged along when Harlow said she was going to meet Conor at the local bar was because I thought Hunter would be there. And he was, allegedly, although I never saw him. For a guy who made a point of telling me he was single, he lost interest awfully fast.

“I didn’t realize you and Hunter had a class together.”

Rylan nods. “Some of my credits from BU didn’t transfer, so I’m having to retake a few courses outside of my major. I sort of avoided Hunter at first, when I realized he was on the hockey team, but you know how that ended. Thank God, because he’s the main reason I’m passing the class.” She smiles, then glances at Mary. “Hi! I’m Rylan.”

“Oh, sorry,” I say, belatedly realizing I never made introductions. “Mary, this is Rylan. Rylan, Mary.”

Mary smiles back at Rylan. “Nice to meet you. Are you talking aboutHunter Morgan?”

Something about the awed way Mary emphasizes Hunter’s name makes me want to scowl. I didn’t realize her interest in athletes extended beyond basketball players.

“Sure am,” Rylan replies. “Do you know him?”

Mary shakes her head. “No. He just…he lived on my floor freshman year. I’ve kinda had a crush on him ever since.”

“You have a boyfriend,” I remind Mary.

“I can still look,” she retorts.

“I thought you swore off athletes after Clayton Thomas.”

Rylan laughs. “Hunter’s nothing like the guys on the basketball team. Eve knows.”

Mary looks to me, eyebrows raised. As much as I like Rylan, I start to wish she’d never come over here.

Rylan glances toward the café. “I’ve gotta go. I’ll text you, Eve.” She smiles at Mary, then hurries back toward the cash registers.

I pick up my soda. “Did you see?—”

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