Page 21 of From Now On

“Can’t,” I answer around a mouthful of muffin. “I have class. That’s why I’m still on campus.”

“Oh. I thought you just didn’t want to ride in the Lovemobile.”

I snort at his apt description of Hart’s car, then swallow another bite. “That factored,” I admit.

“Have to say, I figured you’d get a girlfriendwaybefore Hart or Phillips.”

“Yeah, well…” I take another bite of my second breakfast.

“Don’t look bummed about it, man. Monogamy is totally overrated.”

I keep chewing, hoping Robby will move on to another topic unrelated to my single status. Thankfully, he does.

“Did you see the email about the dinner?”

I shake my head. I was busy packing all morning. “What dinner?”

“The school’s throwing it to celebrate the championship. Coach Keller sent an email to the team this morning. Sounds like it’ll be lame—no open bar or anything—but?—”

“Two black coffees,” the barista calls out.

I catch a glimpse of the clock as I grab my cup. “Shit. I’ve gotta run, Sampson. Have a good break, ’kay?”

“Yeah, you too, Morgan,” he calls after me cheerfully.

I make it across campus in record time, thanks to the wide-open walkways. I only pass five people in total before reaching the three steps that lead into the brick building housing Holt’s political science department.

The door is swinging shut when I reach it. I yank it back open, planning to hustle down the hallway, and then slow when I spot who’s entered just ahead of me.

Shit.

“Hi, Hunter,” Holly greets as I screech to a stop to avoid barreling into her.

“Hey, Holly,” I say carefully.

She wasn’t in class on Wednesday, so this is the first time we’ve interacted since she left my car under…tense circumstances.

I wasniceabout not wanting to come in, to be clear. But maybe I misread some signals, or didn’t know the right ones to look for. And rejection—even polite rejection—sucks.

“Figured you’d be gone for break,” she comments as I fall into step beside her.

I clear my throat. “Yeah…leaving right after this. You?”

“Same. I’m flying to Cancun with some of my sorority sisters. I’d skip today, but I already missed Wednesday to go shopping in Seattle, so…”

It’s occurring to me we didn’t discuss our spring break plans during our date last weekend. I’m not sure how it didn’t come up during one of the awkward pauses, but it didn’t.

“That’ll be fun,” I say.

“Yeah,” Holly agrees. “Are you headed home?”

Another awkward pause follows the question, like Holly just realized she has no idea where I’m from. That she never asked.

“No. California. Aidan rented a place.”

“Oh. Cool.”

We’ve reached the doorway of the lecture hall. Most seats are full. Professor Hayden only allows one unexcused absence a semester—which explains why Holly is here. He also uses and allows limited technology during his classes. There aren’t any slides to look up online. If you miss a lecture, you have to get notes—handwritten notes—from a classmate. Laptops are only allowed for students with learning differences. That enforces the attendance policy pretty well.

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