Page 28 of The Perfect Love

“It has to be a daytime date. But no hiking or secluded picnics.” I pause and bite my lip. I’m not ready to tell him abouteverythingyet. How can I make that more innocuous? “I’m, uh, not much of a nature girl.”

He gives me a funny look. “Okay. I can work with that. How about Saturday? We’ll have a day date. But you better clear your whole day. We’re starting with brunch.”

I cock a brow. When he wants something, he really goes for it. But what fun would it be if I just agreed to it?

“I’ll be free for the day, but we’ll see how brunch goes before I decide if I want more.”

That bright smile turns into a smoldering smirk.

“Perfect. So, can I get your number this time?”

I hold out my hand for his phone and our fingers brush as he gives it to me. That same electric jolt from last night hits me. I’m probably giving him emotional whiplash at this point.

I type in my name into the contact info and add a roller coaster emoji at the end, since that’s what he can expect from me.

The second the phone is back in his hand, he types something out, then my phone goes off.

With my eyes locked on him, I pull it out of my bag.

Unknown number: Hi.

He shrugs. “Had to make sure you didn’t give me a fake number. That mightreallybruise my ego.”

With those words and his adorable cheeky grin, he has me smiling and feeling upbeat again.

“I have to get to class soon, but where are you headed?”

“The humanities building.”

“Can I walk you there?”

My breath catches. When was the last time a guy offered to walk me to class? Junior year of high school? He’s so endearing it doesn’t seem real. And that’s when I have to shove away the thoughts in the back of my mind that he’s messing with me or going to hurt me. My gut says to trust him, and that’s what I’m going with.

“I’d love that. Thanks.”

Then he does the last thing I’m expecting and pulls my books from my arms, carrying them for me. He’s carrying my books. Last night I told him my heart felt like it was beating out of my chest. Now it feels like it’s going to burst from how sweet he is.

We walk toward the humanities building, which isn’t too far, and my mind replays that entire interaction as well as reminding me how I behaved last night.

Trevor must notice the slight shift in my demeanor, because his gaze burns into me.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

I meet his almost black eyes and hold his gaze for a second.

“Yeah. I’m just… surprised.”

“By what?”

“You.” I shake my head. “A lot of things. And…”

“Yeah?”

“You didn’t ask me why.”

“Why what?”

“Why I ran off the way I did last night.”

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