Page 12 of Ink & Stardust

Once inside the building, I take off running down the hall, hoping I can get there before the class actually starts, knowing a lot of professors don’t start right away. I’m so focused on getting there that I don’t even see the wall of a man who rounds the corner the same time as I do until I damn near run smack dab into his chest.

“Crap, sorry.” I sidestep, narrowly avoiding a collision as I glance up.

Every ounce of color drains from my face when I realize the wall of a man I nearly bulldozed into is none other than Kai Elliot.

His eyes flare with recognition and an irrational bubble of excitement balloons in my chest.

I’ve seen him so many times in my dreams I swore I’d memorized his face by now, but I hadn’t. He’s so much better looking up close. The scuff of hair along his jaw. The intensity of his eyes. The silkiness of his hair—it all seems so much more intoxicating from this vantage point.

“Careful, Converse.” His face dips so that it’s damn near level with mine and my heart spikes at his nearness. “I’m liable to break a fragile little thing like you,” he rasps, his blue eyes holding mine for a long beat before he once again rises to full height.

I open my mouth to respond but end up closing it, not sure I could form actual words if I tried. I can’t explain my body’s reaction to this man. Like we’re two opposite sides of a magnet, I feel this undeniable pull.

Break me, I desperately want to say, though I doubt he means it the way I want him to. Honestly, the way he says it is more of an insult than anything. I should be offended. And maybe I am but I can’t quite grasp the emotion at the moment.

“You ready, Kai?” A pretty blonde slips under his arm, snapping me back to reality.

“Yeah.” He holds my gaze for another second before looking away. “Let’s get out of here.”

The pair sidestep me without so much as a backward glance, and I’m left standing in the middle of the hallway like an idiot, trying to process what the hell just happened, all the while trying to choke down the green vial of jealousy that threatens to bubble over.

Remembering that I’m running late, I do my best to shake off the interaction. I just wish like hell I could say I’m able to. I don’t know what it is about this man...

I’ve been in his presence all of two freaking times and both times I’ve felt like a blubbering fool who can’t string two words together.

And don’t think I missed what he called me...Converse.

It shouldn’t excite me that he’s given me a nickname, so please, for the love of God, tell me why it makes me feel like I’m about to jump out of my own skin with elation?

Chapter Three

“Wait... So you’re actually willing to go to a party. Like me and Char don’t have to beg you to go?” Maisie stares down at me from where she’s perched on her bunk, her laptop open next to her.

“It’s becauseOweninvited her,” Char chimes in melodically.

“Did he, now?” Maisie grins.

“It’s not a big deal,” I tell her flatly. “It’s not like he asked me on a date. He just asked me if I was going and said if I was that we should meet up.” I shrug like it’s no big deal.

It’s been less than a week since I met Owen, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little smitten. I know I said I wasn’t interested in dating anyone right now, but believe me when I say, he’s a hard person to resist. He’s so sweet and charming and funny. God, he’s so funny.

On more than one occasion, he’s had me staring at my phone laughing like a lunatic, usually in front of other people, who look at me like maybe I’ve gone mad.

It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this kind of giddy excitement and I have to admit, I’ve missed it. After everything Leo put me through, it feels good to just let loose a little and not overthink things the way I usually do.

I don’t expect anything from Owen. Hell, I’m not even sure I want anything from him. But that’s not going to stop me from finding out if maybe there could be something there.

Besides, it gives me something better to focus on than a certain blue-eyed hottie who has continued to invade mythoughts... and my dreams. Only now, the dreams have shifted to something a lot more... Well, I’m sure you can use your imagination.

Hell, the other night, I was so close to climaxing that I woke up abruptly, not entirely sure that I hadn’t. Then, of course, I became insanely paranoid that maybe I was making certainnoisesin my sleep and that Maisie or Charlotte may have heard me. But if they have, no one has said anything up to this point, so I choose to believe they have not. Because Lord help me, if they did, I’d probably die of mortification.

I don’t know if it’shimspecifically that’s driving this uncharacteristic need in me, or if it’s simply my body telling me something my mind has not been willing to accept for some time.

“It’s not a big deal, she says,” Maisie mocks, pulling me back to the present. “Look at that smile.” She turns to Char. “Does that look like something that’s not a big deal to you?”

“I know what you mean, Maisie.” Char nods. “I think our girl might actually like this guy.” She giggles.

“Oh, she most definitely likes him. Have you seen the way she smiles when he texts her?”

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