Page 31 of The Charlie Method

“Why are you staring at me?” I ask him.

“Sorry, I was trying to figure out if that’s a beauty mark or a poppy seed over your lip. I didn’t want to be all,hey, you have a poppy seed on your faceand then it turns out to be a beauty mark. I didn’t want to embarrass you.”

“It’s a mole.”

“See? Well, now I’m glad I didn’t say anything.”

I snicker. People are still filing in, but I’ve yet to spot our former lab partners.

“Do you know what that’s about?” I ask, gesturing to my old table, which sits empty.

Will grins. “George didn’t fill you in?”

“I’ve never spoken a single word to George outside this lab. Why? You talk to Lourdes?”

“You’re so lucky. Lourdes made us exchange numbers on the first day, and she texts me at least once a week begging me to do her homework for her. She sent me a whole update last night. Basically, they can’t bear to be apart, and it’s affecting their work. They wrote a letter to the department head insisting that’s the reason they’re doing so poorly in this lab, and if they were partners, they’d be able to pass every assignment with flying colors, fueled by their love.”

I can’t help but laugh. “You’re lying.”

“Nope. She sent me a copy of the letter.”

“Oh my God. Text it to menow.”

He grins at me. “If you wanted my number, all you had to do was ask. Didn’t need an excuse.”

“That wasn’t an excuse. I really want to read this letter.”

“Trust me, youneedto. It’s the most melodramatic nonsense I’ve ever read. Beautifully written, though. Which I guess isn’t surprising since Lourdes is a writer.”

“She is?”

“Sort of?” His lips twitch with humor. “She writes historical romance fan fiction. Or maybe it’s a historical adventure? I proofed one of them for her. It’s about Queen Elizabeth—the virgin—getting deflowered by Alexander the Great.”

“I’m no history whiz or anything, but didn’t those two live, like, two millennia apart?”

“Yup.”

“Okay then. I guess time knows no bounds in love and fanfic. Anyway, it’s probably a good idea to exchange numbers regardless. You’re my lab partner now.”

“Yet you didn’t do that with George…”

“He seemed like the kind of person who would abuse the privilege.”

“Oh, one hundred percent.”

“And you seem like the kind of guy who won’t do that.” I pause. “Despite being a jock.”

“Despite? What, you think jocks are more likely to abuse phone privileges?”

In my experience, absolutely. Some of the ones I’ve been withstillsend me lewd messages in the middle of the night hoping for a repeat. But Will seems like a normal, noncreepy guy, so I’m willing to take the chance.

When our former lab partners finally walk in, hand in hand, George catches me looking at him and stops at the table.

With a dramatic sigh, he rakes his hand through his frizzy brown hair. “I guess you heard.”

Somehow, I manage to mask my amusement. “I did.”

“It’s better this way, Charlotte. You’ll see.” He pats my shoulder and continues to our old station, sitting next to Lourdes.

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