Page 102 of You've Got Male

Moira cupped her chin. “He isn’t Mateo.”

“I know. But I’m still me and I’m a control freak.”

“That’s another thing about love,” Moira said. “You can’t control it. It just happens.”

“My whole life has been a series of ‘just happeneds’.”

“Honey, the best things in life come from love, but people try to control it to avoid a broken heart. A broken heart just leaves room for more love.”

Was that what she was doing? Using Mateo as an excuse to avoid future heartache? But who’s to say that heartache was the end result? Plus, her heart hurt even thinking about ending things with Jonah.

“Then why are you dating all of these incompatible men?” Evie asked.

Moira sighed. “I’m not looking for love.”

“Mom, you have more capacity for love than anyone I know. Maybe it’s time you let someone love you back.”

“How did you get so smart?” Lenard asked.

Evie smiled. “I have these really amazing parents.”

…

Anxiety set in with every passing moment. Every time a new student took a seat her heart thumped. Three people hadmistaken her for the professor and, while she was dressed to impress, the others were dressed like they’d just rolled out of bed.

Then the professor walked in and—Wait, was he old enough to be a professor?

Evie had a good decade on him. Great, she was going to be judged by a guy who looked like a gamer and didn’t know a world without the internet.

None of that matters!she reminded herself, pulling her shoulders back.

What mattered was she was taking that leap toward reaching her goals. And she’d leaped—in more ways than one. It was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. So what if she was older than everyone? Her life experience would give her an advantage. She’d been preparing for this day since she was forced to drop out of school sixteen years ago.

This washertime.Herchance to put herself first and accomplish her dreams.

It started with a test—which she could ace with her eyes closed. A test that would open the doors to a future she chose—instead of one that chose her. Not that she’d regretted a single decision over the past sixteen years, but she’d missed being a priority in her own life. And today was the first day in this new chapter—a chapter that was all hers. A chapter she never would have had the confidence to start if it hadn’t been for Jonah’s encouragement and support.

Jonah. Another thing in her life that was as terrifying as it was exhilarating because she was pretty sure she was, for the first time in her life, in love.

“Please take a test and Scantron and pass the rest back,” the professor said, walking toward each row and handing Evie a package—because of course she was in the front. Gold-star, serious students sat in the front and she was serious as hellabout getting off on the right foot.

Evie took one and handed the rest to the kid behind her who—

Are you freaking kidding me?

“Dexter?”

“Hey, Mrs. G,” he said, like she was the team parent who brought the orange slices to the game. “What are you doing here?”

“Taking the placement exam. Same as you.”

“Cool.” Dexter looked around, then lowered his voice. “It’s an invite only, but this frat I’m rushing is having a day-ger.”

“A day-ger?”

“Yeah, like a rager, but during the day. Anyway, you should come. Just tell them Dex sent you.”

“Um, thanks.”

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