Page 27 of No One Else

Why is this attraction rearing its head now? I’ve always objectively known Evan was good looking, had a ripped body. Was kind and gentle and sweet. Was a good listener and funny and smart.

But those things didn’t mean anything to me before. I was with Carter. Even if I’d realized it, I wouldn’t have acted on it.

Now, though, it seems they do mean something. We already know each other, we get along well, that kiss last semester proved we had good chemistry.

He said he’d loved me.

A twinge of pain touches my heart, remembering the earnestness on his face as he confessed his feelings. And the devastation as I’d pulled away. I’d never meant to hurt him, but I couldn’t deal with it just then. I’d had too much else on my plate.

I’ve had time to process it all, though. There isn’t anything holding me back now if we want to explore this thing between us, see what would happen if-

Sarah.

Oh my God, Sarah. I forgot he has a girlfriend.

I rush to put my clothes on, berating myself for lusting after him when he obviously isn’t interested anymore. It’s too late for me. Another girl has snatched him up and why wouldn’t she? Evan’s a great catch.

“You can turn back around,” I mutter, pulling out my ponytail and picking my hairbrush up off my dresser to brush away the matted snarls the rain left in my hair. “Ow,” I snap, annoyed with myself for going too quickly, catching a big tangle.

“Here, let me.” He steps in behind me, taking the brush from my hand and gliding it softly through the strands, pausing to work at the knots.

Goosebumps run rampant on my neck wherever his fingers inadvertently make contact, a groan escaping me when he tugs on my hair a touch too hard.

“Sorry,” he whispers, resuming the methodical strokes even gentler.

Oh God, I hope he didn’t take that groan as a sexual sound - even though it totally was.

Get it together. Remember how it was the last time we were here in the dorm, out in the common area. Things weren’t weird then. We had talked and joked. It had been completely normal, the way it had been before whenever he stopped by my front desk area at work, or when we’d had our Mass Communications class together a year ago.

Well, normal until he’d kissed my cheek goodbye. He’d never done that before. And I had really... liked it.

That was just being friendly, though. We were friends again, that one weird blip from Empire erased. And like I thought before, it probably wasn’t even really love on his part if he was over it so quickly.

“Thanks,” I tell him, glancing over my shoulder at him when he finishes.

“I didn’t realize how long your hair is. You always wear it up.”

“It’s easier to put it in a ponytail. Do you, um, like it down?” I ask, looking at the brush instead of him.

He reaches a hand out, toying with the bottom of a strand. “I do,” he says, his voice low.

That swooping sensation in my stomach returns in full force. Oh God, he has no idea what he’s doing to me.

“How about we work on the project in the common area? Morgan will probably be back from class soon.” I can’t be alone with him in this tiny space any longer. I need to be somewhere with other people around. Where I won’t be tempted to do anything.

I don’t quite appreciate the irony that I’m only interested in him now that he’s taken, but I can handle it. It’s just a little crush. It’ll fade in time. No big deal.

We set up camp at the table in the common room and speed through the assignment, as well as review some of the upcoming chapters for the next few classes. It’s never good to be caught unprepared in case Dr. Kaufman calls on you. He can be brutal.

“Do you have plans tonight?” I ask as we pack up our stuff later. From out the window I can see the rain has stopped now thankfully. “Samantha and I are going to Empire if you want to join us.”

He pauses in zipping up his backpack and glances at me in surprise.

“You and Sarah, I mean. Of course you should bring her too. She’s your girlfriend, so why wouldn’t you bring her?” Oh God, I’m rambling. I press my lips together tightly to stop myself.

He casts his eyes down, biting his bottom lip. “Listen, about that,” he starts, rubbing the back of his neck.

Oh no, he’s trying to let me down easy. Why did I even say anything in the first place?

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