Page 152 of Wish You Were Mine
“I bet,” Nora said, stepping farther in to sit on the chair I had in the corner of my small dorm room. “Did you get to meet his brother?”
“I did,” I said, smiling as I thought about how that had gone. “He’s awesome. Both him and his wife are. Just really cool and down-to-earth.”
“That’s awesome.” Nora smiled. “Too bad you guys couldn’t stay longer, though, right?”
“Yeah,” I said, thinking that twelve hours of downtime with Owen wasn’t nearly long enough. “But we’ll have to take another day trip like that again soon.”
“Maybe take Theo’s sister-in-law up on that hotel stay she offered.” Nora wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
“Ahhh,” I said, covering my cheeks as they instantly flushed with her implication. “I really shouldn’t be thinking aboutthat.”
Nora laughed. “You don’t want to spend the night with your sexy professor?”
“No…” Then shaking my head, I said, “I mean…yes…” I shook my head again. “I mean…I don’t know. I guess with everything feeling so forbidden with us, takingthatstep just…” I let my words trail off, not really knowing what I was trying to say since I wasn’t really sure what my thoughts were.
“You’re just a little confused?” Nora said for me.
“Yeah,” I said. “I mean, I’ve definitely been tempted to go there already since our chemistry—no pun intended—” Ilaughed at my own accidental joke. “Is definitely off the charts and I’m sure it would be amazing with him.”
“It’s okay to take things at a pace you feel good about, though,” Nora said. “And I’m glad he’s not, like, pushing you into anything, since you know how guys can be sometimes.”
“Oh yeah, he’s definitely a gentleman,” I said. “If anything, I’m probably the one who has been pushing things further in that direction.”
“Well, at least one of us is having some fun with a guy,” Nora said, and I caught a hint of disappointment in her tone.
“Things with you and Cash not going anywhere?” I asked.
“No,” Nora said, shaking her head. “I mean, he seems flirty in our study group, but aside from that, we’ve just been texting. And I kind of feel like we’ve landed in that no man’s land where maybe we’re just texting buddies and he’s not actually interested in anything more.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said, sympathy tugging at my heart. “That sucks.”
“It’s okay.” She let out a long breath and sank deeper into the chair. “Maybe I’m just not meant to have a boyfriend this year.”
Just then, my phone lit up on the nightstand.
“Sorry, I need to send something before I forget,” I said as I reached for it, the screen finally alive with a gentle glow. I quickly opened my photo app to the photo I’d taken on the train, then clicked the arrow to send it to Owen. After typing out a quick message, thanking him for the magical day and that I hoped he’d sleep well, I hit the send button.
Then, setting my phone down again, I turned back to Nora.
“Well, if the guys at school aren’t working out…” I said with a sly grin, “then you should copy me and try going for an older guy. Turns out, they’re kind of the best.”
Nora laughed. “Is this your sneaky way of trying to set me up with your brother?”
“Not necessarily,” I said. “But…heisstill looking. And I’m pretty sure I caught him smiling while you were playing that game with Charlotte at his surprise party.”
“You’re funny, you know that?” She let out a soft chuckle.
“Just saying.” I shrugged.
“Well, I better get to bed.” Nora stood and stretched. “I’m glad you had such a good night.”
“Thanks,” I said, watching her go, my heart still full from the day.
Once the door closed, I reached for my phone again and tapped the screen, just in case Owen had responded. But there was nothing new.
Still, I couldn’t help smiling as I set it down.
As I headed into the bathroom to wash my face, my body still buzzing from the perfect night, I couldn’t help but feel that after everything I’d been through last year, life was finally falling into place.
