Page 83 of Wish You Were Mine
Safer. Smarter.
But there was a traitorous part of me that couldn’t help thinking that a kiss of comfort would have been nice.
Except those didn’t exist. Kisses of comfort weren’t a thing.
Were they?
Comforthugs, on the other hand… I knew firsthand that those were totally a thing since I had definitely gotten one of those.
And it had been perfect.
The way Owen had pulled me in like he didn’t even have to think about it. The way his voice had gone all low and steady while he told me I was safe.
The way I had believed him.
Which wasn’t something that happened with many guys. Definitely not with Josh. With him, I always had to convince myself that everything was okay, even when it clearly wasn’t.
But with Owen…every time I was remotely near him he had a way of quieting everything else going on in my head.
“Hellooo,” Nora sing-songed beside me, cutting through my thoughts. “Earth to Lucy.”
“Sorry,” I said, bringing myself back to the present.
“So,” Nora continued, “do you have class with Professor McDreamy today?”
“Yeah.” I sighed, pushing my hair out of my face. “First thing after lunch.”
“Think he’ll look at you differently now?” She grinned asshe wiggled her eyebrows. “I mean, youhaveseen him in pajamas.”
Not to mention shirtless in swim trunks,I thought, my mind conjuring up the memory of his tattoo with the two eagles.
“I don’t know.” I tried to laugh, but my nerves fluttered. “I always look forward to seeing him.”Even if chemistry and I are in a very toxic relationship.“But now…I just hope he doesn’t think I made the whole thing up about the guy following me.”
“Wait—” Nora gasped. “A guy was following you last night?”
“Yeah,” I said, then explained more about that scary moment. “Anyway, I just hope Owen didn’t think my showing up was some sort of… I don’t know, tactic.”
“Tactic?” Nora tilted her head to the side, confused.
“Like…maybe he thinks I was trying to seduce him for an A or something.” I buried my face in my hands.
Ugh. I never should’ve made that joke last week.
Nora laughed under her breath. “Well, for what it’s worth, if I were a guy and you showed up at my place looking like a damsel in distress, the last thing I’d be thinking about is your GPA.”
I gave her a look.
She laughed. “I’m sure everything will be fine. In fact, he’s probably counting down the minutes until he sees you in class today.”
Which was something Ireallyshouldn’t be excited about.
24
OWEN
I leanedagainst the edge of the podium and let my gaze scan the room while the students worked on the short quiz I’d handed out. Most heads were bent over their papers. A few were staring at the front of the class like they were already done and ready to turn theirs in.
And then my eyes found Lucy.
