Page 61 of Olivia's Only Pretending
Ryan sputtered to a stop, dropping to his knees to hurriedly grab the notebook, pen, and papers I’d dropped when he slammed into me. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said anxiously.
Victor bent down to help, and Ryan waved him off as he stacked my fallen papers.
Ryan set the bulletin that was in the pile on top of the stack, his eyes stopping on the big, thick letters about too many latenights with my young buck. He shoved the papers into my arms, his cheeks blazing red.
Victor held back a pleased smile. Ryan hurried ahead of us.
I slowed my pace, falling in step with Victor as we weaved through the crowd.
“I suspect the alarm might be a prank,” I said, my voice raised over the chatter.
“You think?”
“There’s been quite a few alarms pulls across campus this semester. I’m wondering if it’s some frat initiation thing or a freshman dare.”
“Some annoying guy who thinks it’s hilarious.”
“Some young buck,” I murmured. We stepped out onto campus, sunlight hitting our eyes.
“You gotta watch out for ’em, I tell ya.” Victor shook his head.
Victor and I kept our eyes on each other, an unspoken thing hanging in the air between us, thick like smoke, always pulling me under.
We stood at the entrance, an announcement sounding over the speakers that it was a false alarm and that they’d resume the lecture shortly.
Victor’s eyes fell on mine, and he opened his mouth to speak.
“Well, hey, you two,” Gabby said, skipping up the steps. The sky was still gray, and the cool damp of rain hung in the air. “I didn’t see you in there.”
“We were in the middle rows,” I said, trying to collect myself after the whirlwind of the past few minutes.
“I was up front. I can’t believe someone pulled the stupid alarm again. I’m getting tired of this prank. It’s been interrupting too many classes.” Gabby pinched the bridge of her nose.
“I heard someone woke up a whole dorm the other night,” I added. “All these students stuck outside in their pajamas for an hour.”
“Well, maybe they finally found the culprit?” Victor offered hopefully.
“Doubtful. There’s been so many cases, I’m wondering if they’re connected somehow.” Gabby tapped her chin like she was a detective on the case. Then, like she’d just been awoken from her own thoughts, she said, “I can’t believe you’re sitting in this super long lecture about classics, Victor. Are you even interested in classical antiquity?”
“I’m barely grasping whatclassical antiquitymeans,” Victor admitted. “But the professors aresuperhot.”
My cheeks flamed.
Gabby chuckled, unsurprised. “Or something like that got you attending boring lectures, huh?”
“Okay, okay, let’s head back in. This is your last chance to bail, Victor, if you so choose. We’re not even halfway through the lecture,” I said, as people flowed around us back into the building.
Victor slid his arm around me, his warm fingertips pressing into my shoulder through my button-down. “I’m in it for the long haul.”
At that, Gabby shot me a knowing glance, and I quickly marched ahead toward our seats.
I’d always been a good student who paid full attention during classes, but I missed most of this lecture because Victor and I passed notes the entire time.
Should I change my ringtone to Hot for Teacher?
I need to ban you from this campus from now on. You are a distraction.
As your hot young bf I’m just fulfilling my duties.
