I made it with a few minutes to spare. Ugh, but this was Global Economics. No matter how hard I tried, I hated the stuff. I had a difficult enough time focusing on the classes I did like. The only thing that was going to get me through this one was having Jessie and Sandra with me.
I was studiously taking notes while Jessie sat behind me, twirling a strand of my hair laying on her desk. It was comforting, actually. My sister used to play with my hair all the time.
That thought made me fidget.
“Sorry, was I bothering you?”
“No, don’t be silly,” I whispered over my shoulder. “It just tickled for a second.”
“It just looked so soft and shiny. Shiny things distract me.” That caused a round of giggles and a glare from Professor Collins. Jessie winced. “Let’s meet up later so you can clue me in on what Professor Stiff Pants has been babbling about up there. Apparently, I was too engrossed in your luscious locks to pay attention.”
“We’ll do dinner at my place.” I looked to my right. “Sandra, you come too in case there’s anything I missed.”
She tapped her pen to her chin and looked up toward the ceiling for a moment. “How about spaghetti and a special salad?”
“Oh right, I forgot you’re the aspiring chef. Score.” We all laughed, and the professor made an overzealous clearing of his throat.
Oops, did it again.
I whispered this time. “No more, girls. We’ll catch up later.”
After trying my best to stay focused and retain something all morning, the cafeteria was a welcomed break. Needing to sort out my head and be by myself for a rare moment, I grabbed a small salad, and meandered through the crowd to find an out of the way table by the window, still wanting to make the most of the weather.
My phone chirped, alerting me to a text message.
My sister.
Hey, girl, hope your first day went well. I can’t believe you didn’t call to fill me in. Just because I didn’t go away to school doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear all about it. I miss you. Call me. XO
I sent out a quick reply so she wouldn’t worry.
Me: Hi, it was good. Just really overwhelmed. I’ll call you as soon as I can. XO
I lowered the phone, and my heart sank. I knew she didn’t understand why I’d been so distant the last few years. We were best friends, always labeling ourselves: BFFL.
Beautiful
Funny
Flippin’
Loud
Don’t ask where that came from. Kids come up with funny things. She acted like she didn’t notice my detachment, but I knew it had to be bothering her. It was bothering me. She was the one person I always ran to with anything, and she wouldn’t judge or ask twice. She’d always defended me and protected me. But I couldn’t chance her finding out, and I knew how hard she could push, so I’d distanced myself, when that was the last thing I wanted to do.
I missed her so much I—
“So the lady does stay still,” a smooth voice said as a large form slipped into the chair beside me.
With a huff, I turned, preparing for battle. “This seat’s ta—” When I saw who it was, my mouth clamped shut, and I lost my words.
“You gonna eat that?” He nodded toward my untouched meal.
Blue. All I could register was the color blue.
He cocked his head, waiting for my reply.
Voice, find your voice! “Excuse me?” Shaky as shit. I sounded like an imbecile.
“I was just wondering if you were actually going to eat any of that food or perhaps you’d rather I give you some salt for the fingers you’re chewing so unmercifully. You gotta let up, girl, before you wind up with nubs instead of those pretty little manicured nails.” He tapped the edge of my fingertips and electricity bolted through me, hitting my toes and shooting straight back up to my chest. “There are starving children in Cambodia, ya know.” His face split into a grin.
I’m sorry—what? I can’t hear you. Your dimple is in the way.
I tried to compose myself, but my ears were ringing from the blood that managed to pump straight from my heart into their canal. Well, this is something new.
It was him—the beautiful stranger with captivating eyes that had some weird hold on me. And he was just as heart stopping as I’d thought. I’d convinced myself I’d made him out to be more perfect than he really was. That it was the heat, or the beer, or temporary vision loss. But it was . . . none of those. His features were striking. Sharp, but friendly and somewhat overpowering. He carried a clean crispness that I wondered what smelled like and I struggled with the beauty of him. It was as if each of his features were fighting to be the most dominate in a battle none of them could win against the others. Each time my eyes fell on a different one, they’d declared it the victor. High cheekbones, soft dark hair, and God that dimple, they all had me fascinated.
At my lack of words, he continued, “You’re a hard one to tie down, aren’t you?” His eyes were friendly and inviting as he peeked up at me with his chin dipped low.
“I’m sorry.” With nothing more intelligent to offer, I lowered my gaze.
“Are you?”