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A flutter runs through me at his words, though I try to ignore it. I glance at Ivan, who is scanning the courtyard, his food forgotten.
“Relax, Ivan,” Dimitri says. “Enjoy yourself for once.”
Ivan looks uncertain. “I’m just keeping watch. You can never be too careful...” His voice trails off as his eyes continue roving over our surroundings.
My heart sinks a little. I know Ivan is just being cautious because of the recent murders on campus. As much as I want to forget about the danger for one night, Ivan’s wariness is a sobering reminder.
Still, I’m grateful for this rare moment of lighthearted companionship with Dimitri. Between my controlling father, the pressures of school, and now a killer on the loose, my life is consumed by fear and stress. But right now, laughing and chatting with friends over dinner, I feel a sense of normalcy I’ve been craving.
For the first time in weeks, I’m not anxiously glancing over my shoulder or dreading what awaits me back at the dorm. The comfort of Dimitri’s presence gives me a feeling of safety I’ve sorely missed.
Of course, a nagging thought still lurks in my mind – will I even make it to exams at this rate? I’ve tried to keep up with my studying, but constant distractions and dread have made focusing nearly impossible. The month I spent dealing with my engagement to Lorenzo made me lose a lot of course work. What if all my hard work this term is wasted?
I brush the concern aside for now. This is a night to enjoy, not stress about what’s to come. There will be time for hitting the books later. Right now, I want to soak up this feeling of companionship and security.
I turn to Dimitri when we finally finish the remains of our takeout dinner, feeling a nervous flutter in my stomach. Ivan left a few minutes ago, annoyed by how hard Martha was coming on to him.
“Hey, would you want to join Martha and me in the library for a study session after this?” I ask, trying to sound casual despite my racing pulse. “We were planning to hunker down and review for that accounting exam coming up.”
Dimitri raises an eyebrow, looking mildly surprised by the invitation. I feel my cheeks flush slightly under his piercing gaze and curse myself for acting like a smitten schoolgirl.
“It’s just... I know you said you find accounting really interesting, and you got an A on the last test,” I ramble on, grasping for an explanation to justify my request. “So I thought maybe you could give us some study tips or something.”
The truth is, I’m hoping Dimitri will agree to stay with us, mostly for my own peace of mind. Something about Dimitri’s stalwart presence makes me feel safe in a way I can’t fully explain. Having him nearby in the library would allow me to actually focus on studying instead of anxiously scanning my surroundings for potential threats.
Dimitri studies me for a moment, his piercing blue eyes seeming to stare right through me, as if trying to discern my true motivations. Then a hint of a smile tugs at his lips.
“Alright, I suppose I can lend you ladies my accounting expertise for a bit,” he says, a teasing lilt to his voice.
I let out a small sigh of relief, feeling the nervous tension leave my body. “Great, thanks.” Dimitri’s presence always makes me feel protected. For the first time in a while, with him by my side, I feel like maybe, just maybe, things will be okay.
As we all finish the last sips of our drinks, we gather the takeout containers and napkins from our makeshift dinner, stacking them neatly to carry to the trash can.
I’m grateful for the lighthearted companionship tonight has provided. It has given me a sense of normalcy I’ve desperately needed. Still, an underlying uneasiness lingers in my mind about the dangers beyond this little oasis, but I try to push those thoughts away and simply enjoy the moment.
I feel Dimitri’s eyes on me as we return to the library, heading for the table where Martha and I left our books earlier. His presence makes me hyper-aware of my every movement.
As we approach the table, I instinctively reach out and take Dimitri’s hand. His fingers immediately curl around my own. I try to ignore the thrill that runs through me at the contact.
“Why don’t we sit together?” I suggest, giving his hand a slight tug toward the chairs.
Dimitri smiles, a glint in his eyes. “I’d like that.”
We settle into the chairs, angling them to face each other, our knees lightly touching. I let my hand linger in Dimitri’s a moment longer before reluctantly pulling away.
I grab my textbook and notebook from the table, flipping through to find the section on bonds we’d been reviewing in class. Out of my eyes, I notice Dimitri watching me intently.
Trying to focus, I read over the bond calculations again, twirling my pen idly in my fingers. The words blur together on the page as I feel Dimitri’s gaze still fixed on me.
Suddenly, my phone starts buzzing loudly against the tabletop. I glance down to see Lorenzo’s name flashing on the caller ID screen. My stomach drops.
“Sorry, I should take this really quick,” I mutter. Not waiting for a response, I snatch up the phone and hurry out of earshot toward a secluded study room.
Once the door is closed behind me, I answer the call. “Hello?”
“Where are you?” Lorenzo demands without a preamble. “I stopped by your dorm and you weren’t there.”
I bite my lip. Of course, he just showed up unannounced. “I’m studying at the library with some friends,” I reply evenly.
