A guitar case thumps closed at the front, and I snap out of his gaze. Students chatter through the door. Some send us a second look.
Time to leave. “Well, good luck.” Good luck? I hesitate with an irrational need to redeem my dumb remark.
His expression is caught somewhere between awe and amusement.
“Take Luck. Care for it. You too. All the Brian Regan phrases. Bye!” I slide my foot toward the door and end up in a weird chassé.
Outside, I rip out my phone. Normally I FaceTime Mom from my room on Sunday nights, but tonight I need a distraction as I walk.
She answers in seconds, effortlessly poised as she curls up on a patio chair. “Hi, sweetie! How was Praise and Prayer tonight?”
“Good.” My pulse races, and I take a breath to steady my voice. Mom knows me too well.
“Talk to anyone interesting?”
“Um. Levi?” I pan around. The last thing I need is for him to overhear me saying his name.
She raises her brows in her elegant way. “That’s a name I haven’t heard. Does he live on Flooders?”
“Yep. How are Mav and Grey?”
She dives into updates about my wily brothers, but neither of us is fully distracted. She must be biting her tongue off to keep from asking more—she knows I shut down when her curiosity turns demanding.
I can’t shake the feeling I’m going to see Levi again soon. My so-called disinterest only seemed to egg him on.
Two days later, I’m cutting through the scattered trees with Sophie and Mia, heading from lunch to our next classes. Saga is tucked in the far southeast corner of our tiny campus, about a ten-minute walk from Calc III.
Ayumi isn’t with us—lunch is her “respite from people.” Living on campus drains her quiet, introverted heart, and she’s still figuring out how to avoid constant exhaustion.
One of my hands is full of books, and the other clutches a cookie I intended to save for later. It probably won’t last another five minutes. The Cookie Monster is my spirit animal.
And then the most glorious—no, disconcerting—sight. Levi is darting across the field toward us,Baywatch-style. Or is the slow motion just in my head? It’s startling—he seems too suave to ever be in a hurry. Mia and Sophie look to me for an explanation. I shrug them off.
Mia stops for his arrival, and we instinctively follow suit.
Levi reaches us with a muted rattle, breathing normally. “Nice morning.” His green-gold eyes lock onto mine with a question. Move over, defibrillator—this guy can give a shock to the heart without so much as a “clear.”
“Yeah, finally a breeze.” Sophie plays it cool.
“NoHitchmoves required …” Mia says.
I clutch my books in front of me like a shield. “Going for a jog?” I can’t have this guy thinking I’m impressed with him. I’m not.
The corners of Levi’s mouth quirk, clearly amused by being called out. I’m surprised he takes it in stride. I figured he’d be too haughty to accept teasing. He introduces himself to Mia and Sophie who politely pretend to learn his name for the first time.
“How’s your foot?” he asks me. “Still … fine?”
I cover my barely restrained laugh with the cookie. “Foot’s okay.”
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
I clear my throat. Pull it together! He’s charming—that is precisely why I need to maintain my distance. Remember, he’sjust here for some attention. He doesn’t know anything about me. I will not play into these perilous games again. I will not be the curious one in a horror movie. I hate horror movies.
Sophie shoots me a sidelong glance, likeWhat is happening?
“Nice to meet you two. Kit.” Levi gives a self-satisfied nod, popping a Tic Tac as he strides away. Always dressed to a T, he certainly didn’t intend to jog in his spotless white sneakers and chino shorts. I want to think it’s adorable, but of course I don’t.
What is this? I hate that I can’t control my own thoughts.
