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She gave me a little finger wave, her eyes still glued to her iPad and her obsession. I’d heard so much Korean this past week, I was pretty sure I was starting to pick up some of the language. But I had to admit her K-dramas sounded more interesting than anything I could find without subtitles. I was going to have to check them out when I got some free time.
Whenever that would be, I had no idea. Between classes, studying, work, and my physical therapy twice a week, I didn’t have a lot of time left over for much else. I liked it that way, though. It kept me from missing home and thinking about all the things I couldn’t change in my life.
Like Jordan.
My heart squeezed painfully, and not for the first time, I pulled out my phone, my thumb tracing over his name in my contact list. I wanted to call him so badly, but I knew if I did, things would be awkward for the entire conversation, just as they had been every other time I’d given in and called my best friend since the night I’d ruined everything between us.
Refusing to feel sad, I replaced my phone and quickened my steps. My class didn’t start for another thirty minutes, but the English department was on the other side of campus from my dorm, and I knew it would take at least twenty minutes for me to walk it with my damn knee slowing me down.
By the time I got to class, I still had a good ten minutes left before it started, but there were only a handful of seats left. Tucking my cap down a little more over my face, I tilted my head up just enough to check out my options.
A group of giggling girls my age was sitting midway up with an open spot between themselves and some chick who looked both bored and annoyed. She kept shooting her neighbors glares that, if they’d been looking in her direction, would have shut them up.
At the top of the class, there were two empty seats side by side, but I didn’t want to put any extra strain on my knee when I would be dancing with the little girls later.
That left the middle of the front row where there were four empty seats but would put me front and center with the professor.
Sighing, I limped over and took the first one, getting comfortable. Pulling out my mini laptop, I got everything ready for class, ignoring everyone else around me.
As the next few minutes passed, two other people took the seats beside me, leaving one empty between us. But just as the professor entered the room, one last student came in behind him, and I watched as the guy walked right toward me.
It was his slight limp that set me at ease at first, then his grim smile as he said “excuse me” in this deep voice that I instantly liked.
Pushing back my cap just a little, I let my eyes take in all of him. And damn, but there was a lot of him. I’d been around good-looking men my entire life, but this guy was in a league all his own. Especially with those dark as hell eyes and lashes that were so long, I was kind of jealous.
I couldn’t readily tell how old he was because he had an air of maturity the majority of guys my age didn’t possess. His shoulders were so wide, he bumped into me and the skinny guy on the other side of him, causing him to mutter a “sorry” to both of us. His skin was tanned from plenty of sunshine, and his arm, sleeved with black ink, looked exotic against mine on the armrest. I was so fair-skinned, I looked like a ghost most of the time, but I liked my skin tone.
Pulling his book out of his backpack, my new neighbor straightened again, but his eyes caught mine on him and his lips lifted in amusement.
“Braxton,” he introduced, offering me his hand.
“Mia,” I said, shaking his hand. His grip was strong but gentle.
“Well, Mia, I hope you know what you’re doing in this class, because I have no freaking idea.” He lifted his book. “I’m not much of a reader, and this crap is kind of intimidating to me. Give me flying bullets and IEDs any day of the week over Brontë.”
“I’m not much of a reader either,” I admitted. “But I think I’ll take my chances with Jane Eyre over the war zone, actually.”
His lips twitched with amusement. “Smart thinking.”
“What branch are you in?” We were in Northern Virginia, and it seemed as if every other person in this part of the state was in the military, but his talking about IEDs alone told me he was.
“Retired Marine,” he confirmed, losing some of hi
s lightheartedness, and I instantly missed the way his eyes had sparkled when he was trying not to smile. I got an ache in the pit my stomach, wondering what he must have seen to put that look in his eyes.
The professor was already starting to introduce himself, cutting off any more conversation, but for some reason, I found myself touching Braxton’s arm and giving it a light squeeze. I felt him tense then relax, and we shared a genuine smile as we sat through the rest of class. Even though I’d just met him, I wanted to be his friend for some reason.
Maybe I just wanted a friend of my own too. I didn’t have many of those, so adding Braxton to the list would be nice.
It was the most boring ninety minutes of my life, but I made it through. When class was over, both Braxton and I let out a relieved breath. We still had to come back and do this again on Thursday, but at least we’d survived day one.
“I’m starving,” Braxton said as he waited for me to put my things in my bag and stand. “Want to grab a late lunch with me?”
I glanced at the time on my phone. “I wish I could, but I have to get to work. Rain check?”
His lips twitched. “I’ll hold you to it, then.” Holding the door open, he motioned me ahead of him, but when I headed for the exit, he turned left instead. “See you next time, Mia.”
I waved. “Later, Braxton.”
