She shrugged. “Alright. See you later.”
“Seeya,” I said, giving them a casual wave before waiting for everyone to leave. When the room was clear, I made my way down the stairs. Lucas was arranging the papers on his desk, and while he wasn’t looking at me, I knew that he could sense I was there. The static between us was almost tangible.
“Have a question you want answered, Miss Price?” he asked, finally sitting back in his seat and meeting my eyes. The heat I saw there made me wish there weren't security cameras nested throughout the room. So much was said in just that look.
“I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight. To talk about… the arrangement.” I shifted on my feet.
“Should I expect additional company?” he asked.
“Well, yes. Oren and Ronan will be there too,” I replied.
“Ah.” His body language stiffened, his hand twitched on the table as though he was fighting against the impulse to clench his fist. “Look, June. I know what happened the other night might’ve given you a different idea but the truth is that I’m still unsure about this whole thing.”
“And that’s okay,” I said quickly, trying to sound reassuring. “You said that you’d try. That’s all I’d ever ask of you, Lucas. I don’t want you to do anything you don’t want to.”
He gave a terse nod but the silence that followed felt heavy with the unspoken. We’d crossed so many boundaries the other night. It was understandable that he’d be confused, even if he looked happy before I reminded him that there was more to this than just the fun stuff.
“In the meantime, I’m willing to feel things out,” he said finally. It felt like an acquiescence on his part, a reluctant acknowledgment that yes, there was enough he’d enjoyed for him to seriously consider this. I wanted to tell him that I understood the hesitation. That months ago, that had been me,fighting against my desires whenever I was directly confronted with the implications.
But instead, I let him breathe. “I appreciate that.”
He could take his time to feel things out all he wanted. The more feeling, the better. I readjusted the bag on my shoulder. “I’ll text you the time and place.” My eyes gave the hall a cursory glance. I really,reallyhated those freaking cameras.
“I’ll see you then,” he said, pausing before adding, “All of you.”
*
“In the alumni center?” Oren blinked at the rest of us, looking perplexed. “How classy.”
Ronan took a sip of his wine, smirking over the rim. “Classier than a library.”
“In which you also participated, I’ll remind you,” I pointed out. “Ronan Locke, Tenured Professor—always at the scene of the crime.”
“Not an accurate assessment," he said. “Untenured.”
“Tenure-track professor,” I corrected. “It’s only a matter of time.”
“How idealistic of you.” He smiled into his glass. “I think someone’s taken after her mentor rather well.”
“You’re one to mention idealism,” Lucas said. His arms were crossed just as they’d been during the lecture, but his shoulders were more relaxed now. And I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol again, or maybe just the company or hell, why not both; but there was something different about Lucas. Something tentatively curious. “You were the one that broughtsuppliesto the mixer.”
Ronan held his hands out in surrender. “That is true, but let’s not act as though you didn’t directly benefit from my foresight. Optimism is a virtue.”
“In your case, perhaps more of a vice,” Oren muttered under his breath.
As the three of them continued their banter, I took a moment to appreciate watching them interact. It felt like that first dinner we had together, before everything happened to complicate what had been so simple. This was what I longed for, even more than just the physical side of things.
The hint of competitiveness in their jabs weren’t born from bad blood. It was less a point of conflict than it was a shared secret. And now, being able to speak openly about our experiences together—to be able tojokeabout it—it felt like all the tension I’d been collecting in my body was slowly being released.
“Well, we can plan big next time. Take things to a rooftop somewhere or rent a jumbotron,” Ronan said breezily.
“I’d laugh but I’m genuinely not sure if you’re joking,” I said, taking a sip of my own drink. It was the same pale pink concoction he’d ordered for me last time. His gaze always landed on my lips whenever I lifted the glass to my mouth, his smirk widening as though this was an exclusive secret between us two.
“What happened to your ambition, Miss Price?” he murmured.
“It’s tempered by common sense,” I replied.
Oren reached across the table and placed his hand over mine. “Well, I’m grateful that you don’t always let the latter eclipse the former.”
