I side-eye him, but he just smirks. “Right. Of course.”
When we get to Richard, Professor Lawrence’s eyes widen, and he points his champagne flute toward us. “I was just talking about you two,” Lawrence chuckles, and Richard smiles politely.
“You were?” Evan asks, giving both men an easy smile.
“Richard, meet Scarlett Voss and Evan Branson, two of my best students,” Lawrence announces. I can’t help but stand a little straighter at the compliment, leaning over to shake Richard’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” he says, taking Evan’s hand after dropping mine.
“You too,” I say, smiling. We all share an awkward look, not sure where to start or what to say, before Lawrence clasps his hands together.
“Well, I’ve got to sort out an issue with the hotel rooms, so I’ll leave you to it,” he says, giving Evan and I an encouraging look. He turns back to Richard and clasps him on the shoulder. “It was great catching up with you. I’m sure these two will entertain you until I’m back.”
He nods and we all exchange goodbyes with our professor before he leaves. Richard turns to us, a slightly amused look on his face. “His best students, huh?” Richard asks, raising an eyebrow. Evan and I laugh awkwardly, but Richard just smiles, pleased. “Why don’t you tell me a little more about Lawrence’s class?”
I don’t know what makes me hesitate, but I turn to Evan, giving him the option to speak first. It was his idea to come over here, but he’s not saying much. He surprises me by stepping back a little and nodding atmeto go first.
What is going on with him?
I try to silently ask him that with my eyes, but he just smiles again and turns back to Richard, whose expectant eyes are on me.
I clear my throat. “I’d love to,” I say eventually before launching into an anecdote about Lawrence and our business class.
Talking about our class and our project feels easy, especially since it’s one of my favorite classes this semester and Richard actually seems interested in what we have to say. He doesn’t ask about our parents or our families’ companies. He keeps all the focus on the two of us, how much we’re liking NU, and if we have any plans for after graduation.
The conversation comes to a natural end, Richard excuses himself, and Evan and I are left alone again. There should be some itch in me to get away from him by now, but it’s just . . . not there. Talking with him about school stuff and networking is easy. He’s good at this stuff—good at charming people, whileletting me talk and get my own point across. It’s nice being like this with him.
Someone I recognize from our class walks in our direction, pausing when she gets to us.
“Is Richard still here?” the girl asks, looking around. I know I must’ve seen her a lot over the years, but I can’t remember her name. Come to think of it, I don’t know the names of many of the people in our class.
“You just missed him,” I say.
She sighs, blowing air out of her mouth to push up the bangs sticking to her forehead. “You were all talking for so long,” she groans, folding away a piece of paper and sticking it into the pocket of her pantsuit.
Evan chuckles. “You snooze you lose, Tiffany.”
Tiffany Cortez. That’s right!
I knew that, obviously.
She folds her arms against her chest, narrowing her eyes at us. “I’m surprised you two are helping each other,” she says, shaking her head in disbelief. She wouldn’t be the only one. I’m surprised too. “You know, there’s usually only one person from each class that will get chosen for the SEI?”
“I know,” Evan says confidently.
I blink at them. “I didn’t know that.”
Tiffany nods eagerly. “Yep. Competition isfierce.” She gives Evan and I another one of those looks. Like she knows something we don’t. “Clearly, you and your bus buddy don’t really care about competition anymore.”
I bark out a laugh. “I’m sorry. Bus buddy?”
“I prefer mortal enemies,” Evan adds, and I honestly have to agree with him.
“Right. Enemies who help each other suck up to CEOs,” Tiffany says. I don’t like her. I’ve decided. She clearly thinks something else is going on here and I don’t like it one bit. Sheleans in a little closer to us, and adds, “Look, you didn’t hear this from me, but everyone’s going out to the bar downtown after the mixer. You two should come along. I don’t think it’s fair that we have to miss out on Halloweekend because of this.”
Evan shakes his head immediately. “I’m good, but thanks.”
Tiffany raises an eyebrow at me. “Scarlett?”
