“Yeah, well, I can’t argue with you there.” She folds her arms over her chest as she focuses solely on my biceps. “You’ve got muscles for sure.”
My face burns. I hate to admit it, but I’m blushing.Ah fuck.
“You a fresher too?” Maya finally manages to look back at my face.
I’m grateful because those wandering eyes might kill me, and I’ve only just met the girl.
“No, second year, but I’m on a four-year course. We were just going to pay our friend a visit at the SU bar.”
“Oh, I don’t want to keep you.” She waves a hand. “Go.”
My brows knit together. “I said I’ll help you, so I am.”
Maya sighs and glances down at her belongings. “If you’re sure.”
“Yeah,” I say before bending to collect the boxes in my arms with ease. “I’ve got them.”
She runs her teeth over her bottom lip as she studies me for a moment, and I try not to notice how glossy her lips are. “Very kind of you to help a silly little fresher.”
I snort. “We’re all freshers once, and I think the dean would be pleased to know I’m carrying good ethos for the university by helping out when someone needs it.”
This time, she fully beams at me, teeth and all. She might as well have knocked me on my feet because she’s that beautiful. My heart twitches inside my chest, rattling against my ribcage like the first time I’ve ever had a crush, and I’m not sure I like it.
“Are we having a meet-cute right now?”
I blink at her confidence and the way she’s undeniably attractive.
“I’m joking,” she laughs softly, and the sound is so melodic it makes me shudder. “You probably have a girlfriend.”
My brows raise. “Trust me, I’m as single as they come.”
“Oh?”
“Oh.”
Maya smiles as we start to walk, and she points to her accommodation block. “Well, join the club. Never had a boyfriend.”
Now I’m the one to be surprised.
“How?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “What do you mean how?”
I shrug slowly. “Just that you’re?—”
“I’m what?”
“You know…you seem dateable.”
Maya releases a half-laugh, half-snort. “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.”
I internally grimace at my choice of words. I can’t remember the last time I’ve even tried to chat to a girl. This last year, I was distracted with getting blackout drunk and trying not to fail—not that I cared in the end.
Sure, I had a few one-night stands here and there, but that didn’t require much talking. I’ve not been seeking a relationship because I’m a hot mess, and I don’t want anyone to see me for who I truly am. To realise that I’m not worth loving—I most certainly don’t deserve it.
How can I expect someone to love me when I hate myself?
And whatever’s happening here isn’t going to go any further than this. I’m helping her out. Being a good person. Not that it’ll make up for everything else I’ve done.
