We make it up to Maya’s flat, and I place the boxes down onto the kitchen table.
“Thank you so much,” she says sincerely. “You’re a life saver.”
“It’s all good.”
For a moment, we stand there looking at one another, and I’m mesmerised as if light is shining behind her. I suck in a sharp breath because it’s the first time in over a year I’ve seen something so bright and positive that’s made me feel anything other than pure dread.
It’s…alarming.
“Well, uh.” I drag a hand down the back of my head. “I’ll leave you to get settled in.”
Maya nods. “Sure. Thanks again.”
“You don’t need to keep thanking me.”
Her eyes glisten, and I push down the waves of attraction that hit me. Yeah, she deserves way better than an asshole like me.So walk away.
“I guess I’ll see you around?” she says hopefully.
“Uh, yeah. Probably.”
“Cool.” She grins.
My hand raises, and I salute her. It’s pathetic, and I regret it as soon as I do it.
What the hell am I doing?
Maya releases a low chuckle and offers me a small wave in return. “Bye.”
I turn from her kitchen and head back downstairs until the outside air hits me in the face like a truck. My fingers press to my cheeks to find my skin is literally on fire.
“Get it together,” I mutter to myself.
Once I head to the SU bar, I spot JJ leaning against the counter top, where Silas is serving him.
“Hey,” I say as I approach.
JJ turns to face me with a smug look. “Already hitting on the freshers, huh?”
I roll my eyes. “No. She needed help, so I helped her.”
“I see that blush on your cheeks, Thompson.” JJ leans up to pat my face, and I swat him away with a deep scowl. “I think someone has a crush.”
“Fuck off,” I bite.
Silas raises his eyebrows at the pair of us. “Something tells me this year is going to be messier than the last.”
“Not if he gets himself a girlfriend.” JJ laughs.
“I’m not getting a girlfriend.”
He hums with a knowing glint in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
I slump on the stool beside JJ, and I’m blessed with an ice-cold beer sliding over the counter. My hand wraps around the bottle, and I draw it to my lips within seconds, letting the taste of the cool liquid slip down my throat far easier than expected.
My body hums in response, and I immediately feel at peace.
CHAPTER 2
