Steadfast, Unwavering Empathy
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When she doesn’t say anything, he runs a nervous hand through his hair. “I know it’s silly,” he says. “But I guess you bring that out in me.”
Ramona’s fingertips tremble on the piece of cardstock. “Nick,”she starts, andgod, the way she says his name. Pure magic, the way she can make a single syllable sound so precious. “I am so fucking grateful to the universe or the algorithm or whatever higher power put me in your class.”
“The dean of the life sciences department.”
“I’ll send her a fruit basket.”
Only four months ago, she was in this office asking him if he could teach her. For so long, he couldn’t imagine he’d be enough for her. But she shows him again and again that he is, and he’s finally started to believe it.
It just never occurred to him that he could have everything he wanted.
Ramona brushes her hand along his cheek, drops her thumb to his lower lip. “I’m deeply, madly in love with you, in case I haven’t told you yet today.”
“Because of the report card?” he asks, even as his heart swells in his chest. He’s not sure he’ll ever get used to the sound of those words.
“Because ofyou.”
She kisses him, warmth and sweetness and the pure joy of finding that person who understands you like no one else ever has.I love youas his hands press against her back.I love youas she clings to the lapels of his shirt.
“So,” he says after a few breathless minutes. “Business major?”
Ramona fiddles with his top button. “Maybe,” she says. “I’m working a few things out. But first—”
Then she slides off his lap, and he misses her instantly.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m locking the door.”
30
Ramona’s fired a lot ofpeople over the course of her life. Producers, lawyers, private chefs, that on-call tarot card reader the year she got really into mysticism. Her parents.
So when she calls her publicist to let her go, she isn’t nervous. In fact, she’s almost gleeful.
“Petra, hi,” she says once the assistant finally puts her through, after keeping her on hold a frankly inhumane length of time.
“Ramona! I’ve been trying to get ahold of you,” Petra says, which explains why Ramona has precisely zero emails and missed calls from her. “Looks like the Zander Parrish news is dead and buried. I told you it would disappear—she was just a costumer.”
