Page 34 of Fallen Flame

I stepped back. At least, I tried to, but his hands didn’t move immediately. For one strange moment, neither of us seemed entirely sure what we were doing.

Then I looked down. Back up. “Uh...”

His eyes followed mine, and he immediately let go.

I couldn’t help laughing. “You normally like hanging out outside girls’ rooms?”

“Just yours.” The answer came so quickly that it caught both of us off guard.

I blinked. Did... Did Oliver just make a joke again?

I looked at him carefully. His face hadn’t changed much. Still serious. Still reserved. Still looking like smiling required paperwork.

But... There. The tiniest hint of amusement lingered in his eyes. “Oh...” I said intelligently. “Uh... Okay.” Now I was the awkward one. Fantastic.

Neither of us spoke. We just stood there looking at each other. The silence stretched long enough that I finally tilted my head.

“So...” Nothing. “Is this what we’re doing today?”

His eyebrow lifted. “What?”

“Just staring at each other.”

“It would make this easier for me.”

I frowned. “Easier?”

He nodded once.

I looked down the hallway, then back at him. “Easier how?”

He held my gaze another second before finally taking a step backward.

“But...” He exhaled slowly. “I know that won’t work for you.”

I smiled. “Nope.”

“I figured.”

Another tiny almost-smile.

It disappeared so quickly I would’ve thought I’d imagined it if I hadn’t been looking directly at him.

“So,” he continued, “let’s eat.”

“I like food.”

“I’ve noticed.”

“And then...” He turned toward the common room. “We’ll head out.”

I followed him into the hallway. “Head out?”

He nodded.

My eyebrows climbed. “Wait.” He stopped so I could catch up beside him. “Where are we going?”

He looked at me.