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There went another misconception she’d made about him. Before, she’d always pictured him as a conceited loudmouth, spewing out a bunch of vain nonsense just to hear his own voice. But her assumption couldn’t have been further from the truth.
Paige sighed. She’d been so wrong about him on so many different issues.
When he glanced up and caught her gaze, she felt captured. Her breathing stumbled through her lungs at the hesitant, questioning look he sent her, silently asking if she was certain about his presence.
In answer, she smiled and nodded her own greeting.
He stared at her another moment longer before turning back to Sam to respond to whatever she’d said to him.
The leader of the group seemed happier to see him than anyone. Samantha hooked her arm through his and led him to the circle, talking animatedly. Paige hadn’t realized just how much she’d taken away from everyone here when she’d forced him to leave. He might not have been a loquacious member, but sometimes silent support was equally important.
She was glad she’d grown up enough to make him come back.
“Okay, everyone,” Sam called, clapping her hands. “Time to get this show on the road. We have lots to do tonight.” Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure and her smile full of joy as she gathered the college students to the circle.
To show her support, Paige made sure to slip into the empty seat next to Logan.
He didn’t glance her way, but she heard his sharp intake as she sat.
Keeping her voice quiet, she murmured, “Welcome back.”
He gave a slight nod, letting her know he’d heard her.
She had never been so aware of the person sitting next to her before. Paige held her breath as she stared at his knee, barely making out the jean-clad joint in her peripheral vision. They sat only inches apart. If she wanted to, she could probably swing her leg to the side and bump it into his.
Why she was even thinking about this, she had no idea. But it was hard to concentrate on anything else.
Samantha cleared her throat, gaining the room’s attention. “First of all, I wanted to let everyone know I got us some hour-long slots to visit the children’s ward at the cancer center next month. So I have a clipboard here with the sign-up sheet. Once everyone interested in participating writes down their name, I’ll split you up into groups and let you know which dates you have.”
She handed the clipboard to the girl on her right.
“And since finals are next week, this is technically our last meeting before winter break. So, I’m making it our Christmas party of sorts. Because our group uses the Crimson Room more actively than any other group on campus, we were asked to decorate it for the holidays. Which means, no group sharing tonight. We’re hanging decorations instead!”
Christmas.
The word sent a lonely flutter through Paige’s throat. She’d have to go home for a few weeks following finals since the dorms closed during the winter break. After spending two days home during Thanksgiving, she wasn’t looking forward to Christmas at all. Her dad hadn’t said a total of five sentences to her the last time she’d seen him. She wondered if he’d bother to talk to her at all this time.
Realizing most of the grief group had already shifted to the boxes full of decorations lined against the wall, Paige looked up when the girl on her left handed her the sign-in sheet.
“Thanks.” She studied the list, a little disappointed so few had volunteered to visit the sick children. Wanting to write her name in huge, bold letters, she frowned when she realized she didn’t have the proper equipment.
“Does anyone have a pen I can borrow?” she called, lifting her attention from the clipboard.
“I think I do.”
When she realized Logan still sat beside her, waiting for his turn to sign while everyone else had wandered toward the decorations, her muscles tensed.
Ducking his face, he dug through his backpack. Paige grew fascinated watching the crown of his head where she could see his scalp through his trim, buzzed hair. She wondered why he cut it so short. Did it have anything to do with this penance thing he seemed so determined to put himself through?
When he came up from the depth of his bag with a pen in hand, he sucked in a breath the s
ame moment she recognized it. It was her pen, the very pen she’d dropped the first day of classes when she’d learned he was attending the same university as her.
“Oh.” The word puffed from his lips as he gaped at the pen in horrified embarrassment. “Sorry. I have another…” He began to retract it and slip it into his bag when she decided they were being silly.
For crying out loud, it was just a pen.
“This one will do.” She plucked it from his hand before he could tuck it away.
