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He scanned the crowd, pausing on me for a moment before continuing. He spoke for several minutes, but I barely heard a word. I’d promised my mother I would text him, possibly meet for coffee, but I couldn't breathe sharing a classroom with him. Anything more wouldn’t be happening. For once, I’d have to disappoint her.
Sal tapped my arm, startling me back to the present. From the humming conversation going on around me, I realized Oliver had stopped talking and people were discussing partnerships.
“What do you think?” Sal asked.
“About what?” I rubbed the center of my forehead, trying to clear my mind.
“About working together.” He blinked at me from behind his thick glasses.
“You want to work with me?” I asked.
“Only if you do. I think we could make a dynamic team. Obviously, I don’t know what our startup business will be, but between the two of us—”
“Yes. We’ll work together.”
I might’ve been out of it, but I wasn’t stupid—and I would have to be to turn down working with Future Bill Gates. Besides, it wasn’t like any of my other classmates were jumping to partner up with me. Not that I wanted them to. The Pi Sig hooligans probably couldn’t evenspellstartup, much less create a business plan for one.
Sal grinned. “All right. That was easier than I thought it would be.”
“Let’s hope it’s a sign of what’s to come.”
We packed up our things, my mind whirling with plans of escape. Oliver was talking to Seavers and her TA. I planned to slip by as quickly as I could, crossing my fingers I wouldn’t be noticed.
The second I stood up, though, he raised his head and locked eyes with me. I nodded to him, hoping that would be enough, but he didn’t take his eyes off me as I made my way down the steps, then started toward me before I could reach the door.
“Elena Sanderson,” he called smoothly.
Sal paused beside me, his eyes darting back and forth between us. “You know him?” he asked.
“Acquaintance. It’s okay. You don’t have to stay with me,” I murmured.
He hesitated for a few seconds before hustling out the door. I respected his hesitation, even though he left me in the end. He had probably sensed my unease, but since we were in a bright classroom, which was relatively safe in the grand scheme of things, he took me at my word.
Oliver stopped a comfortable distance away, tucking his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. They were cut slim on his long legs, and he’d gone sockless in his loafers. It was a good look on him. The Bergen fam had never lacked in style. Morals, on the other hand…
“Elena, how are you?” he asked.
“Great. I’m great.” I gestured to the classroom behind him. “I see you’re back from London taking Savage River by storm.”
He chuckled, sending shivers down my spine at how similar it sounded to Nate’s.
“And you’re exactly like I remembered. No wonder my brother was obsessed.”
Bile rose in my throat. Obsessed was probably the right word for what Nate had felt for me. Not in the romantic, bodice-ripper kind of way some women dream about either. His obsession was more of theit rubs the lotion on its skinvariety.
“I don’t know about that.” I adjusted the strap on my bag. “It’s great running into you, Oliver. I’m sure I’ll see you around class, so—”
He raised a light eyebrow. “Are you in a hurry to escape, Elena?”
Yes. Yes, I am. I can’t bear to look at you for one more second. You have his face.
“No, of course not, but I am meeting a friend, so…”
“Great.” That word again. How many times would we say it in the span of a minute?
He grinned and tipped his chin toward the door. “I’m heading out too. We’ll walk together and catch up.”
Shit. Fuck. Balls.
