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“Hey,” he said, voice soft and his thumbs rubbing the insides of her wrists. “What’s wrong?”
Embarrassment filled her. She slipped her hands from his grip and pressed the corners of her eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling. “Sorry. I don’t know what’s up with me. Ignore me. I’m being stupid.”
“Nuh-uh, none of that,” he said with a frown. He stood and reached for her hand, pulling her to a stand. He put his hands on her shoulders and gave her a purposeful look. “No calling yourself stupid. Come ’ere.”
Before she could think better of it, she let him pull her into a hug. He wrapped his arms around her, and she pressed her cheek to his bare shoulder. His body was warm, and the clean scent of his skin filled her nose. Even though they were pressed close and he was shirtless and he’d seen what he’d seen last night, the embrace felt tender and safe, like the hug equivalent of a cozy blanket and cup of tea. She wanted to curl up into him.
“I’m sorry,” she mumbled against his skin. “I don’t know why I’m crying.”
He rubbed her back in a soothing circle. “Sweets, you’ve been through a major life event in the last twelve hours and then got yanked out of bed in a panic right after. Now you’ve gotten trapped in a room with an impossibly sexy and charming graduate student, and your brain and body are just overwhelmed.”
She snort-laughed against him, the sound a little tear-choked. “A humble graduate student too.”
He leaned back, hands on her upper arms, and grinned down at her. “You saidtoo,so that means you agree with the other adjectives as well. I’m flattered.”
She rolled her eyes and stepped back, swiping at the tears on her cheeks. “You’re incorrigible.”
“That too.”
She sighed and met his gaze. Lennox had a playful nature, but he also had this calmness about him, an openness that made her feel…accepted, like she could say anything to him. Like crying in front of him was totally fine. “Hotness and charm aside, anyone ever tell you that you have a therapist vibe?”
His eyebrows jumped up, and then he chuckled softly. He rubbed a hand over his chest, right over his heart. “Well, maybe that’s because I’ve seen enough of them. You pick up on some things.”
She tilted her head, wanting to ask more, but before she could respond, her phone vibrated. She grabbed it from the bed and unlocked the screen.
Maya: Ugh, all-nighters suck. Aud said he was up late studying too. Who knew Bennette was so hardcore this early in the semester? I’ll text you the address where we’re going and I’ll make sure to order a very potent fancy coffee for you. See you soon!
Lennox cocked his chin toward her phone. “All good?”
“Looks that way. I’ll at least have a little time to get ready,” she said, typing a quick response. “Auden told his sister he was up late studying too.”
Lennox laughed. “So diligent, the both of you. Studying anatomysohard. And so loudly, I might add.”
“Shut up,” she said with a half-smile.
He winked. “Come on, let’s get you to the Greek.”
“The Greek?”
He waved a hand. “Movie reference. We’ll add that one to your watchlist.”
“That’s going to end up being a long list.” She grabbed her balled-up dress—well, Quyen’s balled-up dress—and cringed. Maybe she didn’t feel guilty about last night, but the thought of walking through the dorm wearing last night’s dress made her want to heave.
“You okay?”
She held up her dress. “I’m okay. Just getting someScarlet Letterflashbacks.”
Lennox gave her a sympathetic look. “I don’t think your dormmates are Puritans, so you probably wouldn’t get a second glance. But don’t worry. I’ve got some gym shorts that you can cinch up that will fit you. Although, one day, I bet you’ll be able to walk down those dorm hallways in last night’s dress like a boss—giving the finger to the misogynistic concept of the walk of shame.”
“Bold thought.” She scrunched her nose. “But that day is not today.”
“No problem. Baby steps still get you there.” He pulled shorts from his dresser, tossed them onto the bed, and then grabbed something for himself to change into. He picked up his phone and texted. When a response came through, he gave her a thumbs-up. “Aud said the coast is clear. I’ll meet you out front.”
When he had his hand on the door, she said, “Lennox.”
He turned his head to look her way. “Yeah?”
“Thanks for this.”
