NIC'

brow furrowed slightly, which, I gotta admit, kind of made her a little cute. Liz was

s is my friend Aiden. An

with a quick smile,

t expect to run into y

other?" Liz asked,

, crossing her arms. "He doesn't

,' I replied firmly, there was no way this girl wa

e you'll get to enjoy." Bar gir

anyone? Liz cut into

ng." She replied, clearly uncomf

AIL'

e I managed to avoid that jerk for

o recover from the traum

why I reacted the way I did. She listened, but all she could focus on was

signment, which this meeting was scheduled for today. And I had to

g. At least they were cooperative. I handled organizing our meetings and other necessary kinds of stuff. Wi

ll the dorm is for all roommates, If it could host pa

the hallway and my phone b

e're

own in

ening the door revealed to me two girls whose faces were ma

" Nancy s

bracing myself for

lurted out. "We had some imp

off my hand as I stepped aside

Nancy already st

," I gestured, tak

we start?

Brown assigned a new

ded the idea of adding someone else, it made sense, we were

e address. He'll be here

in their eyes a silent declaration that th

foundation for a group meeting. The guy must be seriously attractive or something.

re," Nan

hing my back as I

ver his name was-standing there. There was just no

birthmark above his right eyebrow, his chiseled features, and his skin so smooth as glass. Seriou

ruly bre

out of my mouth- thank God, I t

e you do

uffly, looking down at his feet, t

for this right now," he said with a to

ou want me to slam this door, you bet

flickering across his face. It hit him that this was my apartment, and for a mo

n his annoyingly handsome face. But before I cou

Group E. Some girl. Nancy, I t

y had been talking about. Is this some kind of

slid in with ease, and as he passed me, a wave of his cologne perme

nt he entered like they were abou

Nancy said, her v

w it would haunt me every time I heard it. My st

e asked, clearly confused

ve literatu

for the address,"

tice today?" she

t in sharply before it cou

my literature textbook, and sat down,

sly close to me, his leg spread wide so that his arm was right a

ke. "So, uhm... we need to pick a line from the po

e for evermore' fits b

think so?" I asked

especially in terms of the

back and forth, arguing over which line should be used, both of us bringing out points, while N

ich only added to his appeal, I couldn't help

g them into her bag. The moment she said my name, my stomach twisted, and I

eat, the last thing I

anything else, her attention still locked on Dominic as he s

na

end by my side. She was away on a three-day trip for some research related to her course, but we still manage

eck out one of the oldest pubs on campus-a place I'd never explored on my own. It was only a fifteen-

rm atmosphere. The walls were adorned with a mix of vintage posters fea

key trading cards, autographed player photos, team pennants, and vintage hockey sticks. There were a se

happens. It's simple-a few mismatched bar stools, a mic stand, and a soft spotlight overhead. The stage had th

e. Not very long afterward, several loud voices broke the silence. By the inflection, I could tell they were athletes, they

mething. My curiosity was instantly piqued as I quickly unlocked

check t

at's

enshot, genius. I

t do you mean

ssor Hot

o freaking way you

e puppy eyes all semester. And c

? Are you seriously about

Not

LIZ

up at him, feeling as if he were a towering presence. There was Dominic, looki

ird. Are you messin

, Move along," I rep

, glancing at the empty chair. "

time a little subtler than previously as he slip

tion without being an asshole? Was I hallucinating? I

at, not only do I know his first name, but now I know his last name too. Ugh, I hat

iled gently, shaking his head. As they finally disper

he continued. "Do you

w? "You know, you're dis

always too hot-headed, never wanting to ch

e invading my sp

why do people not leave this ASS well alone? He stood up to give them one of those manly hugs,

seat, forcing Dominic to slide ove

ic?" One of t

ught it couldn'

tas