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The library is quiet when I get there, the kind of quiet that almost feels sacred. Bookshelves stretch out like a maze, and the faint smell of paper and coffee fills the air.

I glance around, hoping to spot her. She’s been on my mind way too much lately, and I haven’t seen her since I kissed her.

And yeah, I know it’s stupid. She’s probably not even thinking about me. But she’s a distraction I’m not ready to let go of.

I wander through the aisles, pretending to look at books but really scanning for her. Nothing. My chest tightens with frustration, and I rub the back of my neck, trying to shake it off.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see her. She’s at a table near the window, her head bent over a book, a pen tapping rhythmically against the page.

I stop in my tracks, suddenly unsure what the hell I’m doing.

Go to her, dumbass.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I make my way over, my heart doing some kind of weird, erratic dance in my chest.

“Hey,” I say, leaning against the edge of the table.

She looks up, her eyes narrowing when she sees me. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Studying,” I lie, holding up a random book I grabbed from the shelf.

She snorts. “Right. Studying. You don’t strike me as the library type.”

“Maybe I’m full of surprises.”

“Or full of shit.”

I grin. “That too.”

Her lips twitch like she’s trying not to smile, and it feels like a small victory.

“You avoiding me?” I ask, keeping my tone light.

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t flatter yourself, Eli.”

“Too late.”

She shakes her head, but I catch the faintest hint of a smile before she looks back down at her book.

“You’re distracting me,” she says, not bothering to hide her annoyance.

“Good. Means I have an effect on you.”

She doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t tell me to leave either. I take that as a win and sit across from her, pretending to read the random book in my hands.

Yeah, she’s a distraction. But right now? She’s the only thing keeping my head above water.

A few minutes pass before Sienna pops open a Diet Coke, the hiss loud in the quiet library. She takes a slow sip, her lips wrapped around the straw like she’s doing it just to mess with me.

I groan, leaning on the table. “You’re so fucking hot. It’s distracting.”

She doesn’t even flinch, just sets the can down and looks at me like I’m dirt under her shoe. “Go away, Eli.”

“Nope.” I lean closer, resting my chin on my hand. “Are we seriously not gonna talk about the other day?”

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She says it so fast, so sharp, it’s like a slap.

“Bullshit.” I sit up, crossing my arms. “Talk to me.”