Page 48 of Captured Love

“Yeah.”

Selene tilts her head, studying me like I'm an alien who just landed in her bookstore. “You mean like a book club for two?”

“Sure,” I say, trying to sound casual. “Why not? It could be fun.”

She gives me a big smile and says, “Okay. Let me find something we’ll both enjoy.”

And that’s when I knew I would do anything to get her to give me that smile for as long as she’d have me.

18

SELENE

The door clicks shut behind me as I step into my dorm room. My hair is still damp from my shower, the scent of my vanilla body wash lingers in the air as I walk across the room.

Finally.

It’s been a long day—too many classes, too much noise, too much time spent pretending I wasn’t exhausted. But now? Now it’s just me, a bed, and the book I’ve been dying to get lost in.

I throw my towel over the back of my desk chair just before putting on my oversized sweatshirt and leggings. I quickly climb into my bed and sigh as my body starts to relax. This is the kind of comfort I need after a day of pretending I have my life together.

I toss my wet hair up into a ponytail and then I grab the book I’ve been dying to read for months. This is the first evening in a long time I’ve had absolutely nothing to do and the thought of that makes me giddy. There are no pressing assignments, no shifts at the library, no impromptu study or group project work sessions. Just me and my bed and a whole night of uninterrupted reading. Not to mention, it’s the book that Knoxand are supposed to be reading as a part of our very small “book club”.

Once my headphones are in and I have a playlist that contains soft, relaxing music, I find myself transported into another world. I’m so engrossed in the story that when my phone vibrates next to my thigh, I jump, nearly dropping my book in the process. I hesitate for a moment before pulling off my headphones and reaching for it.

A text from Knox greets me. Of course. I sigh, pushing my book aside, and open the message.

Knox: Hey. You bored?

Me: No. I’m in the middle of the book you and I are supposed to be reading. You?

Knox: Interesting. Have you gotten to the part where the heroine arrived on the island to help locate her missing best friend?

Wow. He’s actually reading the book.

Me: Yes, I have and I’m glad you didn’t just spoil a major part of the book for me.

Knox: I was pretty confident you made it up to that point.

Me: Okay fine. What are you up to?

Knox: Made a big ass mess when I tried to make a protein smoothie so I’m trying to clean it up. Turns out it's not as easy as it looks.

I bite my lip, trying not to smile as I start typing a response. Then I start, then stop, and then start again. This shouldn’t be sohard. They’re just texts. It’s not like I’m committing to anything by answering him. Still, a part of me knows that where this path is leading down.

I put the phone down for a second, pick my book back up, then immediately set it back down. My gaze shifts to the screen, and I grab it. I type quickly, then erase it. Ugh. Why am I overthinking this so much?

He’s just being friendly. I can be friendly, too. That’s all this is. And with that, I manage to come up with something else to say to him.

Me: That sucks. Need some help?

The moment I hit send, I regret it. This is exactly what I've been trying to avoid. Ever since our “outing” at Prosecco and Pose, we’ve been falling back into old patterns. Or at least I have.

But before I can overthink it, my phone buzzes again.

Knox: Nah, I got it. Wouldn't want to interrupt your reading time.

Me: How thoughtful of you.