Page 7 of His To Unravel (His & Hers Duet #1)

Sophie nods, adding with a playful but pointed grin, “Yeah, there’s rich, and then there’s Caldwell rich.

His family isn’t just wealthy, they’re old money.

The kind of people who practically own Manhattan.

A guy like that doesn’t usually end up with a girl who’s…

well, ordinary, you know? Have fun, but just don’t expect more to come from it. ”

I try to laugh it off, but her words hit harder than I’d like to admit. The glimmer of excitement I felt just moments ago dims, replaced by a quiet sting. Ordinary . That’s all they see, and perhaps it’s all he sees too .

My phone buzzes again.

NATHANIEL

I’ll hold you to that.

I feel a pulse of warmth, his words a small reassurance, like he’s anchoring me in the middle of this uncertainty.

Landon cuts in, his gaze still on me, with a sense of frustration that I can’t quite place. “Olivia, are you sure you want this…distraction? You’ve never shown interest in anyone before, and suddenly…it’s him ?”

I meet his gaze, forcing a smile. “Maybe I’ve changed, Landon. Maybe I’m just…letting myself experience something for once.”

There’s another buzz and I peek down.

NATHANIEL

I have to admit… I can’t stop thinking about that kiss.

My heart skips as I read his words. I can feel my friends’ eyes on me, a mix of excitement, worry, and maybe a hint of jealousy. I take a steadying breath, typing back.

Me too.

His response is almost instant, as if he’s been waiting for me to admit it.

NATHANIEL

Then maybe we should make it happen again sometime soon.

For a second, the uncertainty fades, his words centering me as I read them over and over. Despite the chaos around me, his attention feels genuine, even if I still can’t believe it’s directed at me.

I’d like that.

Glancing at the time on our phones, I realize Carolyn and I are cutting it close for Strategic Management.

“We should go,” I say, grabbing my bag. I’m more than ready to leave the lingering questions and not-so-subtle glances from Sophie and Landon behind.

Carolyn smirks, nudging Sophie with a playful grin. “Oh, didn’t we mention? Nathaniel’s in this class too.” Her tone is laced with implication, and I’m not sure if it’s meant more to tease me or to fuel the rumor mill that’s already churning.

“Lucky you,” Sophie teases, winking as we stand. I roll my eyes, brushing it off as best I can.

Carolyn and I make our way across campus to the lecture hall just before the rush. We find our seats in the second row and settle in.

Just as I start to unpack my laptop, a quiet stir ripples through the room.

I glance around, confused by the sudden murmur, until I catch sight of Nathaniel.

He usually sits in the back, a silent observer, blending effortlessly into the background. But today, he’s making his way down the aisle and heading straight for our row.

I feel my heartbeat accelerate—anticipation tangled with panic.

“Is he…?” Carolyn starts, her tone incredulous, her eyes darting between Nathaniel and me.

He stops beside us, giving Carolyn a polite nod. “Carolyn.” Then, his gaze shifts to me and turns softer, warmer. “ Hello, Olivia.”

There’s a gravity in the way he says my name, like it’s meant for me alone.

“Uh, hi,” I manage, trying to keep my composure, but the flurry of whispers around us doesn’t go unnoticed.

“May I join you?” he asks, gesturing to the empty seat beside me.

Carolyn is visibly amused, while I feel the weight of everyone’s eyes, each glance adding to the pressure in my chest.

Not trusting myself to speak, I simply nod, and Nathaniel takes his seat.

As the lecture begins, his presence beside me makes it nearly impossible to focus. I’m hyper-aware of everything—the scent of his cologne, the way his arm rests casually on the desk, the warmth that radiates from his closeness. The room feels smaller, or maybe I just feel too large, too visible.

I try to keep my focus on Professor Jones’s slides, but my concentration wavers every time Nathaniel shifts or leans forward, his movements calculated and unhurried, amplifying my awareness of him. A faint hum of excitement simmers under my skin, clashing with the nervousness tightening my throat.

Carolyn leans over, her whisper barely contained. “Is he always this attentive?”

I shoot her a look, trying to act unaffected, but my cheeks betray me, heating under her knowing gaze. I don’t even have a chance to answer before Professor Jones’s lecture slips away from me, the words fading into background noise.

Nathaniel leans in close, his hand casually reaching over to scroll on my laptop, adjusting the slides to match what Professor Jones is discussing. His fingers linger on the edge of the trackpad, and when he leans back, he turns slightly toward me, his voice low. “Distracted?”

The word hovers between us, and I know he’s not talking about the class. My pulse races, my breath catching as I manage a shaky nod. “Just…trying to keep up,” I mumble.

His lips curve knowingly, a hint of a smirk that sends a fresh wave of warmth over my skin.

“Good,” he murmurs, the single word heavy with implication .

I turn my attention back to the screen, hoping to regain my composure, but it’s useless. To him, I’m sure this feels natural, as if he belongs next to me. But for me, every second is filled with an awareness that I’m blurring the boundaries I’ve worked so hard to maintain.

After a few minutes, he leans in again, his voice barely audible. “It’s different, being here with you.”

I freeze, my gaze locked on the screen, but I feel the pull of his presence, his words wrapping around me like a secret meant only for us.

“Olivia,” he adds softly, my name a gentle command. When I look up, his cool blue gaze holds mine, unwavering and intense. A silent message, an invitation that stirs something in me I don’t entirely understand.

Carolyn gives me a look from the other side, half-amused, half-surprised, and I force myself to look away, pretending to focus on my notes.

But no amount of distraction can erase the elation coursing through me—the undeniable sense that I’ve crossed a line and there’s no turning back.