Page 25 of Olivia’s Only Pretending (Sweet River #3)

I remembered how my sisters and I would spot a happy older couple, or a couple chasing their kids at the park, and we would swoon over the natural way those couples moved throughout the world together: hands reaching for hands reflexively; shoulders playfully, instinctively bumping into one another; eyes catching across dinner tables and crowded rooms; a hand brushing a loose strand out of an eye; a hand sweeping across a shoulder as the other walked by.

It was that simple but rhythmic way two people would lean into each other.

Two halves never quite close enough, always reaching, always leaning, to get a little closer.

No measly armrest was enough to keep them apart.

I swallowed, my mouth dry. The crowd was laughing at something. Victor chuckled, and his eyes snagged on my gaze. He searched my eyes. I pretended to laugh, but his eyes narrowed, noting it was fake.

I looked ahead at the stage.

I was on high alert, so I noticed when Victor’s left hand reached for my right hand resting between us, hovering for a moment with our skin barely grazing. Then, as if he realized what he was doing, he quickly snatched it back to himself.

He scratched at his chin. I tried not to think about how that chin felt against my own skin—a diabolically perfect amount of stubble.

Colleagues around me were nodding to the lecture, taking notes, and murmuring thoughts to people beside them. I was thinking about Victor’s shaving habits and wondering if I could come up with a good enough reason to break our new no-contact rule.

Victor leaned down and pulled a pen out of my tote. I chuckled inwardly that he knew me and my routines so well that he could casually reach into my pen pocket without looking.

He wrote a note on the back of a bulletin we were handed when we walked in and slipped it into my hand.

You okay?

He’d written in thick, blunt handwriting.

I glanced up at him. His eyes were full of care as they rested on me attentively. I nodded.

He grabbed the sheet again and wrote furiously before setting it on my lap.

I’m sorry I showed up unannounced. I got excited. I think I have too much fun being your boyfriend.

I turned my head and shook my head at him, reaching across his chest to steal the pen.

I wrote,

I’m not upset. I like that you’re here.

He wrote back,

Is it because of…?

He nodded his head toward Ryan.

I bit my lip. I wasn’t too bothered by Ryan’s presence. I’d gotten fully distracted by Victor’s presence.

I think I’m tired!

I wrote a measly excuse.

Your hot young buck keeping you up too late?

Victor wrote in big, thick letters with a winky face.

This made me snort again. I covered my mouth.

When suddenly, a shrill beep started ringing across the auditorium.

In a matter of seconds, the audience was scrambling, and the lights were back on.

People raced for exits—no one following the fire alarm protocol we’d practiced during drills or training as staff.

Victor and I jumped up, turning toward the aisle to exit our row. He reached his hand for mine, pulling me behind him. I bumped into Ryan, who was trying to race past us, causing me to drop my armload of things.

Ryan sputtered to a stop, dropping to his knees to hurriedly grab the notebook, pen, and papers I’d dropped when he slammed into me. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he said anxiously.

Victor bent down to help, and Ryan waved him off as he stacked my fallen papers.

Ryan set the bulletin that was in the pile on top of the stack, his eyes stopping on the big, thick letters about too many late nights with my young buck. He shoved the papers into my arms, his cheeks blazing red.

Victor held back a pleased smile. Ryan hurried ahead of us.

I slowed my pace, falling in step with Victor as we weaved through the crowd.

“I suspect the alarm might be a prank,” I said, my voice raised over the chatter.

“You think?”

“There’s been quite a few alarms pulls across campus this semester. I’m wondering if it’s some frat initiation thing or a freshman dare.”

“Some annoying guy who thinks it’s hilarious.”

“Some young buck,” I murmured. We stepped out onto campus, sunlight hitting our eyes.

“You gotta watch out for ’em, I tell ya.” Victor shook his head.

Victor and I kept our eyes on each other, an unspoken thing hanging in the air between us, thick like smoke, always pulling me under.

We stood at the entrance, an announcement sounding over the speakers that it was a false alarm and that they’d resume the lecture shortly.

Victor’s eyes fell on mine, and he opened his mouth to speak.

“Well, hey, you two,” Gabby said, skipping up the steps. The sky was still gray, and the cool damp of rain hung in the air. “I didn’t see you in there.”

“We were in the middle rows,” I said, trying to collect myself after the whirlwind of the past few minutes.

“I was up front. I can’t believe someone pulled the stupid alarm again. I’m getting tired of this prank. It’s been interrupting too many classes.” Gabby pinched the bridge of her nose.

“I heard someone woke up a whole dorm the other night,” I added. “All these students stuck outside in their pajamas for an hour.”

“Well, maybe they finally found the culprit?” Victor offered hopefully.

“Doubtful. There’s been so many cases, I’m wondering if they’re connected somehow.

” Gabby tapped her chin like she was a detective on the case.

Then, like she’d just been awoken from her own thoughts, she said, “I can’t believe you’re sitting in this super long lecture about classics, Victor.

Are you even interested in classical antiquity? ”

“I’m barely grasping what classical antiquity means,” Victor admitted. “But the professors are super hot.”

My cheeks flamed.

Gabby chuckled, unsurprised. “Or something like that got you attending boring lectures, huh?”

“Okay, okay, let’s head back in. This is your last chance to bail, Victor, if you so choose. We’re not even halfway through the lecture,” I said, as people flowed around us back into the building.

Victor slid his arm around me, his warm fingertips pressing into my shoulder through my button-down. “I’m in it for the long haul.”

At that, Gabby shot me a knowing glance, and I quickly marched ahead toward our seats.

I’d always been a good student who paid full attention during classes, but I missed most of this lecture because Victor and I passed notes the entire time.

Should I change my ringtone to Hot for Teacher?

I need to ban you from this campus from now on. You are a distraction.

As your hot young bf I’m just fulfilling my duties.

what are these hot young bf duties?

duty number 1 is to make your day easier

duty number 2 is to make you laugh

duty number 3 is to be a good copilot

duty number 4 is to distract you with my charm and good looks

You mean distract me with your goofball antics?

goofball antics and good looks

we probably look like highschoolers passing notes right now!

Hey, Dr. Rhodes needs a distraction every now and then.