Page 52 of One-Time Shot

Okay, the distraction worked. Darn it, he was clever.

“You’re supposed to be with them.” It was a statement, not a question.

“I was invited, if that’s what you mean. I chose not to go.”

“Oh.”Don’t ask, don’t ask, don’t ask.“Do they know you’re with me?”

Dagnabit!

“I told them I had plans. And I do.”

I nodded. “I hope this isn’t making trouble for you.”

His furrowed brow made his sunglasses lift from his face in profile. “Why would it?”

“It’s one thing to befriend someone for scholastic purposes and quite another to take an overnight trip clear to the Canadian border.”

Jett snickered. “Buffalo isn’t on the border.”

“It absolutelyison the border,” I gasped.

“Are you sure?”

I proceeded to give coordinates with the city’s relation to the Niagara River, the Falls, as well as a few facts regarding trade routes. My lecture extended to the international bridge crossing from Fort Erie to Ontario, and was bound to lead to a short history lesson—built in 1764 as a supply base for the British troops, in case you were curious.

But I stopped abruptly. “You did that on purpose.”

He checked his sideview mirror and exited the interstate. “What did I do?”

“You let me babble till I’d forgotten the original thread of conversation. Very crafty of you.” I snorted.

“It worked,” Jett singsonged. “By the way, I’m not ‘supposed’ to be anywhere. I’m here ’cause this is where I want to be. It was my idea, remember?”

Oh. That was romantic.

“I know.”

Jett reached over and squeezed my knee. “Do me a favor and check the directions to the hotel. I think it’s on Genesee Road.”

He did it again. This time I barely noticed.

* * *

We checked into the hotel and walked through the town square toward St. Clement’s main campus. A cold wind whipped off the river and whistled through the bare trees on the quaint streets. I zipped my winter jacket to my chin as I took in the scenery—the Majestic Brew coffee shop, the Quirky Quill bookstore, Calamari’s Italian restaurant, the Striped Tiger Café. The colorful windows were decorated with holiday cheer amid college pennants and random knickknacks featuring pictures of the grand pillared student center.

I loved it already. The town looked and felt a lot like Smithton.

“This is cool,” Jett remarked as if reading my mind.

We strolled around the quad and made our way to the physics building.

“This is it. My appointment is in ten minutes. I shouldn’t be long. I’m not sure what we’ll discuss. The usual interview-style inquiries, I imagine. Thisisan interview…sort of. I think. I’m not a hundred percent positive. It might be more of a visit, and that’s okay, too. A friendly hello. Strange to drive two hours just to pop in and give one’s regards to?—”

Jett grabbed my face and slanted his mouth over mine…on the steps of the McKinley Building in the middle of the week in broad daylight where anyone might see us.

He released me, brushing our noses and meeting my gaze. “Relax. You’re gonna be amazing.”

Shock rendered me speechless. I nodded, barely resisting the urge to touch my lips as I headed inside.