Page 15 of Test Me
“Liar. You do it all the time.” He chuckled.
“Thank you for highlighting my awkward moments. I really appreciate it. Maybe I should start cataloguing yours, Joshua.”
Josh’s grin became full-on bravado. “I’m never awkward. And you can call me Joshua all you like now. I’m immune to it.”
“I know,” I replied dismally. “It’s annoying.”
“Well, I like your awkward moments. They make you… you.”
Some small ember of warmth flared to life in my chest at the tone of his voice. “Thank you. I’ll endeavor not to be hyperaware of just how awkward I am so you can continue to enjoy it.”
“Good,” he said earnestly, then ticked his chin toward one of the library’s soaring windows. “Man, it’s really coming down now.” A winter storm warning had been issued earlier in the afternoon, and what had started as a light dusting of white over the campus had accumulated to at least an inch when I’d walked into the library.
I detached my gaze from Josh long enough to spy the fat flakes of snow as they whirled through the air. “I guess we should wrap this up, yeah?”
8
JOSH
“Probably so.” I shoved my laptop in my backpack and snuck a glance at Logan as he did the same. Despite my resolution to keep things professional, I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about him, and now I was trying not to overthink what he’d shared about his date with Chet. I couldn’t deny the flood of relief that coursed through me when Logan had said he didn’t think they’d see each other again.
But that didn’t necessarily mean they wouldn’t. Or thatIhad a shot with him.
Snow pelted us as we walked out of the library. The ground was already covered with enough of the stuff that our shoes didn’t crunch as we walked, just silently pocked the path. Logan stuffed his hands in the pockets of his coat and lowered his head against a sudden gust of wind.
“Gah, weather like this makes me already miss the fireplace at home,” I grumbled.
“Weather like this makes me miss the beach,” Logan countered, batting some snow from his face.
“How did I know you’d say the exact opposite, you contrary bastard.” I nudged his shoulder. “You said you’re from Florida, right? Panhandle?”
“Yeah, Pensacola. My dad’s in the Navy and there’s a base there. We moved around some when I was a kid but ended up back there eventually, so I consider it home. The beaches are really nice. I’ll take that over Rhode Island winters I suffered through for four years any day.”
“I’m trying to imagine you surfing.” Mostly I was imagining Logan with far less clothing on.
Logan barked out a laugh. “There’s not much surfing there, but skimboarding and bodyboarding, sure.”
“Did you do those?”
“Once was enough. I like the ocean best from a beach blanket and umbrella.”
I shook my head with a grin. I could see him perfectly, hunkered down on a towel under an umbrella, reading.
Logan slowed. “I need to do Wednesday instead of Tuesday next week, if that’s okay? But I can do eight.”
“Fine with me.”
“Great. See ya then.” Logan picked up speed and started to veer off.
“Logan!”
When he spun around, I lobbed the snowball I’d hastily scooped from the ground. White exploded in his face, and his mouth dropped open in shock. “Did you just?—”
“Holy shit. Oh shit.” I cackled like a maniac. “Payback for that pie! Turnabout’s fair play! I didn’t think it would land that dead on, though. Oh mannnn, I’m sorry.” I was semi-sorry. His indignant expression was way too amusing.
“Really?” Logan swiped at the snow avalanche sliding down his face. “A guy who spends hours practicing hurling a ballacross a field every day didn’t think he could actually aim?” He dropped his backpack in the snow.
“Okay, well I didn’t mean to throw it with such force. There’s a physics problem in there for sure. If I hurl a snowball at a velocity of—whoa, whoa, what—?” I threw my hands up defensively as Logan scooped snow from the ground and sent it sailing in my direction in a cloud of white.