Page 14 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

LUCY

I slid into an open seat near the back of the lecture hall in the university’s science building, tugging my hoodie sleeves over my wrists as I pulled out my notebook.

First day of spring semester. First class after my morning strength and conditioning workout.

And it had to be chemistry—my sworn academic nemesis.

The room smelled faintly of dry-erase markers and old carpet. The giant whiteboard at the front had a few ghost-like equations from some other poor soul’s chemistry class still half-visible. I stared at the blank page in my notebook, tapping the capped end of my pen against the corner.

Maybe this would be the year chemistry and I finally got along.

Unlikely.

I sighed and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, glancing toward the door as another student walked in. Then another. Then?—

My heart did a triple twisting double tuck in my chest.

Owen .

He was here. In my chemistry class?

Had he registered for classes after our conversation?

A smile burst across my face before I could stop it, and I lifted my hand in a wave. He looked up, caught sight of me, and a range of emotions seemed to pass over him—first shock, then confusion, then something else— dread? —before he settled on a polite smile.

Which, yeah, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised that he wasn’t excited to see me after the way we’d left things at Ky’s house.

Stupid Nicole saying stupid things.

And stupid me for panicking and just saying even more stupid things.

“Hey,” I said once he made it to my row, sliding into the seat beside me to make room for him. “What are you doing here? I mean, not that I’m not glad to see you. I am. Really glad. I just…I didn’t realize you were in college, too.”

“I figured you’d be surprised to see me here after our last conversation,” he said, sitting down and setting his leather bag on the floor beside him.

“Were you already signed up before New Year’s, or did something we said make you decide to enroll last-minute?”

“Definitely already signed up.” He huffed out a small laugh.

Really? Why hadn’t he just told us then?

“You should’ve said something,” I said. “Put Nicole in her place. She’s so judgmental. I promise I’m not actually that close with her—just met each other at one of Ky’s parties last year. We definitely don’t share the same brain or opinions.”

“That’s okay,” he said. “I get it.” Then his gaze slid to mine. “I didn’t realize you were a student. I thought you said you graduated…”

“Umm…about that…” I said, biting my lip as I tried to f igure out a way to explain my little lie of omission.

“You see, I guess I figured you were probably quite a few years older than me and when you assumed I was done with college, I decided to just let it go since I’m…

actually not too far off. I’m a senior. So it’s just a few months away.

And well…I guess since I was already having such a good time with you, I didn’t want the age gap to make you feel weird about talking to me… ”

“Oh, so you’re a senior?” he asked, a hint of relief in his voice. “This class is usually packed with freshmen and sophomores, so for a second I was worried I’d—” He glanced around, like he was suddenly aware of how loud his words might be. “Well…you know.”

“Oh—” I laughed, understanding why he’d think that. “Yeah, I’m almost twenty-two.” Which at least was better than being eighteen if he was worried he’d completely robbed the cradle.

“You’re only twenty-one?” He groaned, blinking his eyes shut briefly.

Okay…so maybe the age gap was still an issue.

Which, I’d guess, was understandable. He was close to Theo’s age. Six or seven years was a lot…

“So…what’s your major?” I asked, hoping a change of topic might keep him from looking like he was going to be sick. “Did you decide on one yet?”

“Well, since being a mixologist is kind of like mixing chemicals…” He tilted his head. “I figured I’d give chemistry a try.”

“That’s cool. And I really do think it’s awesome you’re giving college a try.

It’s never too late.” I grinned, trying not to be too obvious about how much I liked hearing that he actually did have some goals for the future.

I mean, being a bartender was fine…but a degree was always good to have in your back pocket.

“Maybe we can get on the professor’s good side and score some extra credit points. I’m not exactly a science whiz. ”

“Let me guess,” he said, glancing at me sideways. “You waited until your last semester to take this class?”

“Guilty,” I said, wincing. “I was hoping the requirement would magically get cancelled or something.”

He chuckled. “Well, I heard it’s Professor Park’s first year teaching here, so maybe holding out for the right professor will pay off.”

“Hopefully,” I muttered. “Though, with my luck, he’ll be a cranky old guy with a superiority complex who can’t grasp the concept that some people need extra help to understand chemistry.”

“I think he’s used to working with students who’ve had a rough time with the subject.” Owen gave a small nod, something in his expression unreadable. “He used to teach high school students at the academy before EFU hired him this fall.”

My brows pulled together. “You must’ve really researched our professor when picking this class.”

“I usually like to know what I’m getting into,” he said, checking his watch. “Oh, looks like it’s about time for class to start.”

And instead of pulling out a notebook or something to get ready for class like I expected, he grabbed his bag and stood.

Was he going to sit somewhere else then?

So much for hoping we could still be friends after that stupid blunder on New Year’s morning.

“I hope you enjoy the class,” he said, straightening his button-down. And then he stepped back into the aisle and started walking down the stairs toward the front of the room.

Maybe he just likes sitting in the front row, I told myself, hoping his reason for moving seats had nothing to do with me.

But instead of sitting at another desk, or turning down another row, he walked all the way to the floor and set his bag on the desk.

Wait.

What?

I blinked, sitting up straighter in my chair, every nerve in my body going on high alert as he stepped up to the podium with a printed sheet of notes in his hand.

No… He couldn’t be…

He turned, scanned the room, and then looked right at me, the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

“Good afternoon,” he said, his voice clear and steady. “I’m Professor Park. Welcome to Intro to Chemistry.”

My jaw hit the desk.

He was?—

No.

No, no, no.

My stomach dropped straight through the floor as the full weight of what I’d said…what I’d assumed— what we’d done —came crashing down around me.

Professor Park.

Owen.

The guy I made out with in a hot tub at midnight.

The same guy I’d just patronizingly congratulated on signing up for classes because I’d assumed he was “just a bartender” who’d slacked off for most of his twenties.

Oh.

My.

Gosh.

I was going to die. Literally combust in my chair from embarrassment. There would be no surviving this semester.

Because I’d kissed my chemistry professor.

Twice.

And then completely burned all the bridges the next day.