Page 25 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

LUCY

When I got back to my apartment, it was quiet. Peacefully, gloriously quiet.

Nora had mentioned she had a study group tonight, so I wasn’t surprised. Still, the silence felt like a small gift after a day that had pulled me in seven different directions. I dropped my bag by the door, kicked off my shoes, and flopped onto the couch to scroll through my phone for a minute.

When my screen lit up, I was surprised to see a message from “Theo’s friend.”

Eek! My stomach did a back tuck at the sight of the nickname I’d given Owen when I added him to my contacts.

I swiped up to read the message.

Theo’s friend: Hey, sorry for getting weird when Dean Harris showed up. I’m clearly great at panicking around people who can fire me.

I laughed softly, shaking my head as the image replayed in my mind—Owen standing in his office, suddenly flustered and talking about some chemistry concept that was over my head.

It was kind of cute.

Okay, really cute.

And honestly? Totally understandable. Dean Harris definitely had that whole “stern but fair" energy that could make anyone sweat.

Which is probably why he and my dad get along so well.

I typed out a quick response.

Me: It’s totally fine. I get it.

I hovered for a second, debating whether to add something else—something flirty, maybe. A little joke. A wink.

But no…

Better to keep it appropriate.

So I just hit send .

Then…waited.

My phone stayed in my hand, thumb hovering like maybe he’d respond immediately.

The message shifted from delivered to read , but no dots.

No typing bubble.

I stared for another second—okay, maybe twenty seconds—then sighed and put my phone back in my pocket.

Guess that was it.

So I padded to my room to change into something cozy and oversized.

I shed my jeans quickly, grabbed my favorite fleece pajama pants—the thick pink ones with tiny, faded stars—and tugged them on. Then came the oversized red EFU Gymnastics hoodie that had survived more late-night cramming sessions and post-practice naps than I could count .

I was just pulling it over my head when my phone buzzed from where I’d dropped my jeans on the floor.

Dare I hope it’s him?

My heart did a hopeful little leap as I retrieved my phone and checked the screen.

It was him.

But the smile that had started to bloom on my lips dimmed slightly when I opened the message and saw it was all business. Like he’d just handed me a clipboard and walked away.

Theo’s friend: Sorry I didn’t have a chance to send these over until now. But here are the phone numbers I have for a few of Theo’s friends.

A second later, my screen filled with contact cards. Sloan. Jennifer. Miles. Bash. Rosalyn. Freddy. Ian. Evan.

Looks like my brother has more friends than I thought.

I waited a beat to see if anything else would come through, but nothing did. So I sent a quick response.

Me: Thank you so much for these. I’ll send out the invites soon.

Theo’s friend: No problem.

And just like that, the conversation was over.

Apparently.

I stared at the screen, trying to think of an excuse to keep talking.

Should I ask him something about the chemistry assignment he’d given us? (The one that I’d already finished last night.)

Though…that would probably only reinforce the whole st udent/professor thing, which I really didn’t want to do right now.

Maybe I could thank him again for helping with Theo’s party?

Though…that would just be redundant, and he’d probably only respond with a “you’re welcome” text or something impersonal like that.

What I really wanted to ask was how he’d known I’d be in Michigan this weekend. Because I was pretty sure I hadn’t mentioned anything about it.

But no. I probably shouldn’t go there either. We’d exchanged numbers for Theo’s party, and now that he’d given me those contacts, the only reason I had for texting him was technically fulfilled.

Which meant I should probably move on with my evening and get myself something to eat.

Normally, I’d grab something quick from the dining hall before coming home. But it had been such a chilly day that I’d just wanted to get home and cozy as soon as possible.

Of course, that meant I still had to figure out dinner.

I considered ordering in—but when I spotted a packet of my favorite ramen in the cupboard, I smiled.

Not exactly meal plan approved, but sometimes perfection was for the birds.

I got a pot boiling, cooked the noodles, cracked in two eggs for protein, and stirred everything together. It wasn’t gourmet, but it would do.

Just as I was pouring the steaming broth into a bowl, my phone buzzed again.

Another message from Owen?

I wiped my hands and reached for it, only to see Nora’s name.

Nora: Hey, I know I said we’d watch a movie tonight, but my study group invited me to hang out, so I’m gonna do that instead, if that’s okay.

Me: No worries. Have fun.

We’d spent so much time together in the gym already today, I wasn’t bothered. Especially since she’d mentioned there was a cute guy in her study group she was hoping would ask her out.

Hopefully, there’d be sparks.

With my ramen in hand, I curled up on the couch, pulled a cozy blanket across my lap, and flicked the TV on.

I never had time to watch anything, but the newest season of Finding Your Soulmate had just started airing, so I pulled it up and hit play .

Nothing like watching a good reality TV trainwreck to distract me from the fact that my own love life was just as derailed.

I settled into the cushions, took a bite of noodles, and had just started sinking into the show when my phone buzzed again.

Nora?

I glanced down, but it wasn’t Nora at all.

Theo’s friend: Hey, I know this is probably me just digging my grave even more. But I hope you aren’t weirded out that I knew about your meet in Michigan this weekend. I was just

I stared at the message, the rest of it cut off.

Was just what?

Looking? Curious? Secretly obsessed?

Okay, probably not that. But still? —

I bit my lip and waited.

Please send the next part. Please don’t leave me hanging.

Theo’s friend: Uh, sorry. Hit send before I meant to.

Theo’s friend: What I meant to say is that I was curious if there was a gymnastics meet here this week because I was thinking about going. And I saw that it was away. In Michigan.

I bit back a smile, my thumb hovering over the keyboard.

So he’d wanted to come watch again?

That was…unexpected. Sweet.

Maybe even a little reckless, considering everything.

I stared at the blinking cursor in our message thread for a full ten seconds, then typed:

Me: Any reason you’re suddenly interested in the sport?

Dare I hope it might have something to do with me?

My finger hovered over the send button.

Was that too much?

I could just delete it. Ask something normal. Neutral.

But…he’d started this text thread. And if he was testing the waters, maybe I could dip a toe in, too.

Just a toe , I reminded myself.

I hit Send .

The conversation dots appeared instantly.

And just like that, my heart was doing its usual traitorous thing—leaping into the air like it had just nailed a perfect routine.

Theo’s friend: It’s a fun sport to watch. Very…interesting.

I blinked, rereading that last line. Paying probably too much attention to those three dots.

He was flirting with me, right?

Hinting that he liked watching me perform…

I mean, it wasn’t as out there and obvious as what he’d said at the restaurant—when he’d mentioned that he imagined our hot tub kiss every time he saw me in class.

But…this was still something. Wasn’t it?

Trying to keep it breezy, I texted:

Me: Glad you like it. It’s my favorite sport to watch. Compete in too.

His reply came quickly.

Theo’s friend: I had a hunch it might be. Since you’re…pretty impressive at it. Definitely great to watch.

There were those three dots again.

And he thought I was impressive?

My cheeks flushed. I had to set my ramen on the end table before I accidentally spilled it all over myself. I sat up straighter, fingers tingling as I typed:

Me: Thanks. I could probably say the same about how you teach chemistry… Dragging myself to class hasn’t been nearly as hard as I thought it might be this semester…

I stared at the message after hitting Send .

Was that too much? Putting those three dots in my text like he had ?

Too obvious?

But then, another message pushed through.

Theo’s friend: If you like class that much, maybe you should sit on the front row next time. Easier to see from up there…

A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it.

Professor Park was letting his flirty side out.

And I was definitely not mad about it.

Two nights later, after dinner with the team in Kalamazoo, Michigan, I curled up on my hotel bed with my laptop open, a half-eaten protein bar next to me, and my marketing strategy notes spread out like a sad little fan.

The TV was playing a 90s sitcom in the background, and Nora and Mayci were on the other bed talking stats on Michigan’s top vaulters.

I should’ve been listening to their conversation. Or at least focusing on my notes.

But instead, I glanced at my phone.

Then checked it again.

Because yes, I might have been hoping for another message from Owen. Since yeah…we’d been texting off and on since Thursday night.

As if he’d read my mind, my screen lit up.

Theo’s friend: What are you up to tonight?

I hesitated only a second before snapping a photo of the mess beside me—highlighters, laptop, and the corner of my pajama-clad leg. Nothing scandalous. Just the plaid flannel pants I’d borrowed from Theo over Christmas break and never returned.

Me: Living the glamorous life. Homework and hotel TV.

I probably shouldn’t be sending photos to my professor…

But it was innocent enough. Right?

A second later, a message came through.

Theo’s friend: Those pajamas look dangerously comfy.

I smiled, biting my lip. Liking that he was getting more risky with his texts. Pushing the boundaries between professional and flirty a little more.

Me: They are. Might wear them to my meet tomorrow.