Page 36 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

OWEN

“I should probably take you home now, shouldn’t I?” I said to Lucy when we were finished with the party plans.

Did I want to take her home?

No. Absolutely not.

If I could have frozen time right there, just kept her curled up on my couch beside me, still smelling like vanilla and whatever heaven her shampoo was made of, I would have. I could’ve stayed like that for hours—talking about nothing, or everything.

But it was almost eight thirty, and the longer she stayed, the harder it became to remember who she was.

My student.

President Archibald’s daughter.

The girl I had absolutely no business entertaining feelings for.

“I guess.” She nodded. “I do have strength and conditioning pretty early in the morning.”

But she didn’t move.

Didn’t budge an inch, actually. Just sat there, legs still curled under her, still close enough that I could feel the warmth coming off her shoulder.

Yeah, she didn’t want to leave, either.

Relatable.

Dangerously so.

Because Lucy was…addicting. The sound of her laugh. The way she tilted her head when she was listening. The way her blue eyes lit up when she was fired up about something.

Yep. I had a crush on Lucy Archibald.

And every second we spent like this, the harder it was to pretend I didn’t.

Still, I stood—slowly. Forcing myself to be the responsible adult, the responsible professor I was supposed to be. I grabbed my keys off the counter and cracked the front door open just enough to point my key fob toward the parking lot and start my car.

I turned back toward her, grabbing her coat from where I’d draped it on the arm of the couch.

She sighed.

Yeah. Me too.

She didn’t need help putting it on. Of course she didn’t. Just like she hadn’t needed help taking it off earlier.

But still, I held it out for her.

Just being a gentleman. No ulterior motives.

She stood and stepped into it, slipping her arms through the sleeves. As she flipped her hair out from under the collar, a fresh wave of her shampoo hit me. Light and warm and impossible not to get drunk on. The same scent I’d been lowkey inhaling for the past hour on the couch.

She turned, her eyes meeting mine.

She was so beautiful.

“You should probably put your hood up when we head out.” I swallowed, my chest tightening. “Just…so it’s less likely someone recognizes you.”

Her lips curved. “Okay.”

I reached for my own coat, shrugging it on, then opened the door a little wider. “I’ll go out first. Make sure the coast is clear. You can just lock up and follow.”

“It’s like you’ve snuck around like this before,” she said, a teasing spark flashing in her eyes.

I laughed, the sound slightly more awkward than I meant for it to be. “Not quite.”

“Okay,” she said softly. “See you out there.”

I stepped outside, tugging my hood up against the night air, scanning the sidewalk and parking lot. A couple was just coming up the steps—Carla and Vince, who lived two doors down. I gave them a quick nod and kept moving, trying not to look like a guy sneaking his student out of his apartment.

At my car, I checked the area again, then pulled out my phone.

Me: Coast is clear. You’re good to come out.

And as I hit Send , I felt it again.

That tug in my chest.

The one that always came when we had to say goodbye.

I’d liked having her at my house the past two nights—liked the easy rhythm we fell into, the way her laugh filled up the quiet, the way her presence warmed the corners of my life I hadn’t realized had gone cold.

It was…nice.

Not being alone.

Having someone like her beside me to help pass the long winter night.

A moment later, she stepped out, bundled in her white puffy coat like the world’s cutest marshmallow. Her hood framed her cheeks, face protected from the cold…and from the gaze of anyone who might walk by.

She climbed into the passenger seat, tugging her seatbelt into place.

“Where do you live?” I asked, clearing my throat.

“Just two streets up,” she said, somewhat breathlessly—like she, too, was on edge at the idea of being caught. “I live in Eden Hall.”

I nodded, shifting the car into gear and pulling out of the lot.

We didn’t talk much on the short drive, just listened to the quiet hum of the heater and the low sound of the tires on the pavement. But it wasn’t awkward. It was the kind of quiet that felt full somehow.

“This is it,” she said when we reached the building—tan stucco with red brick trim and lights glowing soft behind several windows.

I pulled over to the curb; not too close, not too far. Just enough that I could still watch her make it safely inside.

“Thanks,” she said, turning toward me. “For the ride. For dinner. For…everything.”

“No problem,” I said, meaning every word. Really. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat.

I didn’t move. Just sat there stealing the moment. Wanting to find an excuse to keep her here beside me a little while longer.

But before I was ready, she reached for her seatbelt and unbuckled it, then leaned into the backseat to grab her backpack. “I’ll see you in the chemistry lab tomorrow?”

Her voice was light. But when our gazes locked, I could’ve sworn the air had shifted.

Could’ve sworn she felt it, too—the electric charge that had been between us since I first saw her sitting at the bar and tried to keep my cool while serving her a glass of water.

I wanted to kiss her so badly—to lean across the center console and take her face in my hands and see if she tasted as sweet as I remembered.

Just a little kiss. One stolen moment.

But no…I couldn’t.

Or rather, I shouldn’t.

So instead of doing what I very much wanted to do, I offered her a crooked smile that I hoped would mask everything I wasn’t saying.

That I wished we didn’t have to hide our friendship—or whatever this was.

That I wished things weren’t complicated.

That we were just a regular guy and girl enjoying a nice evening together.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said instead.

“See you.” She looked at me for another moment, her eyes full of something my brain really wanted to interpret as longing.

But then, with a sigh, she climbed out and started up the walkway. I watched her go, watched until she slipped inside the glass doors.

Then I exhaled slowly and drove away, telling myself I was doing the right thing.

Even if every cell in my body was screaming for me to call and ask her to come back.

I walked into the science building after lunch, my bag slung over one shoulder and the ghost of last night still trailing behind me .

No texts from Lucy. No accidental run-ins on the quad. Not even a glimpse of her across the dining hall.

And for some reason, the silence had me more in my head than I cared to admit. Which was probably totally ridiculous, since I knew she was busy with classes and training.

But still… Had I said too much?

Maybe I shouldn’t have opened up about my mom. My family’s losses.

It had felt natural in the moment. Needed. But now, with the daylight sharp and responsibilities settling in again, it was hard not to question whether I’d just trauma-dumped on her and crossed some kind of line.

Not necessarily professionally, but personally. Had I made her uncomfortable? Scared her off?

Which was probably a stupid thing for me to worry about since I should be trying to scare her away.

This whole thing, whatever it was between us, didn’t have a future. It couldn’t. I knew that. Had reminded myself of it a hundred times.

And yet, whenever we were alone…when it was just her and me, like at Ky’s party…it was like none of those rules applied. We were just two people talking. Laughing. Connecting.

I climbed the stairs to the second floor, slowing as I neared the lab.

And there she was.

Just like the first week of classes, Lucy stood outside the door. Looking breathtaking as usual, arms crossed lightly over her notebook, her blonde hair falling over one shoulder in a braid.

Waiting for me.

No—waiting for the class she had with me .

“Hey,” I said, my chest doing that tightening thing around my heart again.

“Hey,” she echoed, a small smile lifting her lips.

I fumbled for my key card, trying to act like unlocking a door wasn’t suddenly the most complicated task in the world. After a little more fumbling, the lock finally beeped open, and I gestured for Lucy to step inside ahead of me.

She headed toward her usual table, and I cleared my throat, needing something to say that wasn’t You look really good today or I haven’t stopped thinking about you since you left my house .

“I, uh, talked to Evan this morning,” I said instead. “He owns The Garden. He’s a friend of Theo’s, actually. Said they can definitely cater the party.”

Her face lit up. “Oh, that’s awesome!”

I nodded. “And I also texted my friend Kiara—she owns the bakery next door. She’d be happy to make whatever kind of cake you want. She’s got a ton of examples on her social media pages if you want to browse through them.”

“Wow,” she said, her eyebrows lifting. “How did you already get all that figured out? Because I’m pretty sure I’ve been stuck in the just-thinking-about-it phase for, like, three weeks.”

“I just sent a couple of texts.” I shrugged. “It was easy.”

“Well, thank you.” Her smile was warm. “You’re amazing.”

Before I could say anything back—or worse, grin like a total idiot—a student walked in. Both of us straightened like we’d been caught doing something we shouldn’t. Which, technically, we hadn’t. But the way my heart jumped said otherwise.

Lucy busied herself, pulling out her lab manual. I walked over to the front desk and opened mine, pretending like my thoughts weren’t still back on the way she’d just looked at me.

More students filtered in. I grabbed my phone, trying to act casual as I typed out a quick message.

Me: Kiara’s handle is @kiarabakes. Check out her cakes when you get a chance. Just let me know a headcount and I’ll have Evan work up a catering quote.

I watched as she pulled her phone out from her back pocket. After glancing my way briefly, she typed a response.

Theo’s sister: Thank you! I invited about 15 people and have 10 RSVPs so far. So let’s say 20 to be safe. I’m sure the guys in my building will be happy to eat any leftovers I bring back.

Why did the thought of her interacting with guys from her building send an instant pang of jealousy through me?

I was an idiot, that was why. Of course she knew the guys in her building.

Probably had to fight off their advances on a daily basis with how cute and talented she was.

Ugh . I really didn’t need to be worrying about that.

Trying to push those thoughts away, I sent her a text.

Me: Perfect.

Then I slipped my phone into my pocket. As another wave of students walked in, I glanced up, hoping no one had noticed me texting with her.

It wasn’t like we were texting anything inappropriate. Just party plans. But...blurry lines were harder to justify when the attraction I had for my student was probably written all over my face any time I looked at her.

“All right, everyone. Lab Three today.” I stepped forward when the clock hit the hour. “Instructions are in your workbooks. You’ll need your goggles and gloves for this one. If you have any questions, just let me know.”

As I glanced around the room, I noticed Lucy still sitting alone.

Today’s lab was one that would be hard to do on her own… Should I offer to help her?

My feet twitched like they wanted to move toward her table, but before I could, Brody slipped in through the door.

“Sorry I’m late,” he told her. “Had to turn in an assignment.”

“It’s okay,” Lucy said, smiling at him. “I’m just glad you showed up. I would be lost without you in here.”

I froze.

The smile she gave him—the ease in her voice—made jealousy hit fast and stupid. I tightened my jaw before I could stop it.

Of course it was irrational. He was just her lab partner. This was school. Chemistry.

I had zero reason to feel like someone had just elbowed me in the chest.

Still, I turned away, trying to look busy.

Trying not to overanalyze the way she looked at him.

Or how different it might be from the way she looked at me. Especially since he was actually Lucy’s age.

I exhaled and forced myself into motion, starting my usual loop around the lab. Checking stations. Offering reminders. Pretending like I hadn’t just watched her light up for someone else.

I should be glad that she got along so well with her lab partner. That she felt comfortable, since that was what a good chemistry professor should want for his students, right?

Too bad this particular chemistry professor keeps forgetting he’s not allowed to want her for himself.