Page 38 of Wish You Were Mine (Kings of Eden Falls #3)

Theo’s friend: Also…Theo marrying a Vanderbilt, and the way Ky’s friends acted like you kissing a bartender was slumming it? I assume your parents probably hope you’ll eventually marry someone in a similar social class.

I read it once.

Then again.

Nothing in his words was necessarily judgmental…but I couldn’t quite tell how he felt about all of that.

Was he trying to figure out if I thought I was out of his league because of my family’s connections and everything that came with the Archibald name?

I knew a first-year college professor—especially one who moonlighted as a bartender—probably wasn’t exactly raking it in. But from what I’d seen so far, Owen was surrounded by successful, wealthy friends. So he shouldn’t be unfamiliar with my family’s world.

Plus, didn’t he say he’d grown up pretty well off?

And it wasn’t like I was rich. My scholarship covered tuition, room, and board. I’d made a little money here and there when a few of my TikToks went viral, and I was hoping to use my future marketing degree to grow that side of things eventually.

But everything else? That still came from my parents.

Which meant, in a lot of ways, I still depended on them.

Very much like I had as a kid.

Me: Does it bother you that I’m an Archibald?

His reply came a moment later:

Theo’s friend: No. Of course not. I mean…aside from the part where your dad scares the crap out of me.

I laughed softly, then looked up—just in time to meet his gaze again across the rink.

And suddenly, the meaning behind his words hit me in a new way.

If he was worried about my dad, then maybe…he cared.

Maybe this wasn’t just some one-sided fleeting crush. Maybe it meant something.

Maybe despite the obstacles in our way, he, too, was hoping for the possibility of more.

“Who are you texting?” Nora leaned toward me, clearly picking up on the fact that I’d been half-in, half-out of the game for the past ten minutes.

I quickly clicked the side button on my phone, locking the screen and hiding the thread labeled Theo’s Friend .

But Nora wasn’t an idiot. And she was someone I trusted.

So I looked at her, smiled, and said, “I’m texting Owen.”

“Oooh.” Her eyes lit up like Christmas. “That’s fun.”

“Yeah.” I smiled back, warmth blooming in my chest.

It really is.

The sound of skates slicing across ice pulled my attention back to the rink, just in time to see Brody wind up from near center ice and send the puck flying. It sailed past two defenders and somehow slipped right between the goalie’s pads.

The crowd went wild .

Nora and I jumped up, screaming and clapping, our voices lost in the sea of cheers. I looked toward the ice, heart still pounding, and caught Brody glancing up into the stands.

His gaze swept over our section, and for a second, it almost felt like he was looking for me. And when he smiled my way, I had the feeling he found what he was looking for.

“Okay,” Nora said, bumping her shoulder into mine. “I think we might’ve been right about Brody having a thing for you.”

I laughed, breathless from cheering. “I think you’re right.”

But then, my phone buzzed in my hand. The screen lit up and Nora caught a glimpse of it.

“Too bad Professor McDreamy already stole your attention.”

“Yeah…” I bit my lip, trying not to grin too obviously.

The crowd settled down again, and we slid back into our seats as the teams lined up for the last few minutes of the game. I pulled my phone out and glanced at the message.

Theo’s friend: What are you doing after this?

My heart did an immediate little flip as I anticipated why he might be asking.

Me: Nora and I are going to a party at the hockey house…but I’m not really sure I want to go.

Okay, maybe I only added that last part just in case he’s thinking about asking me to hang out…

Me: What about you?

His response came a moment later.

Theo’s friend: My friends want to grab gelato at The Italian Amigos after this. Then I think I’ll watch a movie when I get home.

Me: Nice. Gelato and movies are always a good idea.

I read my text again, wondering if I should’ve said something more . Something that made it more obvious that I was open to hanging out if he was.

That I didn’t care about following the unspoken rules we’d set in place the moment we found out he was my professor.

I mean…I’d already spent time at his apartment twice this week and nothing had happened.

It should be fine for two people who enjoyed each other’s company to just hang out, right?

Theo’s friend: I probably shouldn’t be saying this but…if you change your mind about the party, I’d love some company.

My breath caught.

I looked up across the rink and found him already looking in my direction .

Our eyes met.

And then, casually, like it cost him nothing and everything all at once, he gave me a small shrug.

Like he knew he shouldn’t have said it.

Like he couldn’t help himself.

Like he hoped I couldn’t either.

My fingers were already moving as I typed:

Me: Nora drove me here, and I probably shouldn’t be seen leaving with you…but maybe I can make a showing at the party and then meet you somewhere.

I hit Send .

And for a second, all I could hear was the sound of my heart thudding inside my ears.

Theo’s friend: Sounds perfect. Gelato shouldn’t take long. I’ll text you when I’m done, and hopefully you’ll still want to see me.