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We’re together for the majority of the holiday break. I’m going with him to spend a few days at his parents’ house before heading home for Christmas. On the twenty-seventh he’ll join my family and we’re all headed to Aspen for New Year’s. It’s the first time we’re going out of town to celebrate that particular holiday and I’m really looking forward to it—especially ringing in the new year with Rhett.
“It’s dragging on forever,” he groans.
“You sound like Iris,” I tease.
“We’re more alike than you realize,” he says.
I lean back to stare into his eyes. They’re greener today. They seem to always be greener when he looks at me. “Maybe that’s why I like you so much.”
“I am nothing like Iris,” he gripes. But his satisfied smile makes my heart race.
A couple of boys stop by our table to offer their congratulations to Rhett and Brooks, which they both accept graciously. They won the state championship game at the beginning of December and the fact that they’re still being praised for it says a lot. So many people worship the football team—even Iris’s dad. He held a special rally for them and everything, giving Rhett the first ever Lancaster Prep MVP award. How sweet is that?
The rest of the day goes by in a blur. Our schedule is changed thanks to finals and we only have one class after lunch. I take my final and we’re let out early so I rush to the library, not even bothering to go by my room to drop anything off. I have my laptop with me and there’s a meeting scheduled with my advanced calc group at three-thirty so we can go over the study sheets our teacher gave us to prepare for the final tomorrow.
Ugh, math. My least favorite subject and one of the last finals I have to take. I’m not looking forward to it.
I spend the rest of the afternoon in the library, first with my calc group, and then on my own, finishing up a project that’s due tomorrow for American Government. Rhett never shows up. Neither does Iris.
I’m kind of irritated. I’ve told them numerous times that this semester is important because colleges will look at our grades closely, but they both blow me off. Rhett because he’s got a stellar football season that’s most likely going to get him in wherever he wants, and Iris because she’s Iris and doesn’t care.
By the time I’m trudging my way back to my dorm suite, I’m even a little angry. The weather doesn’t help. The wind is blowing and it’s downright bone-chilling. After those early storms that dumped a bunch of snow, we haven’t had any since, but one is definitely coming tonight. I can feel it.
I enter the building to see Iris lingering there, pacing the floor while tapping away on her phone. The moment she hears the door clang shut, she lifts her head, smiling at me. “There you are.
“I told you I was going to the library.” I start to walk past her and she falls into step beside me.
“What, are you mad?” She sounds amused.
“No.” I blow out a harsh breath, hating how tired I suddenly feel. “I’m just over this semester.”
“I’ve been over it since about two weeks in,” she jokes.
She’s not wrong. I remember her complaining about it.
“What are you up to now?” she asks me.
“Going to my room, taking a shower and collapsing into bed.”
“Sounds like an exciting night.” She smiles, waving at me as she stops at her door. “See ya later.”
“Bye.” I head for my door and hit the key code, opening the door to find …
Rhett standing in the middle of my room, looking nervous.
I let the door shut behind me, blinking at him. “What are you doing here?”
His smile is … nervous? “I wanted to surprise you.”
All my earlier frustration at him not showing up at the library evaporates. “Well, you did. I’m glad you’re here.”
I gave him the key code to get into my room a while ago, not that he shows up unannounced or goes into my room when I’m not there. In fact, he’s never done this sort of thing before.
“I have something for you.” He shoves his hands in his sweats’ pockets. He’s changed out of his school uniform and is wearing a gray Lancaster Prep hoodie with matching sweatpants. “An early Christmas gift.”
“You do?” Maybe I was right. That’s why he’s been acting so mysterious lately. “What is it?”
“You don’t see it?”
