Page 47 of Head Under Water

Something changes in the way he’s looking at me. “Maybe she could’ve said that rather than making people wait for her.”

“Right. Because it really sounded like…people…waited.”

He leans forward, his voice so low no one else can hear. “I did.” Our eyes catch. “I waited, Opal. Until it was clear you weren’t coming.”

“And then you made other arrangements. Logically. Because neither of us have phones.”

He just looks at me, eyes searching mine for answers I don’t have. Because the truth is, I don’t know why I’m upset. I didn’t want him to wait, and somehow, it’s worse that he did. I wanted to be mad at him. And this is harder because I’m not so sure I can be.

His jaw tics. “Why do you even care? It wasn’t like we were going to end up… You weren’t coming to my room after.”

I choke back a laugh. “So that makes it better? You were just planning to kill time with me until someone you actually wanted to sleep with came along? Why waste your time?”

His eyes move over my face, then…slowly, something behind his expression brightens. “You’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m tired. Because you two kept me up all night with the porn you were apparently making.”

His eyes flare. “I told you I don’t get complaints, didn’t I?”

My lips press together. “No one needs to be that loud.”

His mouth quirks. “Keep telling yourself that. Let me know if you ever care to be proven wrong.”

“You wish.”

“Kinda sounds like you wish.”

The air between us is thick now. Hot. Dangerous.

“There are my star students, hard at work.”

Ice water douses my skin.

Professor Gene approaches our table, his arms full of books. Will and I break apart as if we’ve been caught in the middle of something. “How was the conference? Did you come back loaded with knowledge?”

“Oh, yeah,” Will says, adjusting the pages in front of him.

“Absolutely,” I lie, breathless.

His lips turn up, rosy cheeks lifting. “I have to say, I couldn’t have chosen better student volunteers this semester. You know, I always wanted to take on two people, but the idea that they wouldn’t get along or would argue about who was in charge held me back from it for years. But now that it seems you’ve become friends, I almost wish I’d done it sooner.”

“Yep,” Will says, throwing an arm around my shoulders. He doesn’t hesitate. He pulls me in like he’s done it a thousand times, like he has the right. “Best friends, right, Opal?” His finger runs over my arm rhythmically, slowly, venturing dangerously close to touching my breast. Under the table, he taps his foot.

I almost stiffen, but force my muscles to relax instead. Two can play this game. I lean into him, snuggling against his warmth like it’s totally normal—as if I have every right to be here.

“Truly,” I lie through my teeth.

My hand rests next to my cheek, fingers splayed across his hard chest.

He flicks a glance my way, clearly shaken. His heart kicks erratically under my palm, and as he realizes I must feel it, his fingers flex against my arm, like he’s restraining himself.

He applies just enough pressure to make my pulse spike as he turns his head toward me again slightly. His scent is cool and earthy, like the air just after it storms. I hate that I know it by heart. In any room.

Gene looks past us, his eyes locking on someone in the distance. “Ah, I should run. But you guys keep up the good work, okay? Can’t wait to see those presentations.”

And with that, he’s gone.

Will’s head turns more, far enough that his lips brush my temple.