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“I don’t want to try more shops, Eden.” Gemma flings the curtain open with a flourish, somehow changed already. “I want to cut my legs off so I never have to wear jeans again!”
“Alright. Let’s get you fed.”
Gemma follows without a word, pouting as we head towards the bubble tea place I know is her favourite. Right on cue, she lights up.
“Ooo! I heard they brought out a new flavour this month! Eden, you’re the best.”
“I know you too well,” I smile as we weave through the crowd. I also know that if she spent another moment locked in that changeroom she would start chewing on the curtain. And I don’t want to deal with that. Again.
“So,” Gemma starts as we finally sit down with our drinks. Taking a sip of her purple taro bubble tea, she turns her attention to me. “Much on for the mid-semester break?”
I shrug. “The usual. Heading back to see the family. I’m happy for the time off, though. This research project has been difficult to say the least.”
I love it. I love it so much. But it’s taking up more time than I expected to, and between that and the problem of my hot tutor, there’s not much time left for my other university work. “What are you up to?” I continue.
“Seeing Sam, obviously.” Gemma blushes at the mention of her girlfriend, who works at a dairy farm in the town Gemma’s from. “Probably helping out with the cows, too. Nothing like being elbow deep in cow shit to remind you that the city air isn’t that bad.”
Laughing at the mental image she paints, I stir my drink. “You should come back with me one day.” Gemma opens her mouth to talk, and I hold a hand up at her interjection. “There’s no cows, I promise. Only chickens.”
“Is Oliver going to visit?” The innocent look on her face does nothing to hide her teasing.
“No.” I kick her under my table. “He’s my tutor. We have a professional working relationship.”
“Didn’t look that professional to me at the café the other day.”
“How do you know about that?” My eyes narrow as my cheeks heat up. Gemma merely smiles.
“I have my connections. You were on my side on campus. At my favourite coffee spot. What did you expect to happen?”
Groaning, I slide deeper into my chair. “I just wanted a break from studying and asked if he wanted to catch up. As friends.”
“Mhmm. Lots of intense eye contact from two friends.”
I glare at Gemma. “We are friends!”
“Yeah. Friends who want to fu—” Clasping a hand over Gemma’s mouth, I can’t help the giggle that escapes mine.
“Shush! I don’t need the whole of Melbourne hearing about it..” Sighing, I take another sip. Gemma watches me intently.
“Ask to see him again over the break.”
“I don’t know what he’s up to. And besides, I’m gone for a few days, and he might have stuff on when I get back. Our schedules could not line up.”
“You don’t know until you try, Eden.”
“I’m seeing him at the end of this week. We’ll organise something then.” I stare Gemma down, cocking an eyebrow. “Happy?”
“Very. Now let’s make me miserable again by trying on jeans.”
* * *
I’m back in the lab today, to the surprise of absolutely no one in my life. Seated before an array of slides and samples, my afternoon consisted of preparing them to be inserted into the mass spectrometry machines.
My parents called before to see what I’m up to and the second they saw my lab coat and safety goggles they simply shrugged and said they’ll call me later. I’ll pick up, of course. I try to talk to them at least once a week, keeping them updated on my life. And yes, that does include Oliver.
Well, not everything to do with Oliver. Just the important things. The family-friendly, G-rated, things.
It’s been a few weeks since the kiss and I swear I can still feel his lips on mine if I concentrate hard enough. At this current moment, I should not be focusing on Oliver’s lips. Or hands. Or face. Or—
