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This week should just be an introduction to the class, so not much to stress over. But maybe reading a book would be a good start ;)

I feel my cheeks heat up, and I hope no one in the lecture hall noticed. Did this man really just send me a winky face after telling me to read a book? I hate the way my hands shake as I type out a response. I feel like a teenager all over again.

Eden Miller:

Sounds good! Any recommendations from the expert?

I bite my nails, hoping my response doesn’t come across as too flirty. Or maybe I did want it to come across as flirty. I hadn’t made up my mind by the time Oliver replies.

He suggests a short novella currently trending on social media. A romance one, which seems to be popular these days. Something about an ice hockey player and the new team photographer. I send him my thanks, and when class finishes I can’t get back to my room fast enough. Of course, Gemma is already there.

“How do you know my code?”

Gemma looks up at me from her position on my bed, elbow deep in a packet of chips as she scrolls aimlessly on her phone. She shrugs. “Been the same since first year. You’re very predictable.”

I sling my bag down next to my desk before flopping into bed next to her. “I hate him,” I mumble into my pillow. When Gemma doesn’t respond, I turn my head to her. Even though my glasses are askew, I can still see the look of innocence she feigns.

“Oh! Surely you can’t mean your very hot, very smart tutor?” I throw my pillow at her, which she catches with ease, hugging it to her chest. “Come on, tell me what happened.”

“I can’t focus on class. The lecture went completely over my head, and he told me to read a book.”

“A book? I don’t see what’s wrong with…Oh.” Gemma goes speechless when I show her the title he suggested on my phone.

“What? What’s wrong? Have you read it?”

Gemma blushes, which is something she does not do often. “Well…yeah. And it’s pretty spicy if you know what I’m saying.” I’m confused.

“Why did he tell me to read it then?” I swear Gemma’s eyes almost roll to the back of her head.

“You cannot be that thick.”

“Humour me.”

“He’s obviously into you. This is a test. You read a bit of romance, he asks you if you liked it and ta-da he has an in with you. Testing the waters, you know. Seeing what you’re into.”

“Stupid idea,” I grumble.

Gemma nudges me, handing me the bag of chips. “Give him a chance. Read the book. Who knows? You could be re-enacting some of the scenes soon enough.” She doesn’t dodge the next pillow I throw at her, and we dissolve into a fit of giggles.

* * *

The book was stupid, by the way. I dragged myself through all a hundred pages of it before my session with Oliver this weekend. And it was painful. Physically painful. I fail to understand how one can write a book with no plot. Oh, and no interesting characters either. All they did was…yeah. And lots of it.

Meeting Oliver today could not have come soon enough. I spend way too long in the mirror fussing over my appearance than I would have liked to, so when my alarm beeps telling me to leave I resist the urge to sigh. Since the sun has failed to make an appearance today, my usual jean-and-jumper combination will have to do.

It’s a short walk to my favourite library on campus, which gives me time to try and clear my head. It’s bad enough that I’m stressing over this class, but adding a cute boy to the mix? It’s simply not fair. By the time I reach the library I’m wound up so tight I’m scared I’ll snap.

I spot Oliver as soon as I walk in, sitting in one of the booth tables just across from the entrance. Sunlight is dappled across the desk and his face, which is buried in a paperback book. He seems to sense me watching him and looks up, giving me a grin, green eyes sparkling. They are such a captivating colour when the sun hits them…Eden. No. Don’t go there. I feel like I need to spray myself with water like a feral cat.

“Hey! How have you been?” He asks as I settle into the spot across from him.

I pull my laptop out of my bag and respond dryly. “I don’t know how I’m going to make it through this semester.”

He laughs warmly, and it’s a glorious sound. There’s something about being in Oliver’s presence that calms me. Only slightly, but it’s enough to take the edge off. “That good, huh?”

The first class of this subject wasn’t the worst, but definitely wasn’t the best. The tutor seems nice enough and the people around me seem to be focused on the work, rather than online shopping like other classes.

“Better than the book you told me to read me, that’s all I can say.”