Chapter 2:

Lingering Desire

The walk back to my dorm after leaving Lily felt longer than it should have. My coursemates were waiting in the common room for our group project meeting, but my mind was still wrapped up in that cafe. In her blue eyes. In the way her body had felt against mine during that second hug. I kept replaying how she had called me “babe” in her text. Just one word, and I was already spiraling.

The meeting dragged on for two painful hours. I nodded along while Sarah went on about our presentation slides, but I barely contributed.

“Ella, you okay?” Sarah asked, waving a hand...