Page 67 of Until We Meet Again

"Of course it is. I know you wouldn't tell her unless you trusted her, and you should be able to talk about us with your friend."

"Will you be telling your brother?"

"Absolutely not."

"Wow, answer faster next time."

"If I tell him, he'll probably marry us off within a week."

I'm not marriage material—good enough to screw but not to wife up.

"Well, luckily for you, that's the last thing I'd ever want." I try to adjust my tone to sound as unbothered as possible, but I can feel my energy shift. I find it hard to mask my feelings, and he's annoyingly perceptive.

He nods as his eyes meet mine, and a silent understanding passes between us that doesn't need an explanation.

Feeling the need to get out of here, even if it's a little early, I grab my things, and he walks me to the front door. I catch one last glimpse of him in his suit, and my mouth starts to water. I'm pissed with him for reasons I can't even explain, but I can't deny the impact he has on my body and how it responds to him.

"I'll see you in class tomorrow." He looks confused when I swing open his front door, casually stepping out without acknowledging him.

"Hey?" I stop and turn back to him, his eyes saying a thousand things, but I can't figure out one of them. "You don't leave me without saying goodbye, not ever."

"Bye." I step towards him and gently kiss his cheek before I watch him walk back into the house and close the door behind him.

Chapter 30

Tessa

Something inside me doesn't feel right. I'm off-balance, and I know it's because of Zane—the feelings that I'm having are the kind of feelings people write romance books about.

After saying goodbye to him this morning, I went about my day as usual. Even though my classes went well—as they usually do, my education is something I never let slide, no matter how I feel—my thoughts have been on him, and I know I need a little guidance.

There are things I need to say out loud—things that are swirling inside me—that I can't say to him out of fear of rejection. But is it right that I can't tell the guy I'm having these feelings for that he's stealing my heart?No. I know it isn't right.

But I think that perhaps, just maybe, I'm falling for him.

I considered calling my mom, but only for a fraction of a second. My family is pretty conventional; I know she wouldn't get it. No member of the perfect all-American white picket fence family would ever cause controversy, such as screwing yourcollege professor. They love me, but they'd be disappointed in me, and I'm not prepared to make myself feel any worse right now.

After I arrive home and begin to question my entire fucking life, I find a message from Jen.

J: I'm so sorry! I got called into work. They're doing a special doggy date night where singles bring their pups, like speed dating. It's so weird, but can we do something tomorrow instead?

I chuckle as I read, and even though I need to get all of my Zane issues off my chest, I desperately need a good night's sleep after spending the last few nights awake with him.

T: Tomorrow's good. Please send me updates, like whether the owners immediately shut it down if their dogs hate each other or if any of them start humping each other—the dogs, not the owners.

J: Updates will be fired through, along with pics.

I didn't speak to Zane after I left him yesterday. It's the longest we've gone without talking since the day he messaged me on the app. I fell asleep early and missed his message asking how I was doing, which I only saw when I woke up this morning.

I can't pretend I didn't lie in bed craving his touch, his mere presence, and the way I feel when I'm around him. However, for a few hours, I tried my hardest to suppress those feelings and almost willed myself to fall asleep as quickly as possible to gethim out of my head, a place where he takes up far too much space these days.

Am I ready to see him this morning? Yes.

No.

On days that I have Zane’s class, I try to show up early. During those few stolen minutes, we only ever exist as Zane and Tessa. But after not speaking to him and being stuck with all these intrusive thoughts, I need that time with him even more.

As I approach the classroom door, I see Tobias walking toward me. "You're early today, Blondie."

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