Page 162 of Love Sick

“You’ll miss it, won’t you?” Alesha asks.

I nod. “Bittersweet memories.”

She hugs me tight. “Been a crazy four years, but it wouldn’t have been the same without you.”

You either, unfortunately.

Kai leaps on my back so I’m sandwiched between them. “My girls!”

We laugh and reluctantly separate. I head toward a group of second-years to chat. When Julian joins my side in the dining room an hour later, he wears a satisfied smile.

I kiss his cheek. “Did you win?”

“Nope.” He pulls me closer and lifts my chin.

“Then what’s that smile about?”

His grin grows crooked. “Did you know you’re sparkling again?”

I scowl. He’s always pestering me about the glitter. “I like sparkles, Julian.”

He pecks a quick kiss on my mouth. “I know.”

Two second-year women beside us squeal. “Aww!”

Still wrapped in each other’s arms, we turn toward them.

“You guys are straight up relationship goals,” one says—the woman who called pregnancy the most common STD in her interview.

I let out an awkward laugh.

The other nods. “Please say I can come to your wedding.”

Julian snorts. “Sure. Come on.” He looks at me. “Did you set a date yet?”

“Um.” I wiggle my bare left hand in his face, eyes wide.

“Oh right. Poor Gracey.”

I laugh. “Why must you abuse me so?”

His head dips closer and he whispers, “Let’s go home, and I’ll make it up to you.”

A thrill flutters through my stomach as his lips brush my ear. His hand traces my waist before he backs away. I’m distracted while we make our goodbyes, my gaze straying back to Julian again and again. Carefree, he laughs with Kai and shakes Maxwell’s hand.

Back in the truck, Julian capitulates to my music demands again, and a growing intuition wakes in my mind. “What’s going on?”

Streetlights flash over his face. “What do you mean?”

I narrow my eyes. “Something’s up.”

Chuckling, he shakes his head. “Nothing’s up.”

My Christmas red nails drum on the center console, and I stare at his profile. A suspicious creature lurking inside pokes her head out and squints at him.

What are you up to, Santini?

He takes my hand in his and we ride the rest of the way in silence.

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