Page 45 of The Himbo and the Lord

The only word I can think of to describe it ismonumental.

And I guess itisa monument, isn’t it?

“Are you lost?” A perky voice comes from next to me, and I turn to see a short-ish guy who... well, he looks like a nerd. Big square glasses, unruly dirty-blond hair, and big brown eyes. He’s even wearing a button-down shirt with a bow tie. He’s the picture of nerdiness.

But this place is supposed to be full of nerds, isn’t it?

And that’s agoodthing, so I better get used to it.

I’msupposed to be a nerd. I kinda am. I’m here early for a mathematics summer camp for crying out loud.

He’s talking again before I can introduce myself or answer his question, though, and his British accent is kind of adorable and somehow very different to Ru’s.

“Lots of new students get lost here. I grew up close by and I still get lost, so it’s okay. I’m not judging you. And I can help,” he adds with a little yell.

I can’t help but smile at him.

“You’re weird. I like it.”

“That’s great,” he exclaims, not looking offended at all. “You’re now my friend then.”

I chuckle. “I’m Nate Waterford, and before we can be friends I gotta know if you have a lame name.”

“Hah.” He throws his head back, which is a bit much, but I don’t mind it. “I’m Noah Ellington, so kind of similar.”

“It’s a cool name,” I say, and add a mock-serious nod. Then I offer him my hand to shake, which he does.

It’s a good handshake. Firm but not strong. Confident.

This guy really is cool.

A cool nerd.

“So, you lost, new friend Nate?”

“You’re right that I’m new, and I wanna know how you clocked that before talking to me, but I was just admiring this place,” I tell him honestly. “I wouldn’t mind a bit of help finding the statistics department if you have some time, though.”

“I’m just leaving a meeting with my advisor, so I do have time, and that department isn’t far.”

“Great. Lead the way, and tell me your life story while you do,” I tell him, bowing exaggeratedly for him to walk in front of me.

He snorts. “You’re weird too,” he points out.

“I guess I am. I’m trying out this new thing now that I’ve moved almost halfway around the world.”

“What thing?”

“I want to care less about being cool and just focus on doing and saying what feels right for me.”

“That’s a very important task you have ahead of you. I like it.”

I smile as he immediately launches into an explanation of the building we’re passing—what’s in it, what it was fifty years ago, what it was a couple of hundred years ago, and on and on it goes.

I’m pretty sure I won’t retain half of what he’s saying, but I enjoy his company, and when he stops in front of two glass doors that read Department of Statistics, I suddenly feel sad that our time together is over.

But again, he surprises me.

“You’re nice, and I meant it about being friends. So do you want me to show you the best spot for lunch around here?”

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