Page 50 of Duke

You talk dirty, and I melt.

You try to take over my life, and it drives me crazy.

I can’t picture my future without you in it.

I know why you had to leave and why I needed to stay.

Forever won’t be long enough.

Love,

Shanna

“What are you working on?”

Jumping in my seat, I slam my laptop closed.

“Jesus Spence, you scared the crap out of me.”

“Well, I don’t have a beard to tickle your thighs with… but I’ll grow one out if you want.”

My face heats, burning my cheeks.

“I’m writing a poem for my creative writing class.”

“Uh-huh.” He doesn’t believe my bullshit for a second.

I turn away grabbing my bag and empty coffee. He’s still here waiting for me.

Shit.

“Shanna, I don’t know what happened, I thought our date was awesome. I thought we had chemistry. I know it wasn’t one-sided.”

I sigh, pushing my hair over one shoulder, “We did… I know what I did was shitty. I never meant to lead you on… I was interested in you.”

“Then what happened?”

“Duke—Duke Masters,” I whisper more to myself than him.

“Who the fuck is that?”

My head snaps up, “Do you really want to know?”

“Fuck yeah, I do. I want to know who stole my chance with you.”

He falls in step with me as we cut across the lawn to the student union. I was planning on spending my break in-between classes catching up on some work, not spilling my heart out to Spencer.

“It’s too awkward. I can’t.”

“Look, Shanna; you are the coolest chick I’ve met on campus. We have the same classes—I want to be friends. We can still hang out, right?”

“Sure?” I look up at him, respecting him more than I did before. Most guys would freak out and act immature. But Spence is handling his rejection admirably.

“Come on, I’ll buy you another coffee and even share my notes from class.” He puts an arm around me in a friendly manner and opens the door to the union with his other.

“Deal. I felt a headache coming on three seconds into her lecture.”

“Yeah, it was a dry one.”

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