Page 6 of Wish For Me

I swear my temperature heated up a full five degrees with that smile. “Wood you?”

She snorted. “Oh my God.” But I could see her biting back a laugh. Finally, she said, “Noelle. And yes, I’ll take a ride home. Thank you.”

I felt like I’d won a prize.

A few minutes later, we were driving down the street at not much more than walking speed. “It’s been awhile since I drove in the snow,” I said.

“Where do you live?”

“California.”

“What do you do out there?”

“I’m a student.”

She frowned. “How old are you?”

“26. I’m in grad school.”

“What are you studying?”

“You really know how to put a guy on the hot seat, huh?”

“Might as well make sure you’re not an ax murderer. Turn right.”

“Shouldn’t you do that before you get in the car with someone?”

“You’re going slow enough I could open the door and walk.”

“Hey, I told you I haven’t driven in the snow in a while!”

She grinned. She was teasing me. “I know. That’s why I believe you that you’re from California. So what do you study?”

I shook my head, laughing softly. I liked this woman. She was tenacious. I glanced over at her before turning back to the road. I should say science, so I didn’t sound like a pompous ass. But I found myself wanting to impress her. “Astrophysics. And, uh… philosophy.”

“What, together?”

“Yeah.” I immediately regretted mentioning the second part. At least I didn’t tell her it was a double doctorate.

“So you’re a huge nerd.”

I laughed at my utter failure to impress her. “Pretty much.”

“Next left. It’s okay. I’m a theater nerd.”

I took the turn. “You’re an actor?”

“Yes. Are you going to go to space?”

I smiled at her rapid-fire questions. “Not everyone who studies astrophysics wants to go to space.”

She didn’t look at me; just squinted through the windshield at the snow. “You do.”

My stomach did a little dance. “How do you know that?”

She shrugged. “Whywouldn’tyou want to go to space?”

I smiled at her. Ireallyliked her. “Exactly!” She didn’t give me a pat on the head like people had all my life when I told them my plans.

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