Page 12 of Vince
But as I watch the show—one thing’s for certain—I won’t be forgetting about Sydney anytime soon.
* * *
I don’t run into Sydney until Thursday before class.Though is it really running into her if I purposely lurk outside, pretending to scroll through my phone while I wait for her?I haven’t been able to get her out of my freaking mind, and I want to see if I’ve built her up in my imagination—or if this weird connection we have really exists. Not that I’ll do anything about it. But I’ve had this nagging feeling that I just can’t walk away from.
When I finally spot her, I plan my approach so we reach the door at the same time from different directions. Like last time, I reach for the door to open it for her, but instead of being surprised, I’m greeted with the most beautiful smile. Her green eyes light up with delight as a chortle escapes. “So—is this gonna be a thing?” she asks, her voice laced with sarcasm.
I shrug nonchalantly. “Only if you want it to be.”
With a beautiful smirk, she shrugs. “I’m not complaining. Want to sit together again?”
“I’m game if you are,” I tease. The way her green eyes dance, I want to banter with this woman till the sun goes down. And I’m not so sure I’d want to stop—even then.
She walks into the lecture hall and takes the same seat as before. I promptly sit beside her and get comfortable. Pulling out my notebook and pen, I prepare to take notes. Sydney must have a great auditory memory, as she didn’t take a single note last time. I wish to be so lucky.
To keep her attention, I throw out the first question that comes to mind, “Do you close again tonight?”
“Yeah,” she sighs. “Since it’s two-dollar wells night, we’re usually packed ‘til closing. Thank God, I’m free until my evening shift tomorrow. I’ve got a paper to write and desperately need to catch up on laundry—after sleeping in of course. I so need a date with my pillow. It’s been a long week. What about you? Now that you’re finally legal, will you be hitting the town?”
Her teasing tone causes a smile involuntarily to stretch across my face. “Nope. My shift starts at eight, and I need my beauty rest,” I tease—though Jules hardly ever sleeps past six.
Sydney looks me over with care. I feel her gaze as it takes stock of what she sees. “We wouldn’t want you to miss out on your beauty rest. Clearly, you’ve been lacking lately.”
I know without a doubt her perusal of my body is a clear excuse for her to check me out, so I just smirk and roll with it. “Yep. I’m crabby without sleep.”
“Somehow, I doubt it. But thanks for the warning. I’ll be sure never to disturb your slumber, princess.”
I feel my lips involuntarily turn up as I shake my head. “Princess, is it? All because I enjoy my sleep?”
A belly laugh rips out of Sydney, and I quickly join in, causing stares to erupt around us. When she regains her composure, she swats at my arm. “Princess… we all enjoy sleep. But thinking you need beauty rest is absurd.”
Cocking my head to the side, I smirk. “Really? Why’s that?”
She pats my thigh complacently, and the heat from her hand lingers. “I’m sure you hardly need rest to be beautiful.” Suddenly, her freckled cheeks pinken, and she gasps. “Shit. That came out wrong…”
“You callin’ me ugly?” I tease, and her cheeks darken a hue more. Damn, she’s gorgeous. I’ll make fun of myself every day if she reacts like this.
Her hand flies to cover her mouth. “Oh, no… that’s not what I meant. Quite the opposite… honest.”
Raising an eyebrow, I stare for further clarification.
Her hand comes down on my thigh, and it takes everything in my power not to reach out and hold it there. Then she pins me with her emerald-green eyes to make sure there’s no miscommunication. “Vince. You’re a great looking guy. Let’s leave it at that and let me stop digging myself into a bigger hole.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, holding her gaze for as long as she’ll let me. I swear I feel static electricity floating in the air as if it’s about to zap me. Of course, the professor chooses this moment to start class, and Sydney’s attention is quickly averted to him.
Her hand immediately pulls back, and she takes notes furiously as he launches into a lengthy explanation of what’s on our exam next week. I diligently jot down notes of my own to distract myself from the intriguing woman next to me.
By the time class is over, my hand hurts, my head is spinning from what I’ll need to remember, and yet I’m hopeful to walk Sydney home again. After opening and closing my fist a few times, the feeling in my hand returns to normal. While packing my things, I finally break the silence between us. “Are you heading home?”
Sydney sighs as she stands and hoists her backpack over her shoulder. “Yeah. I’ve got to be on shift in a few hours. Wanna walk together?”
I’m fairly certain my grin is verging on creepy, but I could give two shits. Sydney wants to spend time with me. But before I look like a total freak, I force myself to calm the fuck down and remain casual. “Sure thing.”
Once outside, Sydney’s unusually quiet for the first few minutes. Knowing the best way to glean as much information about her as I can is to ask a question. I start with the easiest. “So, where are you from?”
She rolls her eyes as a light laugh escapes. “I’m from a small town in Eastern Washington you’ve probably never even heard of.”
“Try me,” I challenge to keep her talking.
