Page 108 of A Lab Rat's Guide to Fated Love
“Sorry.” He let go, before forcing himself back in his chair.
Nori, too, lowered herself into her seat, where she sat glancing between their hands, curiosity tinting her otherwise shocked mood. “Wait. Can I see—?” She motioned towards his hands.
Unsure of what to expect, Vir placed them on the table, palms up.
Nori reached across to take his left hand, the one he’d just grabbed hers with, and held it gingerly. She turned it this way and that, as if it were an object that warranted examination, before she finally looked up, confused.
A split second later, she pressed her palm to his.
And it was exactly as he’d remembered it. From the warmth of her skin to the feel of her small fingers as they spread out and curved and settled in-between his. Right where they belonged.
Vir bit the inside of his cheek, glancing from their interwoven fingers to Nori’s peculiar expression. The shock and confusion were clear on her face even without him having to read them in her emotions.
No.He jerked his hand away before latching it onto his cup. His knuckles whitened in their desperation to fly back to her.
“Sorry.” Nori pursed her lips, a bright crimson seeping into her cheeks.
Before he could answer, she jumped to her feet and scurried off with her dishes.
“I really should head home,” she said quietly as Vir joined her in the kitchen.
He hovered at a safe distance from her, while contrasts of him made bargains inside his head. The rational side told him to let her go, knowing he’ll see her again. They were colleagues for a semester now. While the other begged himto superglue himself to her. Monday was too far away. Had four years without seeing her not been punishment enough?
Billie appeared at the window for her morning pets, and Nori glanced at her with a distant, wistful look in her eyes. And suddenly she was so… sad.
Why?“I’m sorr—”
“No, I should be the one apologizing,” she interrupted him. “That was highly inappropriate of me… earlier. I’m sorry.”
Vir opened his mouth to reply. Then closed it without saying anything.
“I should go,” Nori continued. “I need to buy groceries. There’s nothing edible at the cottage except a few packets of ramen. And then I have to get my notes in order for Monday.”
“I’m actually running low, too,” he blurted before mentally kicking himself. “Groceries, uh, and I know a good market nearby.”
“You want to… go together?”
“If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind.”
Vir smiled. And as he watched her beam in response, his hand jumped to his arm again to paint a fresh bruise there.
Nori
Back in her own clothes, Noribrowsed through Vir’s generously stacked bookshelf while she waited for him to change.
What was with the grabby hand earlier?She shook her head, still stunned at the absurdity of her own behavior. And the way he’d thrown her hand away… she winced. Shehadto stop embarrassing herself.
With an internal groan, she turned her attention back to the bookshelf. There were the expected pseudo-science books, some psychology and art volumes, and a lot of fiction, arranged by color and size, not initials. And some vinyl figurines and nick knacks. She took one off the shelf—some kind of bald, orange animal with its tail on fire.
As she put it back, her eyes fell on a small glass jar to the side. She picked it up and turned it over in her palm, watching the small, white pebble clink inside.
“Let’s go.”
“Ahh!” She tossed the jar, startled, and it flew into the air, right before Vir caught it in his outstretched hand. “Sorry…” she said, watching him place it back on the shelf. “Do you collect rocks?”
Vir turned to look at her with a hint of amusement coloring his features. His eyes scanned her face as if they were searching for something. Or—she quickly brushed her fingers around her mouth, hoping she didn’t have crumbs.
