Page 54 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
Chapter 20
For the next week, Lavinia devoted her time to studying for her anatomy midterm. It was going to be her hardest exam, and she was genuinely worried she wouldn’t pass.
She and Calahan met at the university library for studying dates, and at the end of the night, they’d walk back to their cars together. He’d carry her bag, and she’d feel giddy.
Tonight was the same. They packed up their things and, before she could take her bag, he picked it up.
“Ready?” he asked. She nodded, and they walked away from the lamplit wood tables, passed the shelves of books, and went out into the main entryway.
“I feel bad,” she said, as they headed toward the door. “I’m carrying nothing and you’re carrying both of our bags.”
He wrinkled his nose at her. “It’s nothing,” he said, laughing.
“Really?” she asked. “Because my shoulder is alwayskillingme at the end of the night.”
He was carrying her bag easily, though, holding the tote straps in his left hand while his leather messenger bag hung down his right shoulder.
“So I take my offer back—you can definitely hold onto that,” she said. He smiled.
They walked out into the cold evening, heading in the direction of the parking lot. It was late, and most of the campus was empty and quiet. Moonlight shone over the darkened buildings, casting the stone walls in white light.
They had taken a break for dinner earlier in the evening, before doing more work, and now, when she got home, there would be nothing to do but sleep. She couldn’t wait to collapse into her bed.
A breeze lifted the air, and a chill ran down her spine. She shivered.
“You didn’t bring a jacket?” he asked, looking over at her. The rain the last few days had made the temperature drop further, and the warmer autumn days had given way to chillier ones.
“Um, no,” she said. “But it was so nice during the day!”
“Because the sun was out.” Calahan stopped walking.
“What are you doing?” she asked, facing him. She watched as he set down both their bags. He took off his coat. “Oh, you don’t have to!” she assured him.
He came over and draped his coat over her shoulders; it was still warm. “I insist,” he said. She was hit with a wave of fondness for him.
“Thank you,” she replied, putting her arms into the armholes of his coat, a tweed blazer. It smelled like a museum, lovely and old. “Do I look like a professor?” she asked, putting a hand on her hip to strike a pose. “I mean a tweed blazer—it’s so classic!”
He smiled. “It’s cute on you.”
“It was pretty cute on you, too,” she said. “Maybe it’s just the blazer.”
“Nah, I don’t think so.” He came closer, and she bit back a smile, excitement sparking because she knew what was about to happen next. Calahan drew closer, hand on her waist as he pulled her in for a kiss.
He kissed her slow and sweet, and a soft feeling spread through her. This was what it was supposed to feel like, easy and calm.
Not intense. Lavinia was already an intense person, and maybe it was good to be with someone who made her a quieter and calmer one. She didn’t need to be so loud and obnoxious all the time, the way she was at home, and with Theo, or with Saphira.
She could be demure and mature. Maybe that was what an adult relationship was supposed to be like.
She tried not to think about it too much as she kissed him back. He pulled back, then kissed her cheek, wrapping her into a hug. Being enveloped in his arms was cozy, like being in a warm bath.
Someone walked past, giving them a look. “Oops,” she said, giggling. “We are in fact in the middle of the walkway.”
“Don’t worry,” Calahan said, looking over her shoulder at the retreating figure. “That was one of my students.” He picked up their bags, and they began walking again. “He’s probably just pissed because he failed the quiz I gave this week.”
Lavinia laughed. They continued talking until they reached her car, at which point she took her bag back. “Thank you, again,” she said, handing him back his coat.
“Of course.” He reached out and took her hand, and she squeezed. “Do you want to meet again tomorrow after class?” Calahan was working on his thesis, so he spent most of his time at the library doing work.
