Page 36 of Campus Crush
“For convincing you to show up. Otherwise, I’d be stuckdebating Gordy on whether or not banjos have a place in modern music instead of getting to know you better.”
I smiled despite myself. “And what’s the verdict on banjos?”
“He says no. Passionately. Like, full TED Talk-level opposition.”
I laughed—it was surprisingly easy to be around Foster like this.
It was the first time we’d really hung out—sober and without math tutoring as an excuse—and it was nice to feel so relaxed in his presence.
But it didn’t make my confusion about him and Bear any easier. If anything, seeing Foster like this was making me even more confused.
We kept walking without speaking, our feet crunching softly on the gravel path that curved through the booths and shaded tents. The band on stage started playing something soft with slow beats and smooth vocals that had me relaxing even more.
Maybe coming to this festival hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.
TWENTY-TWO
I’d been looking forward to this festival for weeks, but now all I could focus on was Abby. Even when I was looking at the stage, I was hyperaware of her presence beside me—the way the wind sometimes blew her silky light brown hair against my arm, the way she’d hum in the back of her throat and close her eyes when she took a bite of kettle corn.
I’d already made a mental note to always have kettle corn on hand if this was her reaction.
If she moaned one more time, there would be no way to hide how hard her sounds made me.
“So,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Be honest—how close were you to faking a stomachache to get out of coming today?”
She smiled, a little crooked and a little shy. “Closer than I’d like to admit.”
“I figured since you said you don’t really do stuff like this.” I nudged her lightly with my shoulder. “But you’re glad you came, right?”
Her eyes flicked toward mine, and something shifted in the air between us. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “I think I am.”
When the set was over, we decided to walk around and explore some of the booths. None of us were in a rush, and I was grateful that Sam and Gordy seemed to get along, so I could have some time with Abby. I hadn’t expected to run into her here, but I couldn’t deny it was helping move my plans along faster than I could’ve ever hoped for.
She was different today—far less guarded than she used to be with me.
“That’s a good color on you,” she said casually before stuffing some popcorn in her mouth.
I looked down at my blue shirt. “Yeah?”
“It brings out the blue in your eyes.” Her cheeks flushed pink and I knew it wasn’t from the heat. I don’t think she’d meant to say that, but I’d already tucked it away in my memory. If she liked me in this color, I’d fill my closet full of it.
We stopped by one of the booths that Sam wanted to look at. While we were standing there, Abby tipped her popcorn bag toward me. “Want some?”
Just then, the breeze picked up and a strand of her hair flew across her cheek. Without thinking, I reached up and brushed it away from her face, tucking it behind her ear.
Her breath caught and my gut clenched with so much need, my knees almost shook.
Fuck, I wanted to kiss her, to touch her, to make her fall apart beneath me.
My fingers hovered for a second too long, but she didn’t pull back. Her eyes were locked on mine, wide and uncertain, but also filled with what looked undeniably like the desire I was sure was reflected in my gaze.
If I leaned in, even a little, I knew what would happen.
And I wanted it more than my next breath.
But I wasn’t sure if she was ready for everything I wanted.
So I didn’t close the distance and kiss her like I was dying to.
