Lover (Court University 4)

Bri

I was late for the meeting Evie had suggested I go to that evening.

A bereavement group.

Actually, I’d gotten there on time but simply hadn’t been brave enough to go inside.

Instead, I watched from outside the class doors, waiting until the next group, Coping with Change.

This one seemed better suited. So after that wrapped, I made my way inside, tugging off my coat and taking a seat. They had a podium up front, and I very much intended to make myself blend in. I most assuredly wouldn’t be talking and definitely didn’t want to be there. I figured I’d sit back, relax, and see what these people had to say.

Evie: Did you go? How was it?

I decided to pocket my phone and respond after this class. That way, when I gave my friend a response, it wouldn’t technically be a lie.

God, I was still lying to her. In a different way, but lying, nonetheless. She wanted to help me, and I had actually come to the building.

Even if I hadn’t gone inside.

I sat within the seating arrangement with a shaking leg, my wool coat on top as I circulated my gaze around. I found myself rather happy that I opted not to eat dinner before coming. I’d thought about it since I was fresh out of work and after that long drive, but when I’d stopped home, I’d simply showered before putting on a pair of jeans and a casual top. I’d had just enough time to get downtown, then park in front of the building in Maywood Heights’s capitol district. Of course, everyone working had already gone home, the evening settling into a quiet chill, and I had managed not to trip outside on the ice this time.

I should leave. I should definitely leave.

My confidence was quickly leaving me the longer I sat, and even though this was only a group meeting about trying to deal with change, I wasn’t quite sure I was ready to deal with my changes. I could win the award for avoidance these days.

To fill the time before starting, I pulled out my phone, playing a game with jewels. I exploded a few before tossing my head back and shoving my phone into my purse. I shot up out of my chair.

“Sorry.”

My head jerked up, nearly colliding into someone with my coat in my arms and my purse on my shoulder. I’d wimped out, trying to leave.

&nbs

p; But then him.

Ramses picked up the program I’d dropped. Ramses was standing in front of the aisle with his coat on and his cheeks flushed like he himself had just rushed over here. He had snow in his hair, a white mist on those ebony brown locks. He handed out my program. “You dropped this… looks like.”

What the fuck?

But there he stood. Again in my life after I, once more, tossed him out of it just today. I idly wondered if this would keep happening, since we both obviously frequented the same towns. But really, this shouldn’t be happening. There were more than two people who lived in Maywood Heights and even more who frequented Pembroke’s campus.

And yet, here we were.

I swallowed, taking it. “Thank you?”

A question to it, because well, what the fuck?

His hand now free, Ramses brushed the snow out of his hair before eyeing the empty seat I hovered over. He pointed toward it. “This, uh, taken or are you leaving?”

I was leaving. I should leave.

Instead, I opted to stand there like a loon. I think mostly due to shock and Ramses took my silence for, well, I didn’t know what for, but he crossed in front of me.

He completely bypassed the seat he’d eyed and without a word, sat himself down in the one next to it. He immediately took the next steps to make himself comfortable, taking off his scarf and coat, then placing it there on the seat beside his chair without a word. He literally didn’t speak to me, fisting his hands before resting them on the chair ahead. Eventually, he passed a look over to me who was still standing there.

“You going to sit?” He eyed me, actually curious. His eyebrows furrowed in—tight. “Though, I am quite curious why you’re continuing to stalk me.”

Me stalk him?