Risking the Crown (The Crown 2)

I twisted my hands together. I no longer saw the images on my screen. I was lost. I needed more coffee—or air. I needed space away from the incessant clicking that came from Addie’s tongue when she spoke.

I mouthed to her that I’d be back in a few minutes. I pushed through the lobby, ignoring the long faces of the women already lined up for the morning. Meg looked confused.

“Be right back,” I explained.

There was a small campus store a few minutes from our building. I headed that direction. At least if I returned with a fresh cup it will have looked like I accomplished something.

I stood in line to fill a cardboard cup, reading the headlines of the newspapers and magazines while I waited. Students talked about classes. I overheard someone mention plans for fall break. That was next month.

I paid for my coffee and stepped into the sunlight. D.C. had already said goodbye to the sweltering summer. There was a new coolness in the air.

My phone vibrated and I awkwardly reached in my bag to grab it without spilling my coffee.

“Good morning,” Vaughn spoke before I could say hi.

“Good morning.” I stopped by a tree, holding the cup close to my chest.

“Get my notes?”

“I did. I liked the second one.”

“Both of them are true. I just got out of my first meeting.”

Students walked past me. “I’m headed into one now. I stopped to get more coffee.”

“Tired?”

I pinched my lips together. “Maybe. You’re not?”

“Exhausted.” His voice almost made me tremble.

I smiled. I liked knowing I was the reason he was tired. That every time he yawned or his eyes burned today it would be because we had spent the night together. He felt everything I felt.

I leaned against the bark. “Thanks for coming over last night.”

“Sounded like you needed a friend.”

“I did.” I hadn’t told Vaughn anything about Garrett. In fact, we never talked about why he showed up. I had greedily soaked up an excuse to focus on something else.

“And tonight? Does dinner work for you?”

This was the part where I could have played hard-to-get. I could have told him I needed a few nights before I was free.

“Yes.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven.”

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“There’s this Italian place in Georgetown where the women roll the pasta by hand. You’ll like it.”

“How do you know I like Italian?” I teased, stalling to keep him on the phone. I liked the sound of his voice too much.

“See you then.”

“Bye.”

I let my eyes close for only a second. But it was a beautiful second.