Sweet Dandelion

“Eleven,” I whisper, biting my lip.

God, this is awkward.

He pushes the button and stays by the number pad, like he’s terrified to get near me.

Clearing my throat I voice, “Your meeting … it wasn’t about me, was it?”

He looks over his shoulder slowly, brows drawn. “Why would you think it was about you?”

I give him a really? look. “I mean … we kissed.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets, almost glaring at me. “Last I checked, the school didn’t have cameras installed in my apartment.” My lips part. “No, Dani, the meeting had nothing to do with you.”

“Oh … okay.” I duck my head, hearing him let out a heavy exhale. My cheeks burn like I’ve been scolded.

The elevator stops on my floor and I step off.

“Dani?”

I turn around, tilting my head to the side. “What?”

He twists his lips back and forth, seeming to be warring about what to say.

Before he can, the doors slide closed.

I drop my head, letting out a sigh.

It’s for the best. There’s nothing he or I can say.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

“You seem distracted today.”

My head shoots up at Ansel’s comment. “I’m not.” I sound defensive, even to my own ears, but it’s only because I am distracted. By thoughts of Lachlan. I can’t stop replaying yesterday’s elevator incident in my brain. It wasn’t that he said anything particularly rude or hateful, it was the vibe in the air. It’s never been tense between us before, but it was then. A part of me knows I should regret the kiss, but I can’t. I can’t bring myself to regret something that felt so inconceivably right.

“Sure you’re not.” He blows out a breath, his hand moving over his sketchpad. “Is it some project or something? Or…?” He lets his question hang loosely in the air.

“Or?” It’s Sasha who perks up, looking from Ansel to me across from him with narrowed eyes.

Ansel looks up at me apologetically. “It’s nothing, Sasha. Mind your own business.”

I swear if she could breathe fire he’d be burned to a crisp. “You know what Ansel, you don’t always have to be such an asshole to me. It was a question.”

He watches in shock as she gathers her stuff, running out of the library.

I glare at him, picking my own stuff up. “Can you be nice to her? She likes you, you idiot.”

His face contorts with horror. “She does not like me.”

“Trust me, she does.” I throw my backpack over my shoulders and take off after Sasha, hoping I can find her since she’s already disappeared in the halls.

I hear a noise in one of the restrooms and make a beeline for it.

Inside I find her at the sink, her hands gripping the white porcelain. She sniffles wiping her nose on the back of her hand.

“Go away, Dani. Please.” She turns the water on, washing her hands and splashing her face. When she sees me still in the mirror behind her she growls, “Go.”

“Ansel is an idiot. I know you like him and I’m sorry he doesn’t see that.”