"Sure," Ariana replied with a smile.
As they strolled south toward the playing fields on the outskirts of campus, Ariana took a deep, soothing breath and let it out. Autumn was finally coming. She could taste it in the air. It was the first crisp, clear day of the season and the leaves on the trees of the APH campus were finally beginning to turn. She was walking along a cobblestone path with the guy of her dreams. For the briefest of moments, she allowed herself a break. Allowed herself to enjoy what she had--to appreciate how far she'd come.
"So, how's everything going?" Palmer asked. "I hear you went to the Ash meeting on Monday. April Corrigan thinks you're going to be her new star editor."
"Really?" Ariana said, her cheeks flushing pink. "That was nice of her to say."
"So things are good?" Palmer asked.
"I suppose," Ariana said, adjusting the thick strap on her white Lacoste tennis bag. Her first week of classes had gone well, but keeping up with her work was about the only thing she had achieved on her long list of goals.
"That's convincing," Palmer said sarcastically, tossing the ball up and catching it. "I hope . . . You're not regretting the other night, are you?"
Ariana's toes curled at the mere thought of "the other night." "No," she said. "I'm not. I promise."
"Good." Palmer looked genuinely relieved. "Because I've kind of
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been waiting for you to show up at my door again," he whispered, his voice low and sexy.
Ariana smiled. "I will. I mean ... eventually. I just... There's been a lot going on."
Palmer paused and looked down at her, his face creased with concern. "Is everything okay?"
Ariana thought of Stone and Grave, and how Allison had closed one of the spots. She thought of Kaitlynn wielding her bloody knife in the middle of the night. Thought of how Lexa and Conrad were taking it so slow they were practically glacial. Thought of that stupid slip of black paper and the task upon it, which she had yet to get up the guts to complete. When it came to life at APH, she wasn't exactly overachieving.
"I guess I just didn't expect everything to be so hard," she summed up finally, pausing at a bend in the path.
"Ah." Palmer paused as well. He turned to face her, dropped the ball back into his bag, and crossed his arms over his chest. "Ana Covington, you are about to get one of Palmer Liriano's patented pep talks."
Ariana smiled. "Am I? Lucky me."
"You're lucky. I don't just give these out to anyone," he said. Then he reached up and tucked an errant hair behind her ear. A pleasant shiver shot down her side. "But for you, anything."
Ariana beamed.
"The first day I met you, Ana, I knew you could do anything," Palmer said. "You just have that look about you. Like nothing's ever
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going to stand in your way. So whatever speed bumps you think you've hit since you've been here, just drive over them. Bulldoze over them. Because I know you can."
"Wow," Ariana breathed, her heart full. "That was one sucky metaphor, Palmer Liriano."
He laughed. "All right. You got me. My pep talks suck. How's this." He took her hand, lifted it so that her palm was facing his, and laced his fingers through hers. "Will you go to the NoBash with me?"
Ariana bit her lip, her mind flitting over Lexa. Over Lexa and Palmer together at the beginning of the year. Over Lexa's tears in the bathroom and then again in her dorm room. And then the images were gone. And once they were gone, she was left staring at her own hand entwined with Palmer's. And suddenly, she didn't care about anything else.
"Yes," she said firmly.
Palmer's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes?"
"Yes," Ariana said with a nod. Then Tahira came around the corner and Ariana instinctively dropped Palmer's hand. A look of confusion crossed his face. "But let's keep it quiet. Just for now," she said, glancing at Tahira.
She couldn't let anyone know she was with Palmer until Lexa made it official with Conrad. People would think she'd moved in too fast.
Palmer's jaw set, and for a moment Ariana was afraid he was going to rescind the invite, but he simply nodded. "Okay. If that's the way you want it. I'll see you later, Ana."