She smiled. “I love you, too, Will.”
An hour and a half later, I was in Austin. I pulled over and parked my car in the parking lot, and then I sent Lex a text.
Me: Hey, baby. What are you up to?
Lex: Hey, handsome. Nothing. Just finishing up lunch with a few people. What about you?
Me: Not much. Where are y’all eating?
Lex: Just across the street from my dorm at the Littlefield Patio Café.
Me: Text me when you head back to your room.
Lex: Okay. We are finishing up and leaving now.
I smiled and jumped out of my truck as I made my way to Duren Hall, Lex and Grace’s dorm. I knew where the café was, so I sat down on a bench where I could see when Lex would be walking up. The moment I saw her walking and laughing with Blake, it felt like someone had punched me in the stomach.
I sat there and watched them. Two other people were walking behind them. Lex turned and said something to one girl, and then everyone started laughing. They all stopped and talked for a bit.
I pulled out my phone.
Me: Are you back at your room?
I watched as Lex pulled her phone out of her back pocket before reading my text message.
Lex: Nope, not yet. Just saying good-bye.
Me: Who are you with?
Lex: Couple people from the study group.
Me: That study group is really starting to become a regular thing, isn’t it?
Lex: What does that mean, Will?
Me: Blake with you?
Lex: Are you angry with me?
She avoided my question about Blake.
I didn’t text her back. I watched as she looked down at her phone every few seconds. She pushed it back into her pocket and turned to say something to Blake. His smile dropped, and he motioned for them to head inside Duren Hall. I watched them walk through the door to the building.
I waited a few seconds and followed, but then an older woman at the front desk stopped me.
“Who are you here to see?”
“Grace. Grace Johnson.”
“Is she expecting you?”
I nodded my head.
She picked up the phone and hit a number. “Miss Johnson, are you expecting a—”
“Will Hayes.”
“Will Hayes? Okay, very well.” She hung up the phone and smiled. “Do you know how to get up there?”