Say Yes (Nostalgic Summer Romance)

I opted for a charcoal gray crop t-shirt with short cap sleeves, and my patchwork denim skirt, and strapped a cute pair of white and black clog sandals on. Then, I threw my brushes into my bag and bounded out the door like it was the first day of school and I had on my fresh new outfit, ready to see all my friends after a long summer break.

When I made it to class, I was one of the first ones there, and I settled in at my easel and looked over the pamphlet Professer Beneventi had laid out for us. The class slowly filled with no sign of Liam, but just before the Professor closed the door to start the lecture, he strolled in, one hand in his jean pocket, and the other holding his backpack strap over his shoulder.

God, I tried not to look. I tried not to smile and blush and feel every cell in my body tingle to life, but it was useless. The wind blew through his hair as he waltzed in, and once he’d tossed his bag on the floor next to his stool and taken a seat, he yawned, looking around the room like he was already bored.

Until his eyes met mine.

It was just a brief moment, a tiny lapse in time, just long enough for Professor Beneventi to say buon giorno, classe, but it was enough to make my heart stop dead before beating loud in my ears. The memory of last night rushed back to me, heating my neck, and the right side of Liam’s lips curled up in a smirk before he winked at me.

Butterflies.

A whole field of stupid, dangerous butterflies.

I couldn’t fight my smile, but I ducked my head, my hair falling in a curtain over my eyes as I turned my attention to our textbook.

It was nearly impossible to stay focused throughout the lecture, especially once the professor set us loose to do some reading on our own and a light sketch assignment. All I could think about was Liam being across the room, and what his hands could do, and his lips, and his tongue…

By the time we were dismissed, I was so desperate for fresh air, I had to keep myself from sprinting for the door. I tried to take my time gathering my things and packing up my bag, and when I made it to the door, it was at the same time as Liam.

“Hi,” I said, aiming for cool, and landing somewhere around awkward.

“Hi,” he replied with a smile. He held the door open for me so we could both walk out into the campus square. “How are you?”

“Good,” I said, tucking my hair behind my ear. “How are you?”

“A little tired, if I’m being honest.” He gave me a knowing smile that made me flush even harder.

“Yeah. Me, too.” I bit my lip, holding my books to my chest as I watched him put his sunglasses on. “Are you busy tonight?”

He frowned. “Um…”

“I was going to go down by the river and paint after dinner, if you want to join. I need to work on our assignment.” I paused. “And maybe we could get a drink after…”

Liam laughed a little through his nose, watching me for a beat before he slicked his tongue over his lips.

Now the butterflies were dead, because that tiny movement sent a bolt of electricity right to the source and zapped them all.

“I think I should probably stay in tonight,” he said. “Get some studying done. And sleep,” he added with a grin.

“Oh…”

Act casual. It’s cool. Of course, he doesn’t want to hang out with you every night.

You can do this.

It’s fine, Harley.

I shook my head with as bright a smile as I could manage. “No biggie. Maybe next time. See you around?”

The grin on Liam’s face was an amused one, curious, like he was trying to figure me out. “Yeah. See you around.”

I nodded, and then turned and did my best not to run away from him like he was on fire, and I was doused in gasoline. I forced calming breaths and slowed my steps, swinging my hips, letting my hair bounce as I walked.

See? I’m just fine not hanging out. I don’t care if we ever hook up again, I wanted that walk to say.

Of course, in my head, there was quite the different conversation going on.

Still, I had a lot of time to myself during my internship at the museum, and I used every ounce of it to remind myself why I proposed this in the first place.

I wanted Liam Benson, that much was easy to spell out.

I wanted him so badly, I didn’t care in what capacity I could have him, or for how long, so long as I could have him in the end.