Enforced Proximity (First Loves and Second Chances #1)

Chapter 1

Olivia

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

The barista calls out, “I have a medium vanilla, caramel, no foam, extra whip latte for”—I reach for the drink—“Isaac.” I pull my hand back, deflating faster than a stabbed mylar birthday balloon.

It’s the first day of the semester, and if my drink isn’t ready in the next few minutes, I risk missing out on my favorite seat in the front of the class.

You’d think years after assigned seating in elementary, middle, and high school, people wouldn’t be so protective over where they sit in class.

Trying to claim it the second day will start a semester-long war with someone—a stress I have no desire to deal with.

Confrontation isn’t exactly my strong suit.

In hindsight, I shouldn’t have stopped for coffee in the first place, but I’ve been looking forward to my weekly treat since I popped in last Tuesday. I just hope mine is done soon, or I may have to bail without it.

A man with dark-rimmed glasses and floppy black hair approaches the counter to retrieve his caramel goodness.

My breath catches as I take him in. With his flannel and neatly groomed beard, he’s giving strong nineties grunge vibes—absolutely my type.

Something about him is familiar. I shrug it off as seeing him around campus or here in the coffee shop while studying.

We may have even had a class or two together, but since I always sit in the front to avoid any and all distractions, I’d never be able to narrow it down.

“Sorry,” I wince, praying to any deity who will listen that I don’t have actual drool slipping down my chin from ogling him. “Same order.”

“That’s all right.” His warm smile meets his eyes, making my belly flip. “I’m sure yours will be finished soon.” He pauses for a second, then slides it along the faux-granite counter toward me. “If you’re in a hurry, you can have mine.”

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly—”

“I insist.”

“Are you sure?”

His smile widens. “Absolutely.”

“Thank you so much. I’m actually late for class; I really appreciate it.

” It’s only a half-lie. While I’m not technically late, I’m grateful that I’ll be one of the first people to class.

There’s nothing worse than being behind someone during a lecture who’s on their phone the whole time.

Front row, here we come! “Truly, thank you! My drink is under ‘Olivia’ when they hand it out.”

“Well, Olivia, hope you make it to class on time.” A little dimple pops on his right cheek, and I can’t help mirroring his smile.

I can’t remember the last time a man gave me butterflies like this.

A blush creeps up my neck as I lift my cup in a cheers.

“You’re my knight in shining armor.” I rush out of the cafe, glancing over my shoulder once at the handsome stranger.

His dark blue eyes are still on me, and as I quickly face forward, I smack right into the glass door.

As if today couldn’t get any worse, my selfless coffee twin rushes over. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, thanks.” I rub my nose. “I was a little distracted, I guess. Definitely in need of coffee. Thank you again for letting me steal yours.”

Never more embarrassed in my entire life, this time when I scurry off, I control my hormones and don’t do another double-take.

It’s for the best. With my shitty luck, he’ll probably have a girlfriend—or boyfriend.

Guys who look like him don’t go out with girls like me.

At least that’s been my experience using dating apps.

With my schedule this term, it isn’t as if I have time for beautiful distractions like Isaac.

I make my way to Terrance Hall and scan the door numbers until I find 115. I’m the third one here and grab my favorite spot in the front, breathing a sigh of relief as I drop my bag to my left. While I sip my coffee I commandeered from a stranger, I startle as someone asks, “Is this seat taken?”

I glance up, and my eyes blow wide; of course it’s the hot guy from the coffee shop. “Oh, no. I’m available—I mean, it’s available.”

Isaac removes his crossbody bag and sits to my right. “I thought you said you were going to be late,” he muses, adjusting his glasses. “Class doesn’t start for another ten minutes.”

I wince, then rush out, “Oh, you know the saying: if you’re early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late. I just like to stake my claim on the first day.”

“Same. I’m Isaac, by the way.”

“I would hope so.” I tap my cup where his name is scribbled in black marker. “Or is this someone else's?"

“It’s yours now.”

I quickly direct my attention to the front of the class. “Thanks again for letting me steal your drink.”

“Well, maybe you’ll let me buy you your own some day, so you don’t have to steal mine,” he teases, and the damn butterflies are back.

My eyes snap to his, which is a glorious mistake.

Why the hell does he have to be so attractive?

And, damn those glasses are hot. Is he going to sit next to me the entire semester?

I hope not. How the hell am I supposed to focus when he’s less than a few feet from me? I need a buffer. Right fucking now.

“I, uh… you don’t need to do that.”

“I’d like to,” he insists, sipping his coffee.

I snort-laugh. “Yeah, okay.”

“How about tomorrow?”

I’m about to reply when our professor walks in, dropping his briefcase on the side table and a stack of papers on the lectern.

He’s younger—maybe early-thirties. I haven’t seen his name on any of the class schedules before, and when I signed up for the class, I assumed he was a new professor to our university, but seeing him now, he could be new to teaching in general.

“Politics 700?”

“Yeah,” Isaac replies, then pulls out his notebook.

Our professor begins sifting through his materials, not making eye contact. “Great.”

Damn it. This guy’s personality is drier than stale bread. It’s going to be a long semester.

Isaac sputters a cough with a shutter as he continues to drink his coffee, and I quietly ask, “Did they mess up the order?”

“I’m not sure; I don’t drink sweet coffee.”

I double check the little codes on my cup. “Um, what you ordered says otherwise.” I point to the writing. Under syrup there’s a V and a C, and the custom box has F with a line through it, as well as XWC. It’s how I typically order mine, and this one tastes identical to how it usually does.

“I typically get a quad Americano with a splash of cream,” he explains, “but there was a pretty girl ordering it beside me at the coffee shop, so I figured I would try something new.”

I lean toward him and keep my voice low. “I’m sorry, but are you… are you flirting with me?”

“Maybe.” He smirks, and that little dimple from earlier appears. “Apparently I’m not very good at it.”

“I wouldn’t say that.” I sit back in my seat, and try to squelch the excitement stirring within me.

If I’m going to get into my top-choice graduate program, and be selected for an internship with the UN this year, I need to keep my eye on the prize—which is definitely not the sexy-as-fuck man next to me.

He’s about to say something when my friend, Aubrey, sits on the other side of me, grumbling, “Hey. Thanks for saving me a seat.”

“Oh, yeah, no problem.” In truth, I completely forgot and just got lucky no one was already there. Not only am I risking my grade by flirting with Isaac, I’m also a shitty friend.

Pulling out her notebook, she huffs, “Parking was brutal.”

“That’s why I stopped driving to campus a long time ago,” I admit with a half-shrug. “Between the cost of parking, and the lack of spaces… no thanks.”

Cupping her mouth with her eyes fixed on the gorgeous man to my right, she whispers,

“Are you going to introduce me?”

“Oh, um, sure. That’s Isaac.” He perks up at hearing his name. “Isaac, this is my friend, Aubrey. Aubrey, this is Isaac.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” she purrs, flashing a megawatt smile. I’m surprised she’s not batting her eyes at him like a damn cartoon character, even though he’s not really her type. “How do you know Livy?”

“We just met,” I rush out.

She eyes my coffee cup with his name in clear view. “Just met?”

“Yeah, he let me have his coffee since I was in a hurry.” My cheeks heat, recalling how I face-planted into the door. “We have the same order.”

“All right, everyone, we’ll begin at eight sharp,” the professor announces.

“I should’ve stopped for coffee. I’m exhausted,” Aubrey whines, keeping her voice low.

I’m just glad she’s not pressing further about my new friend.

“I really hope he doesn’t have some bullshit attendance policy.

I have no idea how I’ll make it here this early twice a week.

Why did we sign up for this class again? ”

“Because it was this or the research course everyone fails,” I remind her.

Isaac chimes in, “Good call. I aced all of the statistics prereq, but I barely passed that one with a B. And that’s with tutoring and making it my entire focus for the semester.”

“Yikes. Well, did we have to pick this section that’s eight in the morning?” She lets out an exasperated sigh. “You seriously owe me one.”

“You agreed to it months ago! Eight isn’t even that early; I’ve been up since six.”

“Same,” Isaac agrees, sipping his coffee. Again, he shutters.

I pull out a bottle of water and an instant coffee packet from my bag, handing it to him. “There’s no reason to suffer. Sorry I don’t have cream.”

“Thanks.” His grin lifts from ear to ear, accepting my little offering. Opening the bottle, he adds in the powdered coffee, then pours a little of the latte in before shaking it. “You’re an angel.”

Yet again, I have fucking butterflies. What the hell is wrong with me? He’s just a guy. A hot guy with adorable dimples and sexy glasses… but a guy.