Chapter Eighteen
Connor is waiting for me outside his dorm building as I approach, and my skin warms at the way his gaze slowly sweeps over me.
I’m wearing a simple, long-sleeved black dress with a row of tiny buttons at the bodice.
I worried I might not be dressed up enough for this date, but from the appreciative gleam in Connor’s eyes, I think I chose well.
“Billie.” His voice is lower than normal. “You look … gorgeous.”
He dips his head, his mouth briefly brushing mine—just enough of a tease to leave me flustered. “Thank you. So do you.”
His outfit is simple yet effective. He’s wearing a black cashmere sweater and charcoal gray slacks that show off his powerful build. He’s freshly shaved, and his dark-brown hair is a bit of a mess on top. As if he’s run his fingers through it continuously. Was he nervous? If so, that’s adorable.
“Do you play a sport?” I ask suddenly, and it’s such a random question that we both set loose little laughs into the air between us. His smile sends a jolt of serotonin straight to my brain, so I add, “You’re from the UK, so I assume rugby and … water polo?”
“Tsk, tsk, my American friend. One can’t forget footy and horse racing. What would the King think of your oversight?”
“Yeah, yeah,” I say with an exaggerated, old-timey accent.
“Tell that guy I’ll throw his tea straight into the Boston Harbor if he gives me any lip.
” I know the smile on my face is too wide and goofy, but I can’t contain it when Connor closes his eyes and looks up to the sky, silently asking God for patience.
“But seriously. You’re like, really fit. What gives?”
Even in the half-light of dusk, I spot his cheeks darkening with a little blush. “Well, thanks for that,” he says, interlacing our fingers and leading us down a dirt path branching off the courtyard. “I’m not a team sport kind of guy. Solitary pursuits only to achieve this god-tier physique.”
“Wouldn’t wanna make the other guys jealous.”
“Precisely. I run and lift weights. The past few months, blasting my music and working up a sweat felt like survival techniques, you know?”
I give his hand a squeeze before rising up on tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. “That’s all over now. Let’s not talk about problems tonight. Just enjoy the time together.”
“You’re right. It’s been a good day.” His eyes crinkle at the corners when he smiles, and I step away, though I keep our hands linked. “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going?” I let him lead me along the path, and he walks a little slower so I can keep up with him.
“You’ll see.” He smirks. I bet he looked just like that when he was a little boy. Full of mischief and trouble, no doubt. “It’s a surprise.”
“Oooh, I can’t wait.” My stomach jumps in anticipation.
We make idle chitchat as we head deeper into campus, catching each other up on today’s gossip around Wickham. I bring up Abigail and Priya’s dorm room study date, and he sends me a knowing look.
“Those two are never apart.”
“They obviously care about each other.”
“I don’t know if Abigail Roth has enough of a heart to really care about anyone,” he says. “But I 100 percent believe she’s as horny as the rest of us. I would bet you two whole donuts that one or both of them is naked right now.”
“I’m not taking that bet because I’m sure you’re right. But two whole donuts? What kind of bet is that?” I haven’t really seen this silly side of Connor before. The world has been weighing heavy on his shoulders, I guess, and now that the weight has been lifted, he’s … different.
Still damn cute.
“One donut is low stakes. Two? You’ve got to have the courage of your convictions for a two-donut bet.” Connor chuckles.
The realization that there’s still so much to discover about him sends a hot thrill of curiosity down my spine. How wry is his humor? How dry is his wit? How salty is the skin just behind the waistband of his pants? Curiosity will make me an excellent student for my new favorite subject.
I haven’t known Connor for long, but the feelings spinning through me? Tornado strong. The eye of the twister is the hope that our date will afford me the opportunity to get my hands (and lips … and tongue) on him. I sip in a breath of cool night air in an effort to quench my thirsty thoughts.
We end up at one of the last buildings on campus. It looks like it’s been here since the dawn of time. Constructed of faded, crumbling brick, the three-story structure is covered in a thick layer of ivy.
“We’re going in here?” I gesture toward the building.
“Just wait until you see it.” The promise in his voice has me excited, and I’m practically giddy as we run up the two flights of stairs. By the time we’re at the top of the building, standing in front of a large metal door, I’m a little breathless from the climb and my entire body is tingling.
“Here we are.” Connor opens the door, and I walk onto the rooftop, which has been transformed into a greenhouse.
There are plants and flowers everywhere, with the walls and roof constructed of steel beams and glass.
The air is humid, and it smells like fresh dirt mixed with sweet, green, floral scents. “What do you think?”
I turn to him, noting the smile on his face. The nervous flicker in his gaze. He wants me to love this—and I do.
I so do.
“It’s beautiful.” I throw myself at him, and he catches me, his arms tight around my waist. “I love it.”
“Good,” he murmurs against my temple, his lips brushing my skin. “I wanted to share this with you because I’ve always loved it, too.”
I pull away from him so I can stare into his eyes. “How do you even know about this place?”
“My first year here, my art teacher suggested I take horticulture fundamentals. I thought it was a complete waste of time, but eventually the professor brought us up here to do some hands-on work with the plants and flowers, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. She explained the importance of ‘budding artists’ spending as much time in nature as possible. I’ve come here almost weekly ever since, save for when Emily …
” He clamps his lips shut and shakes his head once.
“This rooftop has become my sanctuary. It feels like I’m in another world. ”
“Almost like a jungle.” I glance about the room, wondering if Mrs. Harrington spends time up here, what with her love of plants and flowers. “It’s truly magical. There are even fairy lights.”
Twinkling white lights have been strung up haphazardly all over the greenhouse, adding a whimsical element to the space.
“I added those.” His cheeks turn ruddy as if he’s embarrassed, and it’s the cutest thing. “I wanted to make the night special.”
I press myself into his side like a magnet, helpless against his pull. And it’s true—I can’t help myself. I need to touch him, to feel his solid heat beneath my hands. “It’s already special.”
When he kisses me, we get lost in each other for long, wet-hot minutes. Our hands wander and our breaths quicken until he finally pulls away, taking a step back as if he needs the distance. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
My body sways, and he grabs my elbow, steadying me. “I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do.” He chuckles. “We need to eat dinner.”
“We’re having dinner up here?”
Connor leads me to a small table covered in a pristine white tablecloth with two silver dome plate covers at each setting. He holds my chair out for me, and I settle in, leaning over to breathe in the scent of the single white rose sitting in a glass vase in the center of the table.
“Was this grown in here?” I gesture to the rose.
“Actually, no. It came from the alumni garden.” He sits across from me. “Ready to eat?”
I nod. “I’m starving.”
“Let’s see what we’re having for dinner, then.” The mysterious look on his face tells me he already knows.
On the count of three, we lift the domes off our plates and I gasp in surprise.
There’s a giant cheeseburger sitting on my plate, accompanied by a pile of skinny fries.
I lift the sesame seed bun off the burger to find there are two strips of bacon crisscrossing the cheese and barbecue sauce slathered on the bun.
“Oh my gosh, this is like a western bacon cheeseburger!”
Connor can barely contain his smile. “I heard that’s what you miss the most, being here in the UK now.”
“From who?” It dawns on me almost immediately.
I complained to Sophia at one point that I was sorely missing cheeseburgers.
American cheeseburgers. The dining hall serves them, but the buns are always soggy and the meat is too thin.
Being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere means we can’t go out to eat anywhere, either. “Sophia.”
“She’s a valuable source of information.” He unwraps the cloth napkin from his silverware and sets it in his lap. I do the same. “I’ve never had a western bacon cheeseburger, as you call it.”
“Well get ready to have your world rocked,” I tease.
We start to eat, and the moment I sink my teeth into my burger, I groan so loud I embarrass myself. It’s too delicious to hold back, though, and within minutes I’ve devoured half of the burger while Connor has only taken a couple of bites.
“You like it?” he asks.
“It’s delicious.” I pour some ketchup onto my plate and dunk in a couple of fries. They’re salty and crispy, and I immediately grab a couple more. “Where did you get all this?”
“I have my ways.” His sly tone makes my stomach flutter. He most definitely has his ways. He only has to say a few words and I turn into a puddle. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it.”
“Are you?” I watch as he opens the tiny jar of mayo and pours some on his plate, then dips a fry in it. “I don’t get the fries-in-mayo thing.”
“Have you tried it?”
I shake my head. “It sounds disgusting.”
“It’s quite good.” He swipes a couple of fries from my plate and dunks them in the mayo before holding them out toward me. “Try it.”