I took a couple of steps back, then spun on my heel and jogged around the hood of my truck.

“I’ll text you later!” I called out.

“Sounds good,” she replied, giving a little wave.

As I pulled away, I looked back to see her walking inside the restaurant.

I’d known that I liked her, and I’d been pretty excited to spend some time with her, but I was surprised at just how happy I’d been when she’d shown up today.

There was something about Sarai, some quality that was indefinable but present. She lit up a room. It wasn’t necessarily her looks, though she was gorgeous; it was something else, like an energy. Everyone gravitated toward her whenever she was around. I’d noticed it at Sean’s party, and I’d noticed it again when we’d had breakfast. People wanted to talk to her, and they went out of their way to say hello or introduce themselves. I loved it, and I wanted more of it. Before long, this whole quick-meetup thing wouldn’t be enough.

As soon as I parked my truck, I texted her.

Let me take you to dinner after class tonight.

I stuffed my phone into my pocket as I hurried to my meeting.

*  *  *

“When you offered to take me to dinner, this wasn’t what I expected,” Sarai said later that night as I tucked a blanket tighter around her hips.

“I didn’t expect you to agree,” I confessed with a laugh. “When you said yes, I had to think of something quick.”

Sarai laughed. We were sitting in the back of my truck in the middle of an open field with empty takeout containers spread out around us. It was cold as hell but the weather was clear, and I was pretty proud of our little picnic under the stars.

“You made the right decision,” she said with a sigh, leaning against me. “This is perfect.”

“Long day, huh?” I asked, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“Yeah.” She nodded. “Test days suck even when I know the material.”

“Do you think you did well?”

“I always do well,” she said confidently. She pulled away from me so she could get to her feet. I tilted my head back to watch her as she threw her arms out and turned in a circle. When her eyes met mine, she grinned. “And now I’m one test closer to finishing.”

“It’ll be over before you know it,” I said, reaching out to rest my hands on her hips. “And then the world is your oyster.”

“I’ve never understood that saying,” she replied, stretching her arms above her head before gracefully dropping to her knees in front of me. “Why the hell would I want an oyster?”

“It’s a Shakespeare quote,” I said, grabbing the blanket she’d dropped and wrapping it around her shoulders.