“I am.” He waited for a moment with an expectant stare, and then I understood what it was that he wanted.

“Oh!” I said, scrambling to search my backpack for something to write on. I scribbled my name and number on a piece of paper and slid it to him, mimicking his smooth, single movement.

Jared grinned and poked the paper into his inside jacket pocket.

“What if that’s not my number?” I asked. “What if it’s the number to an anger management clinic for your sister?”

Jared shook his head, laughing once. “Then I’d give it to her. But I hope it’s yours. I need it to ask you to dinner properly.”

I could hear my heart pounding inside my chest, and when I thought he might be able to hear it, I felt my cheeks flush.

“I told you I needed answers, first,” I said, trying to seem calmer than I felt.

“I told you we were going to talk, didn’t I?” His eyes were bright with amusement, even seeming a lighter shade of blue. “I’m going to call you this afternoon. Will that be all right?”

“Why don’t you just ask me, now?” I said, incinerating any chance of seeming indifferent.

“Is that what you want?” he asked, raising his brow.

I nodded and a broad smile lit up his face. “Would you have dinner with me tomorrow?”

“I’d love to. Thank you.”

“I don’t want to make you late.” Even as he said the words, he seemed in no hurry to say goodbye.

We both stood, and Jared held the door open for me as we walked into the morning air. It felt surreal to be walking next to him on campus. He seemed less like a figment of my imagination surrounded by the scenery of my everyday life.

“I’ll pick you up around six thirty?” he asked, lightly grazing my finger tips with his. Electricity immediately shot up my arm, and my heart hammered against my ribs.

“Sounds perfect.” I couldn’t have chosen words more true.

Kim and Beth were waiting for me just inside the building, and I tried to keep from jumping up and down as I approached.

“What happened?” Beth said, grabbing my arm.

“We’re going out tomorrow night. Six-thirty,” I beamed.

“Yay!” Beth said, clapping.

Kim and I continued upstairs to our class. She wasn’t nearly as animated as Beth.

“Ryan isn’t going to be happy,” she said.

I angled my neck to emphasize my irritation. “I’m not with Ryan, Kim. He doesn’t get to be unhappy about it.”

“I know…I just think its poor timing on your part for you to go on a date with Jared when Ryan’s still in the hospital for trying to save your life.”