“Yep.” I take her hand and follow her through the line for omelets.

“I need my hand back,” she says, and I realize I’m still holding her palm in mine.

We take our usual table. Mav drops into a chair beside her a few minutes later. “Hey there, Romeo and Juliet.”

Ginny laughs. “Their families were enemies—this isn’t really that sort of thing.”

“Well, it is a Shakespearean tragedy, anyway. What are you going to do?”

I shrug. Thought about it all night long and I still don’t have an answer.

“I’m heading home tonight. I’m sure by the time I get back on Sunday, he’ll be over it.”

I’m not so sure.

After my morning classes, I head back to the apartment. Ginny’s on her way home for the long weekend, and the prospect of spending that many days without her is a real bummer.

Rauthruss is on the phone with Carrie. Mav and Adam are still on campus. I’ve got my newest package from Chloe and Nathan, so I grab it and walk to my room.

I call him as I cut open the tape.

“Hey,” he answers on the second ring.

“Hey. Got your latest box.”

“And?”

As soon as I pull back the flaps, a deep chuckle escapes from my throat. “This one is all you, bro.”

“What? How can you tell?”

“It looks like you went down the aisles at Target and just threw random things in.” I pull out deodorant, body soap, condoms (major eye roll), toothpaste, pencils, a giant tub of my favorite protein, and an Xbox gift card. “Plus it’s all just shoved in here. Chloe’s boxes are packed a lot nicer than yours.”

“I knew I should have had her wrap it all up.”

I chuckle again. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”

Sitting in my desk chair, I lean back as he catches me up on the latest wedding details. Getting married takes an awful lot of planning, apparently.

“So, spill,” he says eventually when he’s done with the rundown on dinner entrees and cake tasting. “What’d you think of Kevin?”

“He was fine.” I shrug even though Nathan can’t see it. “Mom’s happy so that’s good, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so. It’s weird seeing her with someone else though. No matter how nice he is.”

I hum my agreement.

“Are you still calling her and checking in to see how she’s doing?”

“Nah. I mean, we chat every other week or so, but she doesn’t need me to do that anymore. She’s got Kevin, plus Uncle Doug is still checking on her.”

“Yeah, I guess. Chloe and I are going to fly up to have Thanksgiving with her. Bummed you can’t make it.”