“I’ve got to go,” she said, her stare finding mine. “I’m going to be very late.” She glanced at her watch. “Shit, I already am.” Her smile was gone, and in that moment, I would have done anything to make it return. “Thanks for not letting me fall.”

Before I could say another word, she was rushing down the corridor toward the stairwell, disappearing into the thick crowd.

I gripped the strap of my bag and walked in the same direction, taking the stairs to the bottom floor and opening the heavy door to the outside. I glanced around the open space, searching for that beautiful, brown-haired girl. But there were hundreds of students rushing across Boston University’s campus, making it impossible for me to find her.

Giving up, I walked across the leaf-covered lawn in the direction of my off-campus apartment and stopped at a coffee shop a few blocks away. Once I reached the front of the line, I requested their darkest roast in their largest to-go cup.

Only two weeks into the fall semester, and I was already coming here twice a day, placing the same order each time. I had a feeling that wasn’t going to change until the summer. Premed was getting more challenging every day, and I had no idea how I was going to make it through my junior year.

Or tonight.

There was no way around the fact that I would be studying until the early hours of the morning.

I grabbed a cardboard sleeve on my way out, slipping it over the cup, and continued the rest of the way to my building. Instead of waiting for the elevator, I hustled up the three flights, and as I unlocked the door, I heard voices coming from our apartment.

I vaguely remembered when I’d left for class this morning, my roommate, Dylan, saying something about hosting a study group. Once I stepped inside, I saw they were in the midst of one. Both couches were full, and several people were sitting on the floor.

“My man,” Dylan said from the recliner. “Welcome to Sexuality and Social Life.” He smirked. “This is”—he circled his hand around in the air—“everyone. Everyone, this is my roommate, Ashe.”

All eyes shifted in my direction.

But a gaze so fucking intense, like an earring piercing through a virgin lobe, was the only thing I felt in that moment. As I glanced toward the couch, I saw exactly who it had come from.

And this time, I was the one taken by surprise as those sapphire gems stared back at me.

“Hey, everyone.” My words were to all of them, but my focus was only on her.

I wanted to sit on the armrest she was squeezing and start up our conversation where we had left off, but I knew the timing wasn’t right. She was in the middle of studying, and I wasn’t going to interrupt.