I can’t tell if Ben heard any of the conversation. He’s just flipping back through the pages we’ve already read, as if searching for something. I decide that he wasn’t able to hear my roommate’s inappropriate musings and feel a mixture of relief and regret.

“Everything okay?” Ben stares at me now instead of the book.

“Yeah. Well, kind of. That was Terra. Apparently, a pipe burst at Both Ways, and there’s some water damage that needs fixing before Curt can open the place back up. Shouldn’t take too long, but it looks like I have the weekend off.”

“So, you’re suddenly drowning in free time?”

“Seems like it. I’ll have to decide what to do with my newfound freedom.”

The change in my schedule is making me light-headed in a not-so-great way. I shuffle items around in my bag until I find my day planner. The two boxes I labeled as Work are written in bright purple pen because they were never meant to be erased.

Empty time, voids that need filling.

Not sure what to write in those spots, I grab for my striped notebook and flip to today’s list, making sure to angle it, so only I can read the page.

1. Morning run.

2. Digital marketing class.

3. Dialysis/reading with Ben.

4. Don’t sniff Ben.

5. Don’t think about kissing Ben.

6. Don’t imagine Ben naked.

Shoot, why did I write that down? That’s just more likely to bring the thought to my mind.

I skip down to the end of the to-do list and write in another item.

7. Fill the schedule void.

With it on my list, I can put everything back in my bag and refocus on the present.

And I’m definitely not thinking about Ben naked.

BEN

This is it.

It’s like the universe is working in my favor. Trying to give me a chance. Now, I just need to come up with a plan and get her to agree to it.

For the next half hour, I brainstorm, only slightly guilty that I’m not fully listening to Holly read. She always leaves the book here, so I can catch up later.

An idea finally forms, one that sets my nerves on edge. It’ll leave me vulnerable, but I figure that’s what you need to do to get someone to trust you. Show them the darker parts of yourself but also share the things you love with them.

At the next chapter break, I take advantage of her pause. “Holly.” She glances up from the book, and I enjoy the warmth of her gaze on me before continuing, “Come on an adventure with me this weekend.”

She blinks, obviously not expecting my invitation. I wait.

“An adventure? What kind?”

“An overnight adventure. A surprise adventure.”

I grin, and she hesitantly smiles back at me. But her face is still full of questions.

“So, you won’t be telling me where we’re going?”

“Nope.”