part0179

"It's two days before Thanksgiving. I think a lot of people took the week off work." I take a sip of the chai tea latte I just made myself. We're at work and Everly is right, it's slow.

"Your stalker didn't take the week off." Everly nods to the guy at a table, wearing an earbud and ignoring us.

I ignore her statement. "Why aren't you in Connecticut already? We don't have classes this week."

Everly rolls her eyes. "I'm stuck here until tomorrow because Finn is waiting until the last minute to go home. He thinks if he waits long enough I'll take the train and he won't have to drive me." She shrugs. "Sometimes I'm not sure why I put up with him."

"What exactly are you putting up with? You're the one stalking him."

She sticks a cup under the syrups and pumps out several. Experimenting with drink concoctions is a Everly specialty. They're mostly awful. "It's not stalking when we are meant to be together. I can't help it that I imprinted on him when I was six."

I spit my drink out. "Everly, did you just use a Twilight reference to explain your obsession with Professor Camden?"

"I did." She pauses from her drink-making. "Is that weird?"

"Um, let's see, Twilight wasn't written yet when you were six," I start.

Everly scoffs and turns back to the syrups. "That doesn't mean it didn't happen."

"And you're not a werewolf," I add before she can object.

That's the sum total of her response on the subject. I watch her add steamed milk to her cup. "That reminds me, does Professor Camden know that you copied his house key yet?"

"Yeah, he already took the first copy back," Everly replies and continues making her drink.

I have to set my latte down at that point. I should know better than to have a conversation with Everly while drinking hot liquids. "The first copy, Everly?"

"Yeah. And he didn't even ask me for the second copy." She takes a sip of her drink. "I'm kind of pissed off about it, to be honest. It's like he doesn't even know me, right?"

I nod slowly. "Right."

"Obviously I would make three copies. Anyone should know that."

I lean against the back counter and nod. "Obviously." Honestly, I have no idea how many copies one would make when stealing someone's house key, but it's best to just go along when Everly is on a roll.

"I expect him to change his locks once I use the second key so the third key is likely useless, but he should know me well enough to ask for the second key." She sighs, looking truly despondent.

"Everly, why Professor Camden? Men trip over themselves trying to get to you. Why him?"

"He's the one, Sophie. He just is."

"Why now?" I ask, confused. "I've known you since freshman year and I didn't even know you knew him outside of school until a month ago."

"I had to wait until the time was right. I knew there was no way he was touching me before I was eighteen, just no way." She shakes her head. "I could have gone to college anywhere and focused on bumping into him after I graduated, but I figured if I went to school here I could keep an eye on him. Make sure he didn't fall in love with the wrong girl while I was growing up."

I sigh. "Everly, how were you going to prevent that?" I hold up a hand. "Wait, I don't want to know."

"And then I'd have all senior year to make him realize I was the one for him. That was my plan, you know?" She looks to me for a response.

"That's a plan all right." I have no idea how that is a plan.

"But he's turning out to be a real hard-ass about university policy. I'm not even in any of his classes. Who cares, right?"

"I think the university cares."

"It's not like I'm expecting him to date me openly before June, but there is no reason he can't fuck me before then."

Everly is obviously incredulous at Finn's refusal to fornicate with her. No need to add insult to injury. "Nope, none," I agree.

The front door opens and with it comes a rush of cold air.

"Luke!" I round the counter and stop in front of him. "I didn't think I'd see you here today." I'm grinning, I'm so happy to see him. I should play it cooler, I suppose. I'm still not entirely sure what we are to each other. I got what I wanted—in the last month we've had several meals at the same table and he's taught me several new positions in bed. And in the bathroom. And in the study too. Oh, God, the study. My eyes glaze a little thinking about it.

Luke leans in and kisses me. "What are you thinking about, precious?" he says just loud enough for me to hear.

"Just thinking about your study." I smirk. "It's such a nice room, that's all." He swats my ass and I jump. "You're obsessed with my ass, perv." I slip back behind the counter. "Do you want a coffee? I can wiggle my ass while I pour it."

I fill a large cup with the Grind Me dark roast blend and set it on the counter. "So what are you doing here today? Isn't the student clinic closed all week?"

"I wanted to see you before you left." He smiles at me.

I frown. "Where am I going?" I ask.

Now it's his turn to frown. "I thought you were going to Florida for Thanksgiving weekend?"

"No." I shake my head. "I'm going to Florida next month for Christmas. I'm going home with my roommate Jean for Thanksgiving Day."

"Come home with me."

"Come home with you? Now?"

"No, Thursday. Come to Thanksgiving with me. At my parents'. Unless you'd rather go to Jean's?"