Chapter 23: Twenty Three

The flyer had been stuck to the bulletin board near the faculty lounge for over a week, but I’d barely glanced at it until Mara mentioned the words free wine and food. That’s when I started to care.

A mixer for all the master’s students across departments. Hosted by the university, funded by a mysterious ‘ alumni engagement initiative’ and held in the old library courtyard. I had heard one of the professors mention this, but I had never cared for mixers that much. Mara and Jacob were both going, so they had convinced me.

Cassie helped me get ready, buzzing with more excitement than I could muster. She curled the ends of my hair, dabbing blush on my cheekbones and letting me borrow her lipstick.

“God, you look hot,” she said, leaning back with a proud grin.

I laughed, tugging at the sleeves of my top. “Too hot?”

“No such thing. Especially not if he shows up.”

I rolled my eyes but said nothing. Truth was, I wasn’t dressing for Declan. Not consciously. Not entirely. But I wouldn’t mind if he looked at me and thought a few choice things.

The courtyard looked beautiful by the time we arrived. Fairy lights strung between stone arches, round tables with crisp linen and little name cards, students milling about, socialising. The crowd was a swirl of people I had seen around campus before but never talked to that much.

“Wow,” I muttered as we walked in. “Everyone really dressed up. Grad students clean up well.”

Cassie smirked. “They’ll still fight you over free falafel though.”

I smiled, scanning the room. The economics cohort was clustered near the side, sipping wine and talking to each other. Mara and Jacob stood nearby, toward the bar. I drifted toward them with Cassie in tow, letting the conversations wash over me.

“You’re Willow, right?” someone said as I reached for a drink.

I turned to see a tall guy from smiling at me. “I’ve heard you ask some really smart questions in Ashwell’s class.”

I blinked. “Oh. Um. Thanks.”

Jacob spotted me, grinning, making a beeline for me the moment he saw me. “Wow,” he said, his voice low and warm. “You look…”

“Different?” I offered, raising an eyebrow.

He grinned. “No. Stunning.”

I shrugged. “Guess I clean up okay.”

He looped an arm lightly around my shoulders and leaned in. “People are watching you, you know. You’re kind of the girl of the hour.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sure, Jacob.”

“What?” He shook his head, “You are unaware of how hot you look right now.”

I smiled, but I was scanning the room again. Part of me couldn’t help it.

And then

There he was.

Declan.

Standing near the faculty table, in a crisp dark shirt, sleeves rolled to the elbows, speaking with one of the program directors. His eyes flicked across the room slowly, politely, and then…

They met mine.

A pause. Just a second.

But in that second, everything else dulled.

He gave the faintest nod. No smile. No surprise.

Like he knew I’d be here.

I looked away first.

Cassie reappeared beside me, a half empty glass of red in one hand and her phone in the other. “Come with me,” she said, grabbing my wrist. “I want you to meet Sydney and Abeer; they’re the best.”

I let her pull me toward a table where two people were laughing at something on a phone. Sydney had long braids and wore a burnt orange jumpsuit that made her look like she belonged on the cover of some underground music zine. Abeer was lean, tall, all charm and sharp cheekbones.

“This is Willow,” Cassie said, clearly a little tipsy. “My roommate! My bestie!”

“Oh,” Abeer said, grinning at me as he stood to shake my hand. “So you’re Willow. Cassie speaks so much about you.”

I blinked. “Uh… should I be worried about that, Cass?”

He laughed. “Only if you mind being known as the girl who out debated Ravi on circular economies last week. He hasn’t recovered.”

“Noted,” I said, smiling.

“You’re also seriously gorgeous,” he added, eyes sweeping over me with open appreciation.

I flushed, not used to the directness. “You’re just drunk.”

“Not enough,” he said with a wink.

Before I could respond, I felt Jacob step up beside me. He slid in close, his arm brushing mine as he wrapped one hand loosely around the back of my chair.

“Hey,” he said to Abeer, all polite smile and squared shoulders. “I’m Jacob.”

Abeer raised an eyebrow. “Ah. The fake boyfriend. We’ve heard tales.”

I looked at Cassie, glaring. Why would she tell him this? She mouthed a sorry, and I rolled my eyes.

Jacob chuckled, but there was a flicker in his expression. “Some of the best tales are real, though.”

I elbowed him lightly, laughing it off. “Jacob, don’t be weird.”

“I’m never weird,” he said. “Only honest.”

“Debatable,” Cassie said, already handing me another drink. “Drink this and stop flirting like you’re in a Jane Austen novel.”

We all laughed.

I danced with Cassie, both of us twirling and shrieking as we knocked into each other. Jacob and Mara did dramatic tango moves. It was chaos. It was loud. It was so fun.

And I drank so much.

Not recklessly, but steadily. A warm buzz settled into my head, made everything feel fuzzy and easier. My cheeks hurt from laughing.

Until I saw him again.

He was still at the edge of the crowd, standing with Cora, that other professor from before, eyes occasionally drifting over the party. When he glanced toward me and saw me laughing with Jacob whose hand had found its way to the small of my back again, his expression didn’t change.

Not much.

But I saw the tension in his jaw. The way his eyes lingered.

And I knew he saw me.

Which is probably why I stepped away.

“Hey,” I said to the group, breathless. “I think I’m going to head out.”

“Already?” Cassie asked, slightly slurred.

“I’m kind of drunk,” I said with a little laugh, “and I want to make it home before I start texting people I shouldn’t.”

“Amen to that,” Sydney muttered, sipping her drink.

“Want me to walk you?” Jacob offered quickly.

I shook my head. “No. You stay. Have fun. I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?” he asked, eyes searching.

“Promise.”

He leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head. “Text me when you’re home.”

Cassie hugged me tight, whispering something like get home safe and text me. I waved to Sydney and Abeer, then turned and walked toward the main gate, the buzz of music and laughter trailing behind me like an echo.

As I crossed the courtyard and passed the far side where Declan had been earlier, I slowed slightly.

But he was gone.