Chapter 8

Jessica hung up her phone. She exhaled deeply in relief. “I was getting all worked up for nothing,” she said, throwing her phone on her bed before plopping down beside it.

I lowered my book, my glasses low on the bridge of my nose. “Went well, then?” I had checked out a book on ancient Greek history from the library. I could definitely see how the origins of lore reflected the culture. I wondered how much the legends had changed for being passed by word of mouth for so long.

What did the original legend sound like? The woes of heroes and gods. If I had continued teaching, I probably would have eventually taught the “Odyssey,” and intricacies of ancient stories. There’s something to learn from that. Besides, the fantastical nature of the myths was enough to keep me reading.

“Yeah, I guess James and I were already on the same page. I was worried about that. The last thing I’d want to do is ruin a friendship with feelings,” Jessica made an expression of disgust. Then she noticed what I was reading. “Greek history and mythology.” She gave me a stern look. “Really?”

“What?” I asked, putting my bookmark in near the end of the book. Wow, I really ate that book right up. I had just checked it out that morning. Fridays were lazy days to me since I didn’t have any classes, so I would spend the whole day reading.

Jessica decided to drop it and put her hands up. “Oh, nothing.” She looked up at me and asked, “When’s your midterm?”

“Well, I’ve already done my food science and business one. And my food theory. My culinary skills class doesn’t have a midterm, he just uses an average of our skill drills. I guess I’m done.”

“Good for you. I have to submit my final design by midnight, but I was wondering if you wanted to join James and I in the library for some last-minute studying,” Jessica offered.

“I thought you were done with your design.”

Jessica smiled and said, “I am. James has to catch up on some quiz grades and I think Rowan is working on his thesis.”

“Okay, I’ve got to return this book anyways,” I reply. The thought of seeing Rowan again made my cheeks flush again.

*****

The library was actually pretty quiet. Normally, it was full of students, but with midterms being over, it was somewhat sparse. Of course, tomorrow night was Jessica’s big sorority bash, so we will have our day fairly busy with preparations.

I walked over to the book drop-off stack. There was a stack of books in the window, but no librarian. I looked around and didn’t see anyone.

“Hello?” I asked.

No reply. Hmm. Do I just leave it here? I looked at the book for a moment, debating.

“The librarian took off for the evening,” a familiar voice said next to me. He was leaning against the desk, chin resting on his hand. Rowan looked just as unconcerned as he usually did. He noticed the book I was holding. “I was wondering what happened to it. I was trying to check it out earlier.”

I blushed sheepishly. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

Rowan shrugged and held his hand out so he could take the book. I handed it to him. “That’s okay. Did you like it?”

“Yeah. It was pretty interesting,” I replied.

“Makes you wonder how different the myths were before they wrote them down,” Rowan mused, opening the book and scanning for something specific.

“What are you looking for?” I asked.

He hummed in the back of his throat. “Just the section about Homer and Hesiod. I thought it was this book.”

“Check chapter sixteen, around page 350. I just read it earlier today,” I answered.

He flipped through a few pages to where I told him it was. Then he looked over at me and smiled. “Well, would you look at that. I thought I would have to omit that whole part of my paper.”

“Well, I’d hate for you to have to omit Homer from a paper on Greek mythology,” I teased.

Rowan chuckled. “That wouldn’t be good, would it? I can’t believe I deleted that citation,” he mused. “Do you mind if I turn this in for you later?”

I nodded. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

“Great, um, James found a table over there,” Rowan said, gesturing to a table across the library.

I could see James and Jessica talking animatedly as James typed on his laptop. I was happy that they cleared up any misunderstanding. Jessica seems happy. She saw me approach and nudged James, saying, “Hey, Astrid, you need to hear this joke! Tell her the joke!”

I raised my eyebrows.

James cleared his throat and said, “What is the dumbest animal in the jungle?”

I played along, “What?”

“A polar bear!” James said the punchline and Jessica cracked up.

“Oh, that’s just terrible,” Rowan said, taking his seat next to a few open books, getting to work on citing some interesting paragraphs.

James narrowed his eyes at Rowan and looked over at me, waiting for a response.

“That’s pretty bad,” I answered, chuckling a little.

“I liked it,” Jessica reassured James, leaning on her hand and looking across the table at him. James gave her a smile and continued working on his computer.

I sat at the table, across from Rowan.

“What’re you working on?” I asked James as he typed away.

James looked over at me and shrugged. “Just catching up on some psych quizzes before the deadline tonight.”

I nodded.

“Have any plans after?” Jessica asked.

James looked up at her from the screen of his computer. He playfully tapped his finger against his chin. “I don’t think so. Do you have anything in mind?”

“A few things,” Jessica mused, leaning a little closer. “But I can help you study if you’re still struggling with those quizzes.”

“Maybe you can help me with something called the ‘tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon.’”

Oh gross.

I didn’t seem to be the only one getting uncomfortable with the continuous flirting as Rowan made a rather loud noise of disgust. “Ugh, really? Whatever, does anyone want coffee?” Rowan asked, seeking any reason to escape.

Jessica and James gave him their orders and then proceeded to keep making sultry eyes at one another. I grimaced and looked up at Rowan. “Can I join you?”

He shrugged. “Sure.”

I gladly put on my sweater and followed him out of the library. It’s a good excuse to use that gift card Professor Moore gave me anyways. “I couldn’t get out of there fast enough,” I mused out loud.

“Me neither,” Rowan concurred, his deep voice rumbling slightly.

It was quiet for a moment when we walked across the library to the coffee shop that was right outside. It was still open, but overall, pretty dead. I tucked a thick strand of hair behind my ears. One of my earrings was pinching me. I watched Rowan’s shoulders bunch together for a moment before relaxing. I wonder why he did that.

I wriggled one of my earrings. I had a few piercings in each ear and sometimes the backing would pinch a little.

Ah, so much better.

I glanced up at Rowan through my lashes. I was still wearing my glasses, so I pushed them up again. I needed new ones, but I barely wore them, so I didn’t think the expense was worth it. My gaze travelled from his face down to his shoulders. I couldn’t help myself as I was distracted by the prominent collarbone that was just barely visible above the collar of his shirt.

His arms were relaxed at his side, but I could see the dormant strength just below the surface. I didn’t realize that I was totally checking him out until his gaze snapped over to me. I instantly looked away, blood rushing up to my face again.

I cleared my throat and tried to compose myself. Maybe he didn’t notice. “How’s your thesis coming along?” I asked.

Rowan raised his eyebrows at me before saying, “I’m making some good progress on it. It’d be easier without our friends’ bedroom eyes though.”

I laughed. “We’re lucky that it was only the eyes this time.”

His lips pulled into an amused smirk when we got to the coffee shop. We ordered three drinks.

“You sure you don’t want anything?” I asked.

“Not much of a coffee drinker.”

I accepted that as an answer and pulled my gift card out of my wallet.

Rowan put his hand up and said, “Don’t worry, I got it. Save your gift card for you.”

I paused and stared at my gift card. I wanted to argue for the sake of feminism and being able to buy my own hot cocoa. Instead, I just swallowed my pride and said, “Thank you.”

An exhausted college student set three cups of hot beverages on the counter in a drink carrier and rang his bell. “Order for Rowan!”

Rowan and I went for the cups at the same time. Rowan got to it first, and picked it up, and examined it before selecting one drink and holding it out to me. “Hot cocoa for Astrid. Extra whip cream and cinnamon.”

I reached out to accept the cup from him. Our fingers brushed. His hand was so cold. I looked up into his sapphire eyes and watched them darken for a split second before they returned to their normal color. “Your hand is so cold.” I didn’t mean for my voice to sound so concerned.

Rowan’s hand tore away from mine, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “Poor circulation.”

His eyes still held mine as if he too was unable to look away. My eyes travelled down his face, observing the sharp curve of his jaw to the supple fullness of his lower lip. He had shaved that morning to only have it grown back in by the evening.

Rowan cleared his throat. My eyes were drawn to the bobbing of his Adam’s apple.

I tore my gaze away. “We should probably head back,” I whispered.

Rowan nodded and pulled his gaze away, walking with me back to the library. We didn’t say anything else. What was that? That feeling? That tingling down my spine. I tried to ignore it. When we returned, Jessica and James were still flirting up a storm, but eased up after we came back. We chatted and had some nice conversations. Rowan was even indulging in the conversation.

Despite the distraction, that tingling feeling didn’t go away.