Page 240 of Tell Me I'm Enough

I blink at him.

“Did you just…quote a Swift song? What the hell do you know about Taylor Swift?” I look around, confused. “What universe am I living in?”

Erik shrugs. “Lani loves Taylor Swift.”

Bash shakes his head slowly, smiling. “Wow. I’m actually sad she hates your guts. You love hersomuch. It’s adorable.”

I glance at my watch.

Simone’s class ends in eight minutes.

Shit.

“I’ve…gotta be somewhere,” I say, jogging backwards already. “I’ll think about coming to that kumbayah thing, though.”

“Breakaway,” Bash calls out.

I wave him off.

“Same thing!”

Thankfully, I make it over to her building right before they let out.

I’m leaning against the wall, scrolling on my phone, when I see her walking.

She’s literallyglowingin the sunlight. She’s truly the kind of beautiful that would stand out in any-sized crowd. And who she is on the inside makes her a thousand times more beautiful to me.

“Are you stalking me?” she asks as she reaches me.

“Obviously.”

She smiles and blushes.

There it is. My favorite thing to see.

“Come on,” I say. “I’m taking you somewhere.”

“Where?”

“Off campus.”

She cocks her head a little at me. “How do you know I’m done for the day?”

I point at myself. “Stalker, remember? I know your schedule.”

She squints her eyes at me but still smiles. “Little creepy…but okay.”

* * *

Lake Somerville is quiet this time of year—peaceful. The wind skims across the water, turning it almost metallic under the setting sun. We’re sitting on the edge of the dock, shoulders almost touching.

It’s truly so beautiful out here.

“Have you always loved the water?” she asks, looking over at me.

I glance at her. “Yeah. It’s one of the only places that I always know my brain will be quiet at.”

There’s this look in her eyes, almost like she’s sad for me. “I wish you could do what you dreamed of doing in life. Doesn’t seem fair that you have to throw away everything you want because of him.”