Page 16 of Love: Take Two

The Brotherhood

Baby Bro:Do you have any pics?

Narc:Try not to be so thirsty, Adam. And you never want to send a girl's pics to your boys. That's tacky.

I roll my eyes at Henry. He's always so patronizing, policing our group chat like he's the only one of us with sense. He's not wrong, though; sending a girl's pics without permission crosses a line.

The Brotherhood

I'll tell you all about her later, baby bro. Right now, I've got to meet my study partner.

I flip my phone closed and try to ignore the buzzing that continues as I step onto the elevator. My guess is my brothers have a few choice emojis about my study date.Session!I quickly correct internally. Man, what the heck is going on with me tonight.

"You're early!" Awa says with a smile as she opens the door. "I was just about to grab a muffin or something from Parkside."

"Parkside?" I pretend to whine, moving into her place to lean against the small kitchen counter. "I had that for lunch. Can't we grab some burgers or something?"

She puts her hands on her hips, pursing her lips at me, but she can't hide her smile.

"Oh you had that for lunch, did you? Well, by all means, where shouldIeat for dinner, since you've invited yourself along?"

I smirk at her playful teasing. In the weeks I've known her, she's opened up from the reserved woman who was careful with every word to reveal glimpses of the sometimes silly, often hilarious woman beneath her curated facade.

Last Tuesday, she flicked her pen at me when she caught me checking out a girl instead of revising my paper on how cinematic portrayals of Asians have evolved from the 1980s to today. Two weeks ago, she passed me a note in class, gloating over the teacher's praise of her insights on Shrek 2's record-breaking promotional strategy. It was adorable knowing it was likely the first note she'd ever passed in her life.

From what her roommate, Sybil, has told me, Awa's been coming out of her shell more than ever this year, and I'm just cocky enough to believe I have something to do with that.

"I'm thinking Indian—samosas, chana masala, and saag paneer."

She laughs, and the throaty, almost sensual sound does something to me.

"We'll need a nap right after if we eat all that heavy food. I would let you crash on the couch, but Sybil reserved the living room for her date tonight."

"I could always sleep in your bed with you," I suggest, waggling my eyebrows. She just rolls her eyes, assuming I'm joking.

"How about sushi instead? It's light but still filling, and we won't end up with sauce all over our books."

"If you insist," I sigh, acting pained. I honestly don't care what we eat. I'm just happy to share a meal with this woman who's quickly becoming more than just a study partner. Could she be…a friend? I've never had a female friend before, not with my reputation. I also have verynon-friendthoughts about Awa whenever I sneak a peek at her ass, or when some small comment she makes surprises a laugh out of me. Thank God I never told my brothers aboutthat.

"You sure we shouldn't meet one last time before the deadline? I feel like my paper's almost there, but it's missing something."

She flops onto her back to stare at the ceiling, and I'm glad I had the foresight to stay sitting at her desk instead of joining her on the bed. Every muscle in my body is straining to touch her, even more so because she's strictly off-limits. Crystal, however, has already texted twice to see if I'll be by tonight.

"You don't need it," she reassures me. She arches her back in a stretch that tests my resolve. "What you have is good, but if you're really worried, email me your draft and I'll look it over."

"Yeah?" I ask hopefully.

Switching majors—hell, switching wholecolleges!—has done a number on my confidence. Pre-law wasn't my passion, but it was known. Now I'm trying to find my footing in uncharted waters.

Awa turns on her side to face me, her dark eyes shining with understanding.

"Of course, Noah. I'll read your draft, tell you it's perfect, and then wait on the phone while you submit it to the professor.Tu gères."

I raise an eyebrow at her in question, and she sighs good-naturedly.

"It meansyou've got this. Youhaveto let me teach you French someday. At least some basic phrases."

I grin at her while packing up my things.