Saturday.
No classes. No Riyan. No drama.
That was the plan.
So why was I in a bookstore at 11 AM...
...and why did I bump into him again?
Anaya:
"You have got to be kidding me."
Riyan: (grinning)
"Oh good, you're here. Now it's a real weekend."
Anaya:
"I'm calling security."
Riyan:
"I'm calling fate. Clearly, we're meant to keep running into each other."
Anaya:
"I'm seriously going to throw a dictionary at you."
Riyan: (picking one up)
"This one's heavy. Go for it."
I turned to walk away, but he followed me. Again.
Anaya:
"Do you stalk people for fun or is this your hobby?"
Riyan:
"Just you. You're way more interesting than law books."
He had that smug smile on, the one that made me want to punch a wall and maybe also hold his hand. (Not that I'd admit that. Ever.)
I stopped at the section with journals and stationery.
Anaya:
"Why are you even here? You don't seem like the reading type."
Riyan:
"Why, because I look too good to be smart?"
Anaya:
"I didn't say that."
Riyan:
"You were thinking it."
Anaya:
"I was thinking you should leave."
Riyan:
"Can't. My legs keep walking toward you. It's like… magic."
I turned around so fast, I almost knocked over a pen stand.
Anaya:
"Stop flirting. It's exhausting."
Riyan:
"Then stop being so fun to flirt with."
I froze.
Was that… actually smooth?
I cleared my throat, pretending to read the back of a notebook like my life depended on it.
He walked beside me, quiet for a second.
Riyan:
"Okay. Real question. Want to grab a juice or something?"
Anaya:
"I thought you were joking the last time."
Riyan:
"I wasn't."
I looked at him. For once, he didn't have the usual teasing grin. He just looked… normal. Chill. Maybe even sincere.
Anaya:
"…Fine. But only because I'm thirsty. Not because this is a date."
Riyan:
"Of course not. This is clearly a very serious business meeting."
Anaya:
"Exactly."
We walked out of the store and toward the café. And for some reason, my heart was suddenly doing this weird drumbeat thing.
I told myself it was just the weather. Or the sugar in my system. Not Riyan. Definitely not Riyan.
But when he opened the door and let me walk in first, I accidentally smiled.
Just a little.
Okay, maybe a lot.