A chair scraped across the floor, and the familiar scent of pine and spearmint flooded her senses. Noah’s large form settled beside her and his hand landed on her bouncing knee. She stilled and lifted her face.
She found everything she wanted in his eyes. His blue irises were soft and kind, and the tiniest hint of a smile played around his lips. And yet, something about his expression was uncertain. She slid her hand down her thigh to his hand, touching his skin with the tips of her fingers.
He swallowed. “Can we go somewhere? To talk, or...?”
She nodded.
“I—”
A set of beefy hands grasping Noah’s shoulders cut him off. “Agnew!”
Noah’s body faced Mia, and he didn’t move his torso so much as a millimeter. He craned his head back to regard the bear of a man behind him. “Yates. What can I do for you?”
“We need more beer. Your turn to buy.”
“I can’t drive.”
“I’ve got a freshman DD. Let’s go.”
Noah sighed heavily. He faced forward again and regarded Mia with apology deep in his gaze.
His fraternity was hosting the party, and she knew how these things worked. He didn’t have a choice. She gave him a small smile. “It’s fine. Go.”
He hesitated before turning back to his fraternity brother. “I’ll be right there.”
“Good man.” With a pat on Noah’s back that forced him several inches forward, Yates ambled off.
Noah lifted one hand and gripped the back of his neck. “Will you stay? Until I get back? It won’t be more than half an hour.”
She nodded.
His eyes filled with hope. “Meet me in my room?”
She opened her mouth to answer with words this time, but he suddenly held up a hand.
“No, wait. My roommate’s girlfriend is in from out of town and he, um...sort of claimed the room.” He scrunched his nose, appearing deep in thought for a second. “Mick’s gone all weekend, and he has his own room, the lucky bastard. We’ll have privacy.” He checked the time on his phone. “Can you meet me there? At twelve thirty?”
Holy shit.“Okay. Which room is his?”
“It’s—”
“Agnew!” someone boomed. “Move!”
“Calm the fuck down,” Noah called over his shoulder as he stood.
“Just go,” she said. “I’ll ask someone.”
“It’s on the second floor,” he began, and someone turned the music up, sending bass pounding through the walls. “Anyone can direct you,” he shouted, walking backward, but still facing her. “You’ll be there? Twelve thirty?”
“Twelve thirty. I’ll be there.”
Mia startled awake, heart pounding. Her eyelids fluttered and she pressed her hands into the sheets, awareness setting in.
The dream always ended in that moment, never continuing on to the disaster that set in shortly thereafter.
It was almost as if fate wanted a do-over.
She stared up at the ceiling, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.A do-over.What would she do with a second chance with Noah, if such a thing were possible? What if things had turned out different and they’d been able to meet that night like they’d planned?