Avery: Can’t wait! Good night!
Oliver: Me either. Good night, love. Sweet dreams.
I wishshe weren’t so busy and we could spend the next hour or two talking. Is she half as obsessed or curious about me as I am about her? Is she lying in bed thinking about me right now?
I sigh as I shift in the hotel bed. This seems like a dangerous road to go down. I toss my phone to the side with another sigh and glance at the clock.
One more day. One more day, and I’ll finally get to meet my love.
FOUR
Avery
I’m running late.So, so late.
I planned this big dinner for when Oliver got home to thank him for all of the takeout he sent the last week. I woke up early to get to the store for everything I would need, and then my phone dinged with an alert, reminding me that my University of Oxford Orientation was tonight.
My plans changed, and I threw everything into a crock pot instead, so he would still have something to eat when he got home. I double-check the temperature, turning the shredded chicken down so it’s not dry when he gets home.
I cleaned up earlier, but I check the rest of the flat is spotless before grabbing my backpack and heading out the door. As I leave, I wave goodbye to Bill, the doorman, and he nods at me.
Part of me wants to blow this whole orientation meeting off and stay home so I can finally meet Oliver, but I don’t want to miss out on any information they might pass out. Besides, it will only be an hour or two, and then I’ll be able to head home.
I don’t know what’s gotten into me or why I have such a fascination with my new roommate. I’ve spent this week poking around the apartment and trying to come up with theories about what he’s like.
There are no photos around his place, at least not on the walls, so I have no idea what he looks like. I tried to stalk him online, but he doesn’t have any social media accounts, so I’ve been trying to decipher things about him in other ways.
His walls are painted blue. Is that his favorite color? He sent me Indian food twice last week, so maybe it’s his favorite food. Has he ever been there?
I have so many questions I want to ask him. I want to know everything about him, and I wonder if he’ll think I’m a lunatic for being so obsessed with him.
I’ve never been that into boys. Not unless they were in the books I was reading. I knew I didn’t want to stay in Idaho, so I made it a point not to date anyone there. I didn’t want to be tied down to that place. It’s not like it mattered. No one in my school or town ever piqued my interest.
When I went off to college, I had this vision of some great love affair. I would look across the crowded classroom, our eyes would meet, and I would know he was the one for me.
That never happened.
I was too busy studying and taking in the sights of New York City to bother with boys. None of them made me feel anything.
One email from Oliver, though, and I’m a goner.
Is this love?
I make the short walk to campus, locating the relevant building and heading inside. We’re in an auditorium on the north side of campus, and I take a seat toward the back, looking around at some of the other students. Most look young, and I realize I’m probably the only senior here.
My phone buzzes in my bag, and I reach in, pulling it out and smiling when I see a message from Oliver.
Oliver:Just landed. Need me to pick anything up on my way home?
Avery: I’m at orientation. I made dinner. It’s in the crock pot.
Oliver: Thanks, you didn’t have to do that.
Avery: I wanted to. Needed to try to repay you for all of the food you sent me this past week.
Oliver: When will you be home?
Avery: I’m hoping this only lasts an hour.