Self

Chapter 31

“Hmm?” Yale quirked an eyebrow.

“Can you handle adding my fingerprint to the lock?” Xandra gestured. to the gate’s lock, her face scrunched up like a puppy that had been. scolded, looking pitiful.

“I’ve been stuck waiting outside your door so many times. Look at this -my hands, my legs…

“I’m covered in mosquito bites. You wouldn’t want to see me all chewed up like this again, would you?”

Yale could not help but soften. “Of course not.”

“Yay!” Xandra’s face lit up as she bounced joyfully. “I mean, I might’vel made it a bit dramatic. I just wanted to be able to come see you without all the sneaking around.”

He laughed, shaking his head at her antics. “You’re such a kid at heart.

He went ahead and added her fingerprint to the system.

As he thought about the mushroom soup she had brought him earlier and the mosquito bites marking her skin, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a card. “Here’s a credit card for you, with a hundred grand limit per month. Treat yourself to something nice.”

Xandra’s eyes widened, her lips caught between her teeth. “No, no, no… I can’t just take your money.”

“It’s perfectly normal for a guy to treat a lady,” he said to assure her.

“Really?”

“Really. No guilt trips allowed.”

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“Okay, then,” she said, her smile returning, eyes twinkling with mischief. “I’ll just have to bring you more mushroom soup tomorrow!”

Yale waved off the offer. “Don’t bother.”

The soup was not his cup of tea, no matter how many times he tried.

1. it.

After a full day hitting the books, Yara said goodbye to Solomon outside the library.

Solomon was a legend. He aced the entrance exams for grad school like it was no big deal, and he had many study tips. He even helped

her mark the important stuff.

Yara had wanted to grab dinner with him as a thank–you, but à call from his roommate changed the plans. They agreed to meet the next. day for another round of study sessions before he dashed off.

The June sky started to sizzle with the summer’s touch.

Yara battled the heatwave on her way home, and it was not until she basked in the cool blast of the AC that she felt revived.

She opened the fridge and planned to make garlic butter broccoli, sautéed asparagus with beef, and a hearty chicken corn chowder.

No matter what, she would not let herself go without a good meal.

As she prepared her meal, she was startled by a soft rustling at the

door.

Was Wade back? She peeked out, but instead of her neighbor, she found the cleaning lady.

“Need anything, Miss?” the lady asked.

Yara shook her head. “I’m good, thanks.”

The following morning, Yara hit the library at the crack of dawn, just

Chapter 31

as she had promised Solomon. She came bearing breakfast–a reward for the free meal he had given her the previous day.

Solomon looked puzzled, scratching his head, “Oh, uh, thanks. That’s really nice of you.”

Yara’s favorite spot was a quiet nook by the window, bathed in sunlight–perfect for studying.

was

What she had not expected to find Xandra there, sitting alone.

Yara did not bother guessing if Xandra had picked the spot on

purpose. She just pulled out her study materials and got down to business.

Xandra, meanwhile, could not seem to focus, restless and sneaking peeks at Yara.

Oblivious, Yara turned pages, her concentration giving her a serene glow.

Even Xandra had to admit that Yara was stunning–a beauty that could leave someone like Yale hung up on her long after a breakup.

Xandra’s grip on her pen tightened as the memory flashed through her mind–the haunted house, Yale ditching her without a second thought and chasing after Yara’s retreating figure.

He had been in an absolute panic.

Before, Xandra was not in a position to say much, but things were finally different. She was Yale’s girl, his number one, and she was not about to let that slip away.