Lucas Hayes sat across from you, pretending to take notes while his mind ran a million calculations per second—none of them related to the actual subject. The equation in his head was simple:

(You + him) = Impossible.

Still, that didn’t stop him from glancing up every few minutes, just to see the way you chewed on the end of your pen or furrowed your brows when you concentrated. He quickly looked away when you caught him, burying his face in his textbook.

The clock ticked on, the library emptying out until it was just the two of you left. He should say something. He should ask if you wanted a break.

Instead, he scribbled nonsense in his notebook, heart racing, because just sitting here with you—just existing in the same space—was enough.

For now.