Chapter 23

As the day continued and the snow began to drive more steadily, the clusters of students stationed in the library diminished with the storm. It was likely, Naomi figured, that they wanted to get back to their dorms, or in the case of most of the graduate students, back to their homes, which for many involved at least a short drive. It had crossed Naomi’s mind more than once that she should probably leave as well. Her small hybrid had never been great in the tough New England winters, and though she’d wanted more than once to trade it in for something with four-wheel drive (as she promised her parents she’d do), she couldn’t bring herself to get rid of a car when it was paid off.

The other two members of her department had left hours ago, giving a wave to Sebastian, which he’d barely returned. He’d seemed lost in his story for the past few hours and had only looked up a few times and gotten up once to go to the bathroom and get a drink. Coffee, of course.

She wasn’t even sure he knew she was still there or that she was one of the only ones still there, so the chances of him caring about her departure were slim. But still, she felt the need to notify him. Approaching him with a caution one might use with a wild animal, she said his name quietly, not wanting to startle him. “I’m going to take off,” she said. “It’s pretty bad out there.”

Sebastian turned around toward the window, seemingly shocked by the scene outside. “Jesus, okay, yeah. What time is it?” When he looked back at her, he seemed to notice that they were the only two left in the library.

“It’s almost three.”

He nodded before saying, “I should get going too. The roads are probably horrible. It wasn’t supposed to snow this much, was it?”

“I don’t think so. The news said just a dusting. I probably should’ve left a few hours ago,” she said, mentally reprimanding herself for not listening to her instincts when she knew better. “My car’s terrible in the snow.”

Sebastian looked torn, like he was debating whether or not to say whatever he was thinking. Finally, he spoke. “Will you be okay getting home?”

Naomi wanted to laugh at how much their relationship had changed. His concern for her life was almost ironic considering how many times he’d expressed an interest in ending it. “We’ll see, I guess. But it’ll probably be good for your chances of winning the award, since I might lose my life to a guardrail tonight. If I don’t make it in to work on Monday, you’ll know why.”

Sebastian’s expression transformed into something she could barely identify. “Get your stuff. I’ll drive you home.” He’d begun packing up his own things before she even had a chance to respond.

“You don’t need to do that. I was just joking. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

Sebastian turned to her, his eyes almost imploring. “Can you, just this once, pretend to be a reasonable human being and not argue with me?”

She wanted to protest on principle, but the look in his eyes made her decide against it.

Though before she could speak again, he added, “Please, Naomi. I’ll take you home and pick you up in the morning to get your car. Don’t make it a bigger deal than it is.”

It actually seems like a very big deal. But she didn’t say that out loud. Instead, she quietly agreed, and waited while he headed to the table with the snacks and began hurriedly throwing away what was left.

When they began the trek to Sebastian’s truck, the snow was falling steadily, and Sebastian’s gait seemed to hitch more than normal as he trudged through the accumulated snow.

She looked up into the sky. “It’d be pretty if it wasn’t such a pain in the ass.”

Sebastian snorted. “Sounds like someone I know.”

Naomi’s head swung toward him, and his eyes widened slightly as if he hadn’t meant to actually speak those words. He looked uncomfortable and embarrassed, and there was no way Naomi was going to let this opportunity pass her by. “Pretty, huh?”

“Pretty annoying,” he muttered.

“No you don’t, Professor Blake. You’re not using your snark to get you out of this one. We’re going to talk about it. Extensively.”

Naomi had to give him credit—she’d never seen someone look so horrified before. It was impressive. “We’re doing nothing of the sort,” he growled.

“Oh yes, we are. Can we take a selfie? I want to have a memento of the day you paid me a compliment.”

That stopped him in his tracks. “I’ve complimented you before.”

“Telling me I look like I knit clothes for my numerous cats—which I don’t even have—is not a compliment.”

Sebastian’s lips twitched. “Says you.”

Naomi rolled her eyes and they resumed walking. “You’re ruining this for me.”

“Then I consider my life a success.”

Arriving at the truck, Sebastian opened her door and put his things in the backseat before grabbing her stuff and stowing them there as well. Then he moved out of the way and gestured for her to get in. But before he shut the door, he looked at her intently. “I do recall complimenting your poetry.”

“True. But you’ve never said anything nice about me personally before.”

“Fishing for compliments is beneath you.”

“Clearly not.”

Sebastian sighed heavily, as if what he was about to say would cost him greatly. “You light up every room you enter, Naomi. And it’s not just because you’re beautiful, which you are, but it’s also because you’re…you.”

Naomi felt her jaw slacken as she gazed at the man in front of her who looked like he’d just been forced to swallow a Tide Pod, and she felt an immense surge of affection for him. It would’ve bowled her over had she not been sitting.

“Now you’ll have something to brag about to the cats when you get home,” he added just before he shut the door.

Well, the moment was nice while it lasted. Though she knew that, in reality, the moment wasn’t lost in the least.