Until Then (Cornerstone Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

them and scooted over closer to Emma. “How was your first week of classes?”
    “Great! I love all of them,” Emma gushed. “Every one of my professors is so interesting. How’s your photography class?”
    Simon’s face lit up. “It’s awesome. I can already tell I’m gonna learn a lot in there.”
    “Cool.”
    “Your roommate’s in my class. What’s her name again?”
    “Maggie,” Michelle interjected.
    “Where’s she tonight?” Simon glanced over at Michelle, then back at Emma.
    “She’s coming later with a friend of hers from back home,” Emma replied.
    In truth, Michelle was worried about Maggie. They had left her alone in the room waiting to hear from Ben, and she had a bad feeling about it. She knew plenty of unreliable guys like him, and her gut instinct told her he was not to be trusted.
    Michelle glanced around the expansive lawn of the park, which sloped from the Gerald R. Ford Museum on the hill to the river below. The lush green grass was covered with blankets and lawn chairs filled with people enjoying the warm September evening. There were couples holding hands, families and friends, children running around. One little girl ran across in front of them, nearly tripping over Michelle’s legs, followed by her concerned and slightly embarrassed father.
    “Sorry.” He waved as he passed by in pursuit of his daughter.
    Michelle watched the man scoop up the little girl and say something into her ear before he blew against her arm, making a loud, slobbery noise. Her wild giggles floated on the wind, and Michelle’s mood sank.
    The rowdy laughter of a large group of teenagers turned her head. They were hanging out under the nearby trees, joking crudely, and annoying the people seated next to them. One couple was making out rather inappropriately against a tree. They reminded Michelle of her friends in Chicago.
    She looked over at Simon and Emma all cozied up together, and she wanted to leave. These weren’t her people. They were a whole different species. She wanted to go home. Back to Chicago, where she belonged.
    Darcy’s booming laughter suddenly grabbed her attention. Michelle looked back at her and Jill, seated on the back edge of the blanket facing Sean, Wes, and several guys from the dorm. The girls were clearly entertained by something one of the guys had said. Darcy flipped her long, blonde tresses over her shoulder flirtatiously. Jill seemed to be the more reserved of the two, giggling demurely while she twisted a fiery red curl around her finger.
    Michelle’s gaze fell on Sean, who she caught staring at her with those intense, blue eyes of his.
    He flashed his perfect pearly whites at her.
    She smiled in return, and he moved to stand.
    “Hey,” he said as he approached.
    “Hey.”
    He pointed at the blanket. “May I?”
    “Sure.”
    He sat behind her, and she shifted sideways, so he wouldn’t have to talk to the back of her head.
    “How are you?” he asked.
    “Good. You?”
    “Good.”
    “Nice night.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Kinda crowded.”
    “I know.”
    “You look nice.”
    “Thanks. You, too.”
    They had perfected the art of economical conversation.
    “So …” He tilted his head a little to the right and grinned at her. “You never called me back.”
    She cringed, hoping he wouldn’t make a big deal of it. “I know. I’m sorry about that.” He had called to schedule their basketball game and left a message with Emma. “Things have been pretty busy with registration and classes starting.” Honestly, her attention had been focused on Simon, and she had forgotten.
    “For me, too.” He shrugged his shoulders and laid a hand on hers. “It’s fine. You can make it up to me.” His fingertips traced softly back and forth across the top of her hand.
    “I can do that,” she replied with her best come-hither look. If he was going to flirt with her, she was going to give it right back.
     

     
    When twilight set in, the lawn became more crowded in anticipation