Self

Chapter 58

1/2

By mid–October, Yara got the email she had been waiting for–her paper had passed the first round of reviews for inclusion in the Science Citation Index (SCI).

Rainie was floored by the news. “No way! Yara, you’re like some kind of wizard! We’re talking about SCI here!”

Yara rolled her eyes. “Cool it, will you? It’s just the first cut. We’re not there.

yet.”

“With how smart you are, the next couple of reviews should be a breeze. Relax.”

“Hmm… Why don’t I take you out for a feast to celebrate your first win?”

Yara chuckled. “Isn’t it supposed to be the other way around?”

Rainie raised an eyebrow. “What’s the point of being best friends if we keep track of who treats who? It’s settled, then. Get ready, I’ll come pick you up now.”

After ending the call, Yara headed to her room, rifled through her closet, and chose a V–neck dress sprinkled with tiny flowers.

Over the past couple of months, her hair had grown out to her collarbones. With the heat being what it was, she opted for a hairband in a matching shade to keep it up.

Thirty minutes later, Rainie texted–she was downstairs

Yara slipped into her shoes, grabbed her purse, and headed out.

Rainie’s car was idling at the corner. While Yara waited, she fiddled with her phone, only to glance up and spot Wade heading her way.

A student was with him, backpack slung over his shoulder, neat buzz cut, looking bright and breezy. They were deep in conversation, Wade’s face the picture of calm, nodding now and then. When they wrapped up, the kid headed off.

Rainie, spotting Wade, waved eagerly. “Hey, Wade!”

Wade glanced up, his gaze steady and serene behind his specs. “Why are you here?”

“I was looking for Yara to grab a bite. That guy earlier–is he one of your students?”

The boy did not sport the trendy heartthrob look, but something about his clean–cut, effortlessly cool vibe was totally endearing–especially when he flashed those dimples. It was like they were carved right into her heart!

Wade was not clueless; he knew what Rainie was like with young men. “Nah, he’s a grad student from another school who just swung by to ask a question.”

She was itching to dig deeper, but just then, footsteps echoed from the stairs–Yara was on her way. Wade nudged his glasses up his nose. “Don’t you two have plans? I should get going.”

Rainie asked, “Hey, come on, join us for lunch, will you?”

“I can’t, I have to head back to the lab.”

He had only returned to pick something up.

Yara was still a flight down when Wade’s voice reached her.

Chapter SB

2/2

Ever since their last meet–up, Wade had been holed up in the lab. It had been a good month since they had seen each other.

In the hallway, Wade perched on the third step, bathed in sunlight that filtered through the diamond- shaped lattice, casting a patchwork of light and shadow that warmed his usually cool gaze.

Their eyes locked, and Yara broke the silence. “I’ve been meaning to give you back your coat from the other day.”

She had washed it ages ago but just had not bumped into him.

Her voice was gentle, her floral dress swaying slightly, revealing her pale, slender legs, topped with nude heels. She was the picture of fresh and crisp.

Wade’s mind wandered for a second before he caught her drift, his voice a touch raspy as he said, “I’ve been swamped, practically living in the lab lately. Just popped in today to grab some stuff.”

Yara noticed the weariness in his eyes and nodded understandingly. “Alright, then. Get back to it, but don’t forget to take a break.”

“Will do.”

As Yara and Wade narrowly missed each other, Yara, out of practice in her heels, took a misstep, and her ankle gave way. She stumbled, her body lurching forward..

Wade was quick to react, catching her with his body and steadying her with a hand at her waist, saving her from a nasty fall.

Her heart was racing, and Yara took a moment to calm down, and that was when she caught the fresh, piney scent that was so Wade.

Chapter 59