“Okay? Woman, are you blind? In a land of mortals, the man is a god. But again, you were high, so you probably didn’t notice. Wait until you get a load of him when you’re sober.”

This conversation is making me super uncomfortable. I don’t want to hear Robbie objectify Alistair like that. I don’t have any claim on the man, but I’m getting jealous nonetheless.

I glance at my phone and realize I’m late for my meeting with Josh at the library.

“Cazzo! I have to go.” I jump off the bench.

“Where are you going?” Robbie asks.

“To meet someone to work on an assignment for Mr. Walsh’s class.”

“All right, girlie. See you later.”

DuBose’s library is semi-busy with a few empty desks available in the middle of the atrium. The school went with a modern-museum vibe for the interior, meaning the walls and furniture are all white with a few splashes of color here and there in the shape of modern sculptures and paintings. Floor-to-ceiling windows bring plenty of light into the open space.

Josh is waiting for me near the information desk, staring down at his phone. He looks up when I approach and smiles. Faded jeans hang low on his hips, and the comfy-looking sweatshirt can’t hide the wide chest and taut abs underneath. He’s positively yummy, yet the butterflies in my stomach remain dormant.

“I was beginning to think you would stand me up,” he says.

“I’m so sorry I’m late. I spaced out and didn’t check the time.”

He narrows his eyes. “Are you sure that’s all?”

I fidget where I stand. “What do you mean?”

“I know you were high yesterday,” he whispers.

Merda.

“That was an accident. I didn’t mean to get stoned. I’m not a pothead.”

He lifts his hands. “Hey, I’m not judging. But I do take my studies seriously.”

Josh’s implication makes me mad. But I can’t fault him for thinking the worst about me.

“So do I. Can we go now?”

“Sure. Ladies first.” He motions with his arm for me to go forward.

I choose the nearest free desk, keen for this meeting to be over already. Pulling my laptop out of my bag, I drum my nails against the desk. I don’t make eye contact with Josh while I wait for my computer to boot up.

“Chiara, I’m sorry, okay? I swear I’m not a jerk.”

I glance at him, surprised by his apology. My irritation simmers down.

“I’m sorry too. First impressions are important, and you didn’t have a good one of me.”

He smiles. “Start over?”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

He extends his hand. “Hi, I’m Josh Flannigan.”

“Chiara Moretti. Nice to meet you.”

We both laugh at the silliness of this scene, but it does help lighten the mood.

My computer is finally on, so I open a browser window. “Do you have a screenplay in mind that you’d like to analyze?”

“I was thinking we could choose one from a successful blockbuster, an independent movie, and maybe a comedy?”

“All successful, right?”

“Yeah, I want to learn from the best.”

“I have a movie in mind. I’m not sure it’s considered independent, but it was super out there.”

“What’s the name?”

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet.”

Josh’s eyes light up. “Oh, that’s a great movie. And so different. Yeah, we definitely need to analyze that.”

I download the screenplay from the school’s database.

“What else?” he asks.

“Since I picked the first movie, why don’t you choose the blockbuster?”

He groans. “You had to give me the hardest one.”

I chuckle. “Why is that hard?”

“There are so many good ones. How about Avatar?”

“Really? You want a rip-off of Pocahontas as your pick?”

Josh frowns at me. “I don’t agree, but okay. How about Aliens, then?”

“I’ve never seen it.”

“What? That’s a classic. Better than the first movie in the franchise—which was great, by the way. We’re definitely analyzing that screenplay.”

“Okay. That leaves us with the final pick. The comedy.”

“How about Election with Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon?”

I tense immediately. Reese’s character has an affair with her high school teacher in that movie. My thoughts wander to Alistair, and I feel a sharp pang in my chest. I haven’t recovered from yesterday’s encounter. He looks even more alluring in his serious teacher persona. Why does he have to make me feel like I might combust on the spot with a single glance?