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before commuters take off for work.” Ryan turns in his seat. “If we go back the way we came, I bet we could get back to the dorms.”
    I arch a brow at him. “Dorms?”
    “Yeah. You have a better idea?” Ryan attends college here. His dorm is right around the block.
    I glance around, wondering if we can sleep in the car and rule it out. It’s too cold and I’ll run out of gas. I shake my head , “No . ” My stomach climbs up my throat as I look at him. He’s inviting me to stay with h im. I want to say no. I feel my emotions shattering like cheap glass. Shards go flying as I stare blankly, wondering how the hell I’m supposed to handle this.
    He sighs loudly, obviously annoyed with me. “Listen, it’s not ideal, but it’s better than sleepi ng in the car. If you have some where else we can go, somewhere closer…?”
    I shake my head. “The dorms are the closest. Is there anyone else there?”
    He grins, “Why, you don’t want to sleep with me?”
    My back straightens and I visibly flinch. It’s mortifying. “No, I just…”
    “You just, what?” He looks at me for a moment and then turns off the charm, but I’m still drawn to him. Damn him. Why does he have to be so droolworthy ?
    “I just don’t want to have to explain to people why I’m at your place in the morning.”
    He looks at me like I’ve hit my head one too many times. “It snowed, Holly. They aren’t stupid. Everyone knows you don’t want me like that.”
    My lips part. I start to correct him, to ask who thinks that, but I snap my jaw shut. Maybe he doesn’t know how I feel about him ? Is it possible?
     

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER
     
    5
     
     
    RYAN
     
    I glance at Holly’s face and can see something there, but I can’t tell what. The idea of going back to the dorm wasn’t a bad one. It’ll be warm, and we can crash there for the night. I just have to keep my hands off of her. I nearly lost it at the diner. When her skin brushes against mine, every part of me flares to life. I can’t not react to her caress . My body responds whether I want it to or not.
    She follows me across the parking lot and we stand in front of the dorm. It’s quiet. The snow falls faster now, sticking to everything it touches. Holly’s dark hair glitters with touches of snow and ice. She looks so beautiful that I want to reach out and touch her face, and feel her silky hair between my fingers. I glance at Holly and she has that unreadable expression in her eyes. I walk a little bit in front of her, because I’ll take her hand if I walk next to her, and reach for my card. We stop before the door. No one is here. Everyone went home for the holidays. Technically, I’d signed out along with everyone else. I swipe the card and the black case flashes a green light at me. I pull the door open and let Holly pass through. Her perfume fills my head, making me breath in another gulp before she passes. It’s intoxicating—she’s intoxicating .
    I close the door and walk down the hall. Usually the dorm is bustling with people, but not today. We walk to the elevators and I push the up button. Holly is quiet, like she’s considering sleeping in the snow just so she doesn’ t have to do this . I don’t understand her . She runs hot and cold. One second she’s g azing at my lips , and the next she’s shut down and won’t even look at me.
    I talk to her over my shoulder as I head toward my room. “Have you been up here before?” She shakes her head. “I thought you might. Nicole lives in the other tower. Basically each unit is a bedroom, with two beds and a sink. The showers are down the hall.”
    She looks around as we pass by doors that all look identical. “You like it here?”
    Her question surprises me. “Yeah, I suppose so. I wasn’t sure if I would, I mean , it’s like picking up the high school version of me and moving him 20 miles west. Having so many classmates around makes it feel the same, but there are lots of differences too.”
    I stop