Chapter Five: Almost
1695 Words
The university event was more crowded than Amara had expected.
She stood near the entrance with Sophie, looking across the decorated hall while students, lecturers, alumni, and invited guests moved between tables.
“I still don't understand why you came,” Sophie said.
Amara adjusted the sleeve of her dress.
“You said I should.”
“I said you should come because Toba asked you.”
“That isn't a good reason.”
Sophie smiled.
“It was enough of a reason for you.”
Amara gave her a look.
“Don't start.”
“I haven't started anything.”
“You're smiling.”
“I smile naturally.”
“You're plotting naturally.”
Sophie laughed.
Before Amara could respond, someone approached them.
Toba.
He was dressed more formally than usual, in a dark suit that made him look older than he did around campus.
He stopped in front of them.
“You came.”
Amara glanced around.
“Apparently.”
Toba smiled.
“I thought you might change your mind.”
“I almost did.”
“But you didn't.”
“No.”
Sophie looked between them.
“I suddenly remembered I have somewhere else to be.”
Amara turned.
“You do?”
“No.”
“Sophie.”
“I'll see you later.”
Before Amara could stop her, Sophie disappeared into the crowd.
Amara stared after her.
“She planned that.”
Toba looked amused.
“Definitely.”
“She'll hear about this.”
“I'm sure she will.”
Amara turned back to him.
“So why did you want me here?”
Toba hesitated.
“I don't know.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“That isn't a very convincing answer.”
“I wanted someone I knew here.”
“You know half the university.”
“Not like I know you.”
The words came out more naturally than he intended.
Amara looked at him.
Toba cleared his throat.
“I mean... we've been working together.”
“That's what you meant?”
“Yes.”
She smiled slightly.
“Right.”
He looked relieved.
“Do you want something to eat?”
“I can get it myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why ask?”
“Because I'm being polite.”
“You're learning.”
He laughed.
They walked toward the tables.
---
The evening passed more easily than Amara expected.
Toba introduced her to a few people from his department. She expected them to treat him differently because of his family name, but Toba didn't seem particularly interested in drawing attention to it.
At one point, an older alumnus stopped them.
“Veymont.”
Toba turned.
“Sir.”
“You're Alexander's brother, aren't you?”
“Yes.”
“I remember your family.”
Toba smiled politely.
“I'm sure you do.”
The man continued talking about Crownspire Holdings.
Amara stood quietly beside Toba.
She noticed the way his expression changed whenever someone mentioned his family.
Not pride.
Something else.
Pressure, perhaps.
When the conversation finally ended, Toba exhaled.
“You hate these events,” Amara said.
He looked at her.
“Is it that obvious?”
“A little.”
“You don't seem to enjoy them either.”
“I came for the food.”
“That explains why you've been near the dessert table three times.”
She looked offended.
“That's an exaggeration.”
“Twice, then.”
She laughed.
Toba smiled.
He liked hearing that sound.
He had started noticing it more than he should.
---
Later, they stepped outside.
The courtyard was quieter now.
Music from inside drifted through the open doors.
Amara leaned against the stone railing.
“You're quiet.”
“So are you.”
“I was thinking.”
“About?”
She looked at him.
“You.”
Toba straightened.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds dangerous.”
Amara laughed.
“I was wondering why everyone seems to know you.”
“Because of my family.”
“That's not what I mean.”
He waited.
“You don't seem to enjoy being noticed, but people notice you anyway.”
Toba looked toward the courtyard.
“I've never had much choice.”
“Because of your family?”
He nodded.
“My grandfather expects a lot from all of us.”
“All of you?”
“My brothers.”
Amara remembered Marcus, Alexander, and Nathan.
“You're the youngest.”
“Yes.”
“Then you probably get away with more.”
He laughed.
“You'd think that.”
“Don't you?”
“No.”
He looked at her.
“Being the youngest doesn't mean you're free.”
There was something in his voice that made her stop smiling.
“What does your grandfather expect?”
Toba looked away.
“Too much.”
He didn't explain.
Amara didn't push.
For some reason, she felt he would tell her when he was ready.
---
They stayed outside longer than either intended.
Eventually, Toba noticed that Amara was shivering.
“You're cold.”
“No.”
“You are.”
“I'm fine.”
He removed his jacket.
Amara immediately shook her head.
“Don't.”
“Why?”
“I don't need it.”
“You're cold.”
“I said I'm fine.”
He held the jacket out anyway.
She looked at him.
“You really don't listen.”
“Not when you're obviously lying.”
She hesitated before taking it.
“Thank you.”
“You're welcome.”
She slipped it around her shoulders.
It smelled faintly like his cologne.
Amara looked away.
Toba noticed.
Neither said anything.
---
They walked back toward the hall.
Halfway there, Amara's shoe caught slightly against the edge of the pavement.
Toba reached for her automatically.
His hand closed around hers.
She stopped.
He stopped too.
For a second, neither moved.
Their hands remained joined.
Amara looked down.
Then up at him.
Toba didn't let go immediately.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He still didn't release her.
Amara's heartbeat quickened.
“Toba.”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“You're still holding my hand.”
His eyes dropped to their hands.
“Oh.”
He released her.
“Sorry.”
Amara smiled nervously.
“It's fine.”
They continued walking.
But neither spoke for several steps.
---
Inside the hall, Sophie spotted them almost immediately.
Her eyes went from Toba's face to the jacket around Amara's shoulders.
Then she smiled.
Amara knew exactly what she was thinking.
“Don't,” Amara warned.
Sophie raised both hands.
“I said nothing.”
“You didn't have to.”
Toba glanced between them.
“What did I miss?”
“Nothing,” Amara said quickly.
Sophie smiled.
“Absolutely nothing.”
Toba looked suspicious.
Amara ignored them both.
---
The following afternoon, Amara and Toba met in the library to finish another assignment.
They sat opposite each other.
For almost an hour, neither spoke.
Then Toba pushed a sheet of paper toward her.
“I finished the numbers.”
Amara looked at it.
“These are wrong.”
He stared at her.
“You didn't even look properly.”
“I did.”
She pointed at the page.
“You used the old figures.”
He leaned closer.
She moved the paper toward him.
“See?”
He studied it.
After a few seconds, he nodded.
“You're right.”
“I usually am.”
“Don't get used to hearing me say that.”
She smiled.
He leaned over the table.
“Show me.”
She moved closer.
Their shoulders nearly touched.
Amara pointed at the figures.
“If you use this figure instead, the entire calculation changes.”
Toba watched her explain.
Not the paper.
Her.
The way she concentrated.
The slight crease between her eyebrows.
The way she tapped her finger against the page whenever she was making a point.
He wasn't listening anymore.
Amara looked up.
“What?”
He blinked.
“Nothing.”
“You weren't listening.”
“I was.”
“What did I just say?”
He looked at the page.
Then back at her.
“You said...”
He paused.
She smiled.
“You weren't listening.”
“I was distracted.”
“By what?”
He didn't answer.
Amara waited.
Toba looked at her.
For once, he didn't have a clever response.
“Nothing.”
She shook her head.
“You're strange.”
“So are you.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
She laughed softly.
Then their eyes met.
Neither looked away.
The library seemed suddenly quieter.
Toba's gaze dropped briefly to her lips.
Amara noticed.
Her smile disappeared.
He leaned slightly closer.
She didn't move.
Neither of them seemed to know what they were doing.
Toba's hand rested on the table between them.
Amara's fingers moved toward it.
Their hands touched.
He looked at her again.
“Amara…”
She whispered, “What?”
He didn't answer.
He leaned closer.
So did she.
Their faces were inches apart.
Then—
A book slammed onto the table beside them.
They jumped apart.
Sophie stood there, staring at them.
She looked from Amara to Toba.
Then at their hands.
“Oh.”
Amara's face burned.
Toba sat back.
Sophie slowly smiled.
“I was looking for you.”
Amara cleared her throat.
“We were studying.”
“Of course you were.”
“We were.”
“I didn't say anything.”
“You were about to.”
Sophie picked up the book.
“I'll leave you two to your very serious academic work.”
“Sophie.”
She walked away laughing.
Amara covered her face with one hand.
“This is your fault.”
Toba smiled.
“How?”
“You're the one who distracted me.”
“I thought you were the one who distracted me.”
She looked at him.
Neither laughed this time.
Something had changed.
They both knew it.
And neither was ready to say what it was.
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