When Maeve Met Caleb

MAEVE

I park my car in one of the campus parking garages. Taking a moment, I reflect on my upcoming semester. I have four more classes standing in between me and my business degree.

All winter break I worked on creating my new line of precious gem and colored stone jewelry. I already have an online store with a religious following.

I use white gold–plated material or leather, because I am allergic to sterling silver, and I pride myself on my jewelry being hypoallergenic.

Stepping out of my car, I shiver as the cold Vermont air blows past me. I retie my scarf, making sure to block out all wind.

One thing you should know about me is I hate being cold. I don’t know why I didn’t go to college somewhere warmer. I long for the warmth of my bed in the apartment I share with my twin brother, Liam.

Liam works for the Department of Fish and Wildlife as a game warden. His program was a year shorter than mine, but luckily he got a job nearby.

My phone dings, and I look down to see my best friend, Penelope, sent me a message.

I shoot back a reply and pocket my phone, then slip on my backpack. I hurry out of the parking garage and across the quad to make it on time to my 8 a.m. class.

As a senior, I had hoped not to be in any, but alas Professor Whittaker refuses to teach anything later than an 11:30 class.

Hurrying into the lecture hall, I don’t notice a blond guy and bump right into him.

“I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” I ask, looking up into the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.

“I’m fine. Are you?” he asks me, and I nod, tongue-tied.

He goes to leave the hall and I blurt out, “Skipping class already?”

“Don’t go here. I was bringing my brother his laptop.”

His deep voice makes me shiver, and shockingly I blush. I nod like an idiot and scurry over to where Penelope snagged us seats in the back.

“You okay?” she asks me, looking into my eyes.

“Peachy,” I lie and pull out my notebook to take notes. Call me old-fashioned, but I find the material sticks in my brain better when I have to write it down.

“Liar,” she whispers as the professor walks in.

“I’ll tell you later,” I promise and try to focus on what our professor has to say.

“Maeve, I can’t believe we already have a paper due in two weeks,” Penelope moans, tucking her computer away.

I laugh and say, “What did you expect? We have sixteen weeks until we graduate. Did you look at the syllabus?”

We walk out of the hall, and I see the same man I bumped into leaning against a wall. I feel a tingle shoot down my spine when our eyes connect.

He gives me a wink and pushes off the wall. I think he’s coming over to me when another guy with the same white-blond hair steps in his way.

“Hey, Caleb. Why are you still here? I thought you had a meeting?” I recognize the guy as Owen. He and I have had a lot of classes together throughout our four years here.

“Maeve, come on.” Penelope pulls on my arm, and I follow her to the student union and get a cup of coffee with room for cream and sugar.

“What do you have next?” she asks me when we settle on two couches.

“Accounting 300. I need it to be able to do my books for Moonlight Jewelry. It’s the only other one I have today. I have my capstone class and one other management class tomorrow.

“Fridays I don’t have a class. I’m going to use that day to get homework done. Then the weekend can be focused on jewelry making.”

“Speaking of jewelry—my mom loves the earrings and necklace set I got her for Christmas. She was so impressed she wants to host a party for you to sell to her friends,” Penelope tells me and I gape at her.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. She wore them on New Year’s Eve at a party and all her friends wanted to know where she got them.”

“I’d love to do a party on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Tell her to give me a call, and we can set it up.

“I do custom orders too, so I’ll bring my materials and people can see their options,” I tell her, trying to contain my excitement.

My parents haven’t been very supportive of my business, so maybe this party is just what I need to show I can be successful.

I’ll need to double up on supplies to make multiples of each style I carry.

“I’ll let her know. How is Liam?” Penelope asks, and I smile.

She has had a huge crush on my brother since freshman year. We look alike with our bright red hair and emerald green eyes, but he is a foot taller than my five feet two inches.

“Fine. He is gone for the week doing a stakeout. He said something about trying to catch offseason hunters,” I reply, sipping my coffee. Thank goodness for coffee, or I wouldn’t be able to function.

“Is it dangerous?” she asks, her hazel eyes showing her worry.

“No. He said it was routine,” I say, trying to help alleviate her worries.

“Good. Oh, I’ve got to run to my next class. I’m so jealous you only have to take four this semester. I have six,” she complains, and I laugh.

“I took two eighteen-credit semesters freshman year. Now I get to reap the rewards,” I gloat, and Penelope glares at me.

“See you Wednesday,” she bids me goodbye, and I’m left on my own.

I take this time to pull out my textbook. I need to outline the first three chapters and then I can get started on my paper. I have another hour until class starts.

Getting comfortable, I put my earbuds in and blast my favorite country station from my phone.