She Didn’t Fix Her Reputation. She Threw It Away. Chapter 21

She Didn’t Fix Her Reputation. She Threw It Away. Chapter 21

“Oh my God.” Zoe’s eyes widened. “Last week, in the library, when you were carrying that massive stack of printouts and you bumped into the shelf and everything went flying? He was the one who helped you pick it all up.”

Now that she mentioned it, I did remember.

I’d been rushing to prepare for a debate, my arms loaded with research, when I’d taken a corner too fast and sent papers scattering everywhere.

In the midst of the chaos, a hand had reached down to help me gather them.

“Your argument is very compelling,” he’d said, handing me the last of the papers. “It’s rare to see someone approach the internalization of social costs in corporate environmental responsibility from that angle.”

At the time, I’d been so flustered that I’d just mumbled my thanks and hurried away, barely looking at him.

I only remembered that he’d seemed a little shy, and the tips of his ears had been red.

“What did he say to you?” I asked Zoe.

Zoe’s eyes twinkled.

“What do you think? He came to find me after class today and asked if you might be interested in his new research project. Please. That’s Professor Croft’s advanced research group. He was obviously just looking for an excuse to talk to you.”

I froze.

Someone wanted to get close to me because of my ideas?

Not because of my last name.

Not because our engagement would look good in a press release.

Not because my opinions were a harmless, decorative flourish.

But because of a paper I’d written. Because he remembered my argument. Because he wanted me to join his project, and he was nervous to ask.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” I said, but I could feel a blush creeping up my neck.

Deep inside me, a piece of ice that had been frozen for a very long time began to crack.

I could be seen for my mind.

I was worthy of that kind of clean, uncomplicated admiration.