My Rebound (On My Own #2) - Carrie Ann Ryan Page 0,20

advisor for the last two semesters here. I’m already on track for his internship. The papers just need to be signed.”

His eyes widened, and he beamed. “That’s a hard internship to get into. Congratulations.”

I smiled softly. “I’ve worked my ass off. I’m just grateful that it worked out.”

“Me, too. I’m working for another professor. Dr. Jackson.”

My eyes went wide. “Oh, I love her. I had her down as my backup, even though you can’t call her a backup because she’s brilliant. But the thesis I want to do is more geared towards Dr. Michaels’ specialties. And so, here we are.”

“It makes sense,” Pacey said. “We’re going to be busy the next year and a half or so.”

“And then grad school after. And then careers, and futures, and whatever personal lives we can forge around it. It’s going to be a lot.”

“I take it you have your plans set out?”

I blushed. “Yes, at least professionally. My personal life plan is sort of out the window now.”

“And yet, here you are, flying and soaring in new directions.”

“And hopefully not drowning,” I muttered as our dinners arrived. I ignored the way our waitress flirted with Pacey again.

I didn’t know why it annoyed me so much. Pacey wasn’t my boyfriend, but it bothered me nonetheless. “She knows I’m on a date with you. You’ve called me your date.”

“She’s persistent.” He held up a piece of paper with a phone number on it. “Should we call her later?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re welcome to, but she’s not part of my rebound.”

“Good to know,” Pacey said. “Now, are you going to feed me?”

“Not even a little. But you’re welcome to have a bite.”

“A single bite? Oh, no, Mackenzie. I think I could use more. Just a single morsel.”

I ignored the flirting and the way it made me feel, all tight and oddly needy. Instead, we ate and laughed, and he was his perfectly British and flirty self.

By the time we finished dinner, I was full, happy, and wondering if this was how dates were supposed to be. There was no stress. Only fun. And yet, I was still nervous. Because of what would come next. What came after the first date? What was supposed to?

What did I want?

Pacey pulled up in front of the house, this time taking a spot behind the one he had before, but still in a prime position. “What kind of sorcery do you possess?” I asked, shaking my head.

Pacey grinned and raised a brow. I swallowed hard. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“Oh,” I breathed. “Well...” I began and then trailed off.

Pacey shook his head. “Let me walk you to the door.”

Disappointment surged, and yet I felt relief. I nodded.

“Okay. That works.”

He smiled again. “It’s getting colder. I do believe snow is on the way. So, let’s get you inside where you’ll be warm.”

Was I supposed to invite him in? What was I supposed to do? Everything had just come naturally with Sanders, so naturally, it had imploded.

What was I supposed to think now?

Why was this so hard?

And why did I have to keep comparing him to Sanders? Because Pacey wasn’t Paul. I didn’t want him to be. I didn’t want anyone to be. I needed to push those thoughts and memories away and never think about them again. But they were so ingrained in my past, present, and future, that I didn’t know how I was supposed to do anything.

Pacey opened the door while I had been wool-gathering, and I looked up at him, then swallowed hard once again. He held out his hand and smiled. Such a sweet expression that went right to his eyes and did wicked things to his face. I ignored the twist low in my belly and slid my hand into his as I got out of the car. I closed the door behind me, and he tangled his fingers with mine and held my hand as he kept me steady and we walked up the stairs.

I was holding hands with Pacey Ziglar.

I had gone on a date with Pacey Ziglar.

As I stood on the front step and looked up at him, I didn’t know what else I might do with Pacey Ziglar.

He tilted his head and pushed my hair away from my face. “Did you have a good time tonight, Mackenzie?”

I licked my lips, and his gaze went straight to them. “I did. I am.”

He smiled then, and I lifted my chin and opened my mouth a bit, not knowing what I should say or