A Prior Engagement Read Online Free Page B

accepting he would never change. She was resolved to the life she was committed to, like it or not.
    She left the library deflated, reminded of her obligations and the promises she made as a teenager. But as she walked out of the Beaux-Arts building, the sun was still shining and it instantly brightened her mood.
    She continued down the steps, almost skipping, when she heard someone yell, “Hey!”
    She turned to see her classmate from inside the exhibit walking across one of the large platform steps toward her. He stopped two feet in front of her then adjusted down a step to give her the upper vantage point. They looked at each other, not rushing to speak. William, after a second, broke the silence first and asked, “How’d you like it?”
    “It?”
    “The book collection? How’d you like the collection? Pretty amazing, huh?” He shoved his hands in his jacket pockets, feeling awkward and full of self-doubt.
    “Yes. I wish I could have touched them. To feel something that old and fragile and important . . .” Her eyes turned to the sky, letting her sentence trail off, and she smiled. She caught herself and dragged her wandering thoughts back to the present. “It was amazing.” She took a step down, putting her closer to William and said, “I guess I’ll see you tomorrow in class.”
    She didn’t wait for him to respond since she was in a hurry. She walked down the rest of the stairs, embarrassed she had acted so weird in front of him, and blushed from the humiliation of what he must think of her.
    William was in complete and total awe, watching her walk down the sidewalk. The twinkle in her eyes when she spoke of the books made him feel close to her. He had never met someone who felt the same as he did about books and he made a pact to get to know this girl. He had to find out more about this fascinating creature, starting with her name .
    That night a hundred names crossed his mind, but none of them seemed to fit the beautiful girl. Her beauty wasn’t common. She was a classic beauty with her straight nose, defined cheekbones, and slender neck. Tiffany, Pamela, or Christy didn’t seem to suit her at all. They were pretty names, but improper for her. After spending way too long on this exercise, he finally fell asleep.

Chapter 3
    Everleigh hurried home from the book exhibit in a great mood, even if she had embarrassed herself in front of the handsome guy from school. She smiled, enjoying the brief interaction a bit too much.
    As she walked into the lobby of her building, Walter handed her bag back, and gave her a warning, “Mr. Whitney is in a foul mood.”
    “Thank you,” she said. Her stomach flipped once before sinking further into her body. As she rode the elevator up, she felt ill-prepared for the potential confrontation.
    She walked into the foyer of her family’s apartment and looked around, feeling immediate relief when she discovered he wasn’t there. She ran to her room, dropped her bag and shut the door behind her, feeling safe.
    She needed a few minutes to gather her wits about her and to freshen up to look presentable again before seeing him. Unfortunately, she wouldn’t get those few minutes because to her surprise, Tom was already waiting for her by the window.
    She gasped out of fear, startled to find him there. His body language told her he was angry without him saying a word.
    “You seem a bit on edge, darling,” Tom said. His pace was slow, but calculated as he walked toward her. With every step he took, her heart beat louder in her chest, pounding in her ears.
    She gulped, telling a lie. “No, not at all.” She was terrified. It was the buildup that frightened her more than the act itself.
    “Where were you today?”
    “I, uh, I—”
    “I, uh, I . . . that doesn’t sound like you. You’re usually very well-spoken. You’re babbling and it’s unbecoming. It’s a simple question.” He stopped in front of her and searched her eyes for the lie he knew was coming. It wasn’t