Read Online Love Nouveau by B.L. Berry - Free Book Online Page A

might like to do something different for dinner.”
    He reaches out and grabs my hand like it’s the most natural thing in the world. I can’t help but believe that it belongs there, my hand molds perfectly inside of his, and I suddenly find myself self-conscious of sweaty palms.
    It becomes obvious that Phoenix isn’t sure exactly where he is going when we walk by the same building a third time.
    “There’s a grassy area on the other side of Agricultural Hall where we could eat,” I suggest, trying not to make him feel bad. I really have no idea what he’s looking for and he is tight-lipped on our destination.
    “Which one is Agricultural Hall? We’re going somewhere close to there.”
    I point to prominent building down the way and lead him to the lawn on the backside. Phoenix pauses for a moment and evaluates the domed building in the distance. Tugging on my hand, he pulls me toward Washburn Observatory, one of the oldest buildings on campus.
    “Have you been here before?” he asks as we approach.
    I shake my head. I passed by this building nearly every day my freshman year but never stepped foot inside. Rachel and I learned about this place on our campus tour during orientation. It’s one hundred plus years old and, at the time, housed one of the largest telescopes in the world.
    It’s a Saturday night and I know for a fact that the building is closed. Only on an occasional Wednesday is it open to the public. Otherwise, it’s restricted access—astronomy students and staff only.
    We approach the main entrance and Phoenix smiles at me knowingly, before knocking on the entrance. A short guy with dirty blond hair and thick-rimmed glasses opens the door and lets us inside.
    The ground level is dimly lit and it takes my eyes a moment to adjust. A century of must fills the air even after multiple renovations. The scent reminds me of old books and mildew.
    “How…?” I eye him cautiously as the door pulls shut behind me.
    Spending the night in a holding cell for breaking and entering, no matter how innocent it may be is not how I want to spend my first night as a college graduate.
    “I know someone,” he says proudly. “Okay, that’s a lie. I actually know someone who knows someone.”
    My feet are firmly planted and I can’t seem to make myself walk further. He senses my hesitation.
    “Seriously, Ivy, it’s okay. One of the guys I’m with this weekend is an astronomy grad student. He helped coordinate everything for us. Just don’t break anything.”
    He doesn’t have to worry about that. I won’t touch, or even breathe near anything inside this place for fear of destroying it. What have I done to be worthy of orchestrating such a huge favor? And what are his expectations after this little adventure? But one word gets caught in my chest. Us.
    Instantly I feel guilty for these thoughts.
    Phoenix reaches for my hand again and I follow him toward a narrow stairwell in the corner. He gestures for me to walk up first.
    As we climb to the second floor, a wave of fresh air hits me. The dome is pulled back, revealing an exquisite technicolor sky over Lake Mendota. I have never seen anything like this before and it is absolutely breathtaking. From our vantage point, you can’t see the sun, but it’s evident that it’s on the cusp of disappearing for the evening.
    “Have a seat,” he tells me as gestures to a blanket that’s laid on the ground.
    This really is over the top. And thoughtful. And something that only happens in the movies or romance novels—never to me.
    We are only thirty minutes into our evening and already I’m certain that any date I go on for the rest of my life will have a hard time outdoing this one. Seriously, what twenty-something does this kind of romantic gesture? What’s his game?
    As I settle onto the ground, he sits down next to me and opens the picnic basket.
    “I hope you don’t mind, but I was working with limited resources,” he says as he hands me a peanut butter and