The ride into town was easy in a way Desiree hadn’t expected.

Once the car pulled out from campus, Lucas turned the music on low, humming along to a familiar song on the radio. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other tapping lightly against the dashboard. Desiree found herself sneaking glances at him, noticing how relaxed he looked, the way the corners of his mouth tilted up even when he wasn’t smiling outright.

“So,” Lucas said after a moment, breaking the silence. “What’s ...