Page 22 of Hailey Goes to College

“Hell, yeah it was,” he agrees, his voice soft. “Hailey, I—”

He pauses, and I look up at him, seeing the vulnerability in his eyes.

“What is it?” I ask gently.

“I just… I care about you so much,” he says, his voice trembling slightly. “I don’t want to mess this up.”

I smile, my heart swelling with affection. “You’re not going to mess this up, Ryan.”

He sighs, relief evident on his face. “I hope not. I really hope not.”

We lie there in the quiet of his room, holding each other, and I feel a sense of contentment wash over me. This moment, this connection, is everything I’ve ever wanted. And as we drift off to sleep in each other’s arms, I feel so relaxed and happy.

When I wake up the next morning, the sunlight is streaming through the window, casting a warm glow over the room. Ryan is still asleep beside me, his face peaceful and relaxed. I watch him for a moment, feeling a surge of affection. Last night had been everything I’d hoped for and more.

Carefully, I slip out of bed, trying not to wake him. I pull on one of his shirts and pad quietly to the makeshift coffee bar cart. He’s got a coffee maker, swizzle sticks, cups, anything and everything you need to make coffee. As I wait for the coffee to brew, I can’t help but reflect on how much my life has changed in such a short time. Meeting Ryan, navigating the ups and downs of our relationship, and now this new level of intimacy—it’s been a whirlwind, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

The smell of coffee fills the room, and I pour two cups, adding just the right amount of sugar to mine and leaving Ryan’s black how he likes it. I bring them back to the bedroom, setting them on the nightstand. Ryan stirs, blinking awake, and when he sees me, a slow smile spreads across his face.

“Good morning,” he says, his voice still thick with sleep.

“Good morning,” I reply, handing him a cup. “I thought you might want some coffee.”

“You’re the best,” he says, taking a sip. He sits up, the sheet falling to his waist, revealing his toned chest. “Last night and this morning.”

I feel a blush creep up my cheeks. “I’m so glad we had that time together.”

Ryan sets his cup down and pulls me into his arms. “Me too. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before.”

I look into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there. “Neither have I.”

We sit there for a while, just enjoying each other’s company and the quiet of the morning. Eventually, though, reality starts to creep back in. We both have midterms to study for and responsibilities to get to, and the world outside is waiting. “When does your roommate come back?”

He shrugs his shoulder, “He said tomorrow but last time he came home the day before complaining he couldn’t handle his parents anymore so I wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up today.”

Reluctantly, we get dressed, and even though I’m just down the hall he walks me back to my dorm. As we reach the door, he pulls me in for a final kiss. “I’ll see you later, okay?”

“Okay,” I say, smiling up at him. “Have a great day. Text me later.”

“You know I will,” he says, giving me one last lingering look before he turns to go.

As I watch him walk away, I feel a mixture of emotions—joy, contentment, and a hint of anxiety about what the future holds. With a final glance at Ryan’s retreating figure, I turn and head inside, ready to take on the day. My heart feels lighter than it has in a long time, filled with hope and excitement for the future.

The morning sun streams through the window, casting a warm glow across the room. I stretch, feeling a pleasant soreness that reminds me of the incredible night I shared with Ryan. A soft knock on the door startles me, and Kelsey bursts in, her face alight with excitement. She’s holding a coffee cup so she must have been out getting her morning caffeine fix.

“Morning, sunshine! Tell me everything!” she exclaims, bouncing onto my bed.

I laugh, shaking my head at her enthusiasm. “Good morning to you too, Kelsey. It was… incredible. I don’t know how else to describe it.”

Her eyes widen with curiosity. “I knew it! You have that glow about you. I’m so happy for you, Hailey.”

“Thanks.” I can feel a dreamy smile on my face but can’t seem to erase it. “It was amazing. Everything happened just the way it was supposed to. We walked back to the dorms and then…” I trail off, letting her fill in the blanks.

Kelsey grins, leaning in closer while taking a sip of her coffee through the straw. “Come on, I need details! What did you guys do?”

I blush, memories of our night together flooding my mind. “We went to dinner. After we took a walk along the river. We started kissing and it felt so natural and Ryan is just…so good looking and perfect. His lips are so soft Kels. After that, we got in his car and went back to his dorm, and then one thing led to another…”

“And?” she prompts, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

---