Page 10 of Hailey Goes to College

“I wanted a new adventure,” I say. “And having Kelsey here made the decision a lot easier. Plus, the city has so much to offer.”

“I get that,” Ryan says. “I mean I want to help manage the farm but I also had to get out of that town for at least a little while.”

Our pizza arrives, and we dig in, savoring the delicious combination of flavors. This is the first time I’ve ever had Chicago-style pizza with the sauce on the top. It’s different but I like it and if it wasn’t apparent, I’m sure the moan of pleasure I release as I take a bite out of the thick slice proves it.

Ryan laughs. “I’m guessing you like the pizza then?”

I finish chewing but nod in agreement. When I swallow the last bite I respond. “Yes, it’s delicious.”

I see his eyes move to my lips and when his tongue peeks out and licks his own lips I want to lean over and kiss him. He must read my mind because he leans over and gives me a quick kiss on the lips.

“You’re adorable,” he tells me, then picks up his cup to take a drink. As we eat, we continue to talk and get to know each other, and laugh at each other’s jokes. The chemistry between us is undeniable, and I feel a growing connection with Ryan.

“This has been a lot of fun,” Ryan says as we finish our meal. “I’m really glad we did this.”

“Me too,” I say, smiling. “I’ve had a great time.”

Ryan pays for our meal even though I protest and offer to pay for my half, he refuses to even let me leave the tip. I think it’s cute. We hold hands as we walk out of the restaurant and he’s a true gentleman holding the door open for me in the restaurant and then again at his car. As I slide into the passenger seat, I don’t feel any anxiety about getting into the car and that says a lot about my comfort level with him.

As he slides in behind the wheel, Ryan looks over at me. “Maybe we should come here again sometime?” Ryan asks, a hopeful look in his eyes.

“I’d like that,” I say, feeling the butterflies in my stomach.

By the time Ryan pulls up to the front of the building, I’m feeling happy and elated that this date has gone so well. I go to get out of the car but Ryan puts his hand on my forearm, halting my movement. I look over my shoulder and smile at him.

“I have to go park the car but I just wanted to tell you I had a lot of fun and I hope we can do this again,” he says.

“Me too,” I say, feeling a bit shy. “Thanks for everything, Ryan.”

He leans in and gives me a quick, sweet kiss on the lips. I open up the car door. “Goodnight, Ryan,” I say, my heart racing as I get out of the car. I watch as he drives away, a smile spreading across my face. As I walk back to my dorm room, I can’t wait to tell Kelsey all about it. Tonight has been perfect, and I have a feeling this is just the beginning of something special.

I watch Ryan’s car disappear around the corner before turning toward the dorm. I couldn’t help but smile to myself. The evening had been more than I could have hoped for, and I’m excited to tell Kelsey every detail. I swipe my key card to get in and take the elevator up to my floor. When I open the door to our room, Kelsey is sitting on her bed, reading a script. She looks up as I enter, her eyes lighting up with curiosity and excitement.

“Well? How did it go?” she asks, putting down the script and bouncing a little in her seat waiting for me to respond.

I close the door behind me and lean against it, taking a moment to collect my thoughts before answering. “It was amazing, Kelsey. We had so much fun.”

“Tell me everything!” she insists, patting the bed next to her.

I join her on the bed, and the words start to pour out. I tell her about the miniature golf, the playful teasing, the delicious pizza, and our easy conversation. Kelsey is hanging on every word, her eyes wide with excitement.

“And he kissed me multiple times, held my hand, and told me that he wants to go out again,” I say, touching my fingertips to my lips, feeling the sensation of our kisses all over again. “It was perfect.”

Kelsey squeals with delight. “I knew it! I knew you two would hit it off. So, you’re going to go out with him again?”

“He asked if we could do it again sometime, and I said yes,” I reply, feeling the butterflies return. “I really like him, Kelsey.”

“I’m so happy for you,” she says, hugging me. “You deserve this, Hailey. Ryan seems like a great guy.”

“He really is,” I say, hugging her back. “Thanks for helping me get ready. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Anytime,” Kelsey says, pulling back and giving me a big smile. “That’s what best friends are for.”

We stay up late, talking about the date and speculating about what might happen next. Kelsey has always been the romantic one, and she loves to imagine all the possibilities. It feels good to share this moment with her, to let her in on something so new and exciting for me. I had a few dates in high school but they were always group dates. Boys never really saw me like that, and if they did they were either too shy or too intimidated to ask me out because while I may not be the most outgoing person, I am confident in myself.

As it grows later, we eventually get ready for bed. I can’t stop replaying the date in my head as I brush my teeth and change into my pajamas. Ryan’s smile, his laugh, the way he looked at me—it all feels like a dream. And when I finally climb into bed, Kelsey is already tucked in, her face lit by the soft glow of her phone. “Goodnight, Hailey,” she says, turning off her phone and snuggling into her blankets.

“Goodnight, Kelsey,” I reply, turning off my lamp and settling into my own bed. I stare at the ceiling for a while, my mind still moving a mile a minute. I knew I needed to sleep, but it’s hard to calm down. I feel like a chapter of my life has just begun, and I’m eager to see where it will lead.

---