Page 247 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 1

Her heart beat faster with anticipation as the dorm came into sight. She rushed up the stairs and then stopped at the closed door. Did she just walk in? An intercom panel hung on the brick wall at the side of the door, so she looked up Tommy’s name and pushed the call button. After a few rings, a groggy voice answered. “Hello?”

“Tommy?” She fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt. “Um, it’s Anna.”

“Anna!” His voice cleared. “Hey! You’re here?”

“Yes.” She bit her lip.

“Okay. I’ll be down in just a sec.”

Anna turned and watched two young women jogging across the street as she waited for Tommy to open the door. A girl with very shiny black hair bounded up the steps. Anna stepped aside to let her pass.

The girl grinned. “You get locked out?”

“What?” Anna looked around, wondering who she was talking to.

The girl laughed. “Did you get locked out of the dorm? I almost forgot my key this morning.”

“Oh. Um, no. I don’t go here. I was just... waiting for someone.”

“Oh. Boyfriend?” Her dark eyes twinkled with amusement.

Anna blushed. “I, uh...” She was saved from having to come up with an answer as the door opened and Tommy stepped out, bare chested, wearing a pair of gray sweatpants.

“Hey, Tommy,” the girl said with a bright smile.

“Hey, Kim.” He looked past her to Anna and beamed. “Hi, Anna.”

Kim glanced back at Anna, looking crestfallen. “Tommy’s your boyfriend?”

Anna’s eyes widened and she looked at Tommy.

“Yeah, I am.” Tommy grabbed Anna’s hand and dragged her inside. “Hey.” He pulled her close and kissed her until her knees grew weak.

“Hi.”

Tommy grinned. “C’mon. See ya, Kim.” Tommy pulled Anna up the stairs to his room.

They spent the morning in bed together. When someone knocked on the door, Tommy ignored it. He kissed her when she came to keep her quiet so no one would know they were there.

Around lunchtime, Tommy’s phone rang. He picked it up off the floor and squinted at the screen. “It’s my dad.” He pressed the screen. “Hey, Dad... yeah. No, we’re here... yeah... Yeah... okay... Let me get dressed and we’ll be down... ‘K, ‘bye.”

Tommy grinned. “My dad and Devin are downstairs looking for us. Apparently, the last person who knocked was my dad.”

Anna giggled. She had been mid-orgasm.

They dressed and went downstairs. Anna hesitated on the last step as her eyes met Devin’s, but instead of anger, she found a smile of approval. Relief washed over her as Tommy tugged on her hand, pulling her toward the door.

“I wish you didn’t have to leave tonight,” Tommy said later that afternoon as they stood outside his dorm. “I’m going to miss you.”

“You shouldn’t, Tommy. You have to find a nice girl to settle down with, remember?”

Tommy took her other hand. “I know who I want to settle down with.”

Anna shook her hand. “No. You can’t. Devin would never?—‍”

Tommy sighed. “Please don’t bring him into it.” He stepped closer and cradled her cheek. “He can’t stop me from missing you.”

Anna lost herself in his kind eyes and had to confess her own feelings. “I’ll miss you too.”

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