Page 25 of Make It Without You

A breakfast burrito to-go and an iced coffee are waiting for me on the kitchen island. “Thank you, Gloria.”

“You’re welcome, honey. Now before you go, I put pre-made dinners in the freezer, just follow the directions for how to reheat them. Also, your breakfast burritos are in a freezer bag, you just need to pop them in the toaster oven for about thirty minutes and you’re good to go.”

Gloria is taking a month-long vacation to visit her grandbabies. I love having her here, but I understand she has her own family to get to.

“Thank you,” I tell her again. I mean it. I wouldn’t have survived these last few years without her.

“Go, go. You’re going to be late.”

Kissing her on the cheek, I pick up my food and iced coffee, then I’m out the door with James in tow.

Me: My last class is done early. I’ll meet you at the car.

James: I think my professor is wrapping up. I’ll be there shortly.

I finda bench and lean back as I reflect on the first day and conclude that it was not what I expected. The professors were chill and interacted with us like peers and not like they were our authority figures. My high school teachers got that fact wrong when they told us our professors weren’t casual.

Since I have all intro classes it made for a lighter day, but I know my workload will pile up and according to my advisor, I’m on the right path.

I do love the idea of teaching. But it will be a lot of work.

Am I bummed that I’m not playing violin professionally? A little. But touring with a company would mean traveling. Away from home, James, and Gloria. I’m not quite ready for that.

“Hey, hot stuff.” James greets me as he gets closer to where I’m relaxing on the bench.

“Dating a college guy is so hot,” I eye him up and down suggestively.

He sits next to me and wraps his arm around me. James leans in and his mouth lands at my ear. “Wanna know what else is hot about dating a college guy?”

“What’s that?”

James licks at my ear and a whimper escapes me. “Sleeping with him.”

Say less. I snatch my bag and pull James with me to the car.

“Was it something I said?” He teases as he opens my door.

I hop up into his truck and when I’m safely in, James shuts the door and jogs around to his side.

“It’s not nice to tease people,” I scold him.

A smirk pulls at James’s mouth as he starts up. I slide over to sit in the middle of the bench seat and pull the seat belt in place. James tucks his hand between my thighs as he drives us out of campus. It hits me that we have incredible memories in this truck. And the day that he sells it will be a day that I cry.

I rest my hand on his thigh and feel it tense. I hide my smile in his arm as I curve my hand inward.

“Emily,” his stern voice sends tingles down my spine.

My pinky brushes over the length of him in his jeans and I see his hands clench around the steering wheel. The familiar street that signifies our neighborhood means we’re safe. Well as safe as can be.

“What’s wrong baby? I’m merely continuing what you started this morning,” I tell him coyly.

James whips into the driveway, throws his truck in park, and fuses his mouth to mine. His tongue seeks entrance right away. I don’t care that it’s the middle of the day or that we’re making out in my driveway. I just care about him.

January 2014

“Happy Birthday, to you!” James croons along with Kamryn and Liam. We’re celebrating my twenty-first birthday early before they have to drive back down to school. And I’m lucky they were here to help celebrate.

Since my parents have been as distant as ever, I’ve made my own family. Gloria woke me up with pancakes in bed andJames had flowers delivered every two hours to my house. My room was a variety of colors with sunflowers, roses, orchids, and balloons covering most of the flat surfaces.

---