Page 125 of College-Virgin & Dark Bully Next-Door

Wishing for the thousandth time since I moved that I told him I loved him on New Year’s instead of getting chicken shit and telling him that Arizona was going to suck without him. I shake my head.

“No. If he were here, we wouldn’t get anything done, right, Drac?” I ask my spider. “Homework would fall to the side. I wouldn’t be in a conservation club. Wouldn’t get to take all these photographs on the weekends.”

But it’s a hollow victory when I’d rather have the man of my dreams with me. He spoiled me the last six months, and now I’m dealing with the withdrawal.

Bonnie texts me again, asking if I’m excited. Groaning, I call her. “Excited for what, Bonbon?”

“Valentine’s day. Your first one with a boyfriend. Aren’t you excited?” she asks.

“I’m not in the same state as him so … that steals some of the magic,” I grumble. “Why are you so excited?”

“You know he’s other bestie.” She snorts. “He’s the right brand of asshole, I guess. And stop hating on Valentine’s day. I bet he surprises you.”

“With what?”

She yells at someone, then says she has to go. I just stare at my phone and shake my head. Ash stopped his crazy surprises in August when he scared the shit out of me, and we got into a little fight over him and how much I don’t like not knowing what’s going on. It means I can’t say no, and I don’t like that.

But I even miss fighting with him and the making up and his soft apologies, the way he actually changed his behavior, and I changed mine. It always brought us closer together.

My phone rings, and I shake my head. I swear, Ash knows when I’m missing him. I answer the phone. “Hi, Bunny.”

“What’s your address again?” he asks, not even bothering with pleasantries.

I blink in surprise. “Why?”

“Please, baby?”

I read it off again and hear something in the background. I roll my eyes. “Are you out with the guys again? I’m not explaining again that I can’t come home for Valentine’s day. One, it’s tomorrow, and two, I can’t justify a long ass flight just to be there for one day and then turn around. I’d miss classes.”

“I know,” he sounds breathless. “You love me, right?”

“Ash,” I hesitate. “You know how I feel.”

“So, you’re not going to be pissed when I tell you something?”

I narrow my eyes now and get up from my bed. “That depends entirely on what the fuck you’re going to tell me.”

“Well, see. There are some things I think are just better to say when we can see each other.”

“Then you should have Facetimed me. You know the whole ‘we need to talk’ and the ‘remind me to say something later’ comments give me anxiety.”

“I know. That’s why I’m not asking you to wait,” he says clearly.

I hear a knock on my door and groan. “Hold on. I think my food is here.”

I walk to the door, open it and see Ash. I just gape at him. My phone falls out of my hand, and he walks in, tossing his shit to the side before cupping my face between his hands and pulling me close to kiss me hungrily.

He kicks the door shut and presses his body against mine, feasting on my mouth, devouring me and finally picking me up so I have to wrap myself around him. I moan and get with the fucking program.

I bite his bottom lip, kiss him like my life depends on it and keep kissing him until we fall into bed together. He stands up, putting his hand out. “Nope. No sex yet.”

“You’re here,” I pant.

“It took me all of five seconds after you left for me to realize I didn’t have a damn thing keeping me in Indiana. Nothing that mattered. I’d planned to surprise you for spring break and hoped I’d get the transfer here.”

“Transfer?”

“But I said fuck it. I talked to Bonnie and Chase about it – by the way. I wanted their opinion when it came to moving across the country and surprising you,” he continues. “I can get a job at a gym training while I wait to get ranked over here or picked up by a coach or league.”

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