Page 80 of No One Else

19

Evan

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HER BREATHS ARE STEADY, her body dead weight against mine. She’d obviously been sleepy for a while and I knew I should drive her home, but it felt too good having her warm, soft self lying here with me.

Did she mean to say that? Was it even a conscious thing? Or was it just rambling in her sleep?

I lay next to her for a few more minutes, soaking up the feel of her, then gently wake her and bundle her into the Bronco where she falls asleep again, her head resting against the window.

She wakes enough to walk up to her dorm room once we get there, yawning before she gives me a sleepy kiss, looping her arms around my shoulders.

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask her if she remembered what she said on the couch, but I’m still gun-shy about mentioning any form of the L-word when it freaked her out so bad that first time. I swallow my question, asking her instead, “Are we still on for the marketing conference this weekend?”

“As long as you’re okay with driving me there and staying. I understand if you need to be home with your dad.”

I shake my head. “That’ll be four days from now. I talked to his doctor and he said it’s really the first twenty-four hours that are critical, and we’re past that. Besides, Dad said he’ll drive us over there himself if he has to. He knows how big it is for you.” I clear my throat. “The conference, I mean. Not what comes after.”

“You have plans then for after?” she grins widely.

“I have so many plans.” I kiss her softly, not wanting to get too worked up. Even though the roads were deserted driving over, the dorm is still a hotbed of activity this late at night, with plenty of people up and about.

“I have some plans too,” she says wickedly, the effect slightly ruined by a huge yawn.

“Get to bed.” I gently tap her ass, directing her toward her room. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

“Goodnight,” she mumbles tiredly, kissing me one last time before leaving.

I stare at her door for a minute afterward, a tiny part of me disappointed she didn’t say I love you again.

It must have just been a dream.

***

THE HOTEL’S ELECTRONICdoor clicks open and I look away from the TV, shutting off some action movie I haven’t really been paying attention to as Natalie steps in the room. She’s still in the business attire she was in when I dropped her off this morning in front of the hotel conference ballroom - a sleek black pantsuit and heels that turn her into a sexy, badass boss lady. That’s going to be her in ten years once she’s running some kind of marketing department single-handedly.

I sit up further on the bed as she closes the door behind her, setting her purse down on the table. “How’d it go?”

Her eyes sparkle as she turns back toward me. “It was amazing. I saw so many great presentations and met a ridiculous amount of people. They gave me their business cards, Evan. They’re interested in me for marketing internships.”

“Of course they are. You’re Natalie Miller. Marketer Extraordinaire.”

She rolls her eyes, smiling at me, and sits on the edge of the king-sized bed, bending down to take off her heels as she continues to tell me about the conference. I smile at her enthusiasm, the way her face lights up. Who else would get so excited about networking with marketing professionals?

“I’m so glad I got to come. I have so many ideas for my own presentation in the Fall. Assuming my proposal is accepted, that is.”

Now I roll my eyes at her. “We both know it’ll be accepted. Dr. Kaufman personally singled you out. Which you deserve,” I tell her seriously, grabbing her hand. “You’re the smartest person in that class.”

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