Page 67 of Choosing Forever
It’s been seven months since I’ve seen him. A Halloween party in Calgary wasn’t my ideal idea for spending time together, but I didn’t complain. I couldn’t when that was my only chance.
But now, he’s mine for this spring weekend, and we can do whatever we want.
“I can’t believe you’re really here.”
“I’m sorry it took me so long to come.”
“It’s okay. I have the entire weekend planned. Starting with a tour of campus.”
He nods and turns his head, bringing our mouths close. I stare into the same brown eyes I’ve ached to see again and wait, seeing what he’s comfortable doing. The lines are growing blurrier between us, but surely he’s not going to let them actually matter this weekend. Not after this long of being apart.
Throat pulling with a swallow, he smooths a hand down my back but doesn’t kiss me like I was hoping. “Sounds good, Elle.”
I slide off him and settle on the ground again. Smiling, I pretend I’m not disappointed and wave at the cab driver.
“Thanks for getting him here okay.”
Darren snaps into motion and pays the guy before grabbing his bag and tossing it over his shoulder. I tap my thighs and nod in the direction of my building.
“Uh, we should drop your bag off first.”
“Good point. Do I get to meet the infamous Brooklyn?”
I huff a laugh, punting the awkwardness behind us. “She’ll probably show up once or twice. When I told her you were coming, she packed a bag.”
“What are the odds that she asked to be roomed with you again this year?”
“Honestly, I think pretty high. She acts tough, but she’s got a soft spot for me.”
“Can’t say I’m surprised. You’re pretty easy to love,” he says, the words flowing easily, as if it’s still second nature for him to speak like that.
My heart clunks in my chest, words evading me. A foreign feeling of hope appears, and I grab onto it tight.
“That’s something we both have in common,” I reply.
Warmth covers my hand when he takes it and threads ourfingers. My throat burns with emotion that I choke down. Right now isn’t for that.
The only thing I want to focus on is having him here with me and finally starting to feel like he’ll do what I’ve been wanting him to do since we started this break and put an end to it.
The lackof air conditioning in Darren’s dorm is suffocating as I lean against the kitchen counter and take another long sip of overly foamy beer. It’s July, and I’d hoped that his roommate would be gone by now, but of course, he’s not.
The all-year-living building is a blessing and a curse. Having to put up with his party freak of a roommate is a definite curse.
“You look warm,” Darren says, appearing in front of me.
He’s started growing a mustache this year, and it looks way too good on him. I’m pretty sure twenty-year-olds aren’t supposed to be able to grow mustaches, but there’s no denying his. With the new facial hair in addition to the muscles he’s bulked up during his time here, I’m quickly losing my composure.
It’s been two years since we’ve been . . . intimate, and I’m slowly losing my mind. After he left Vancouver in the spring, I’ve been slowly giving up hope of him putting an end to this break and finally sweeping me off my feet and into his bed.
Instead of doing that, he’s opted back to putting us in the best friend category. I’ve never hated one of my decisions as much as the one that started this mess.
“It’s a sauna in here,” I reply, fanning my face with my hand.
“You’re overdressed.”
Glancing down at myself, I frown. “What? I didn’t think this was against the dress code.”
“That’s not what I meant. You’re in pants and a long-sleeve. It’s thirty-five degrees outside.”
