Page 25 of Beauty and the Nerd
“Why is it so hard to get through your brain that I love him for who he is, how he treats me, and how I feel when I’m with him? It’s not that novel of a concept. This is not happening because he’s a god in bed. I’d prefer to have found out that he’d never slept with that pain in the ass, but I already have to deal with the knowledge that he did and her wanting him back, so get over it already,” Emma said with a huff that had Ben lowering his face to her neck.
“You know there’s nothing to worry about Em, not a single person in this world can compare to you, baby,” he said softly kissing her neck, slowly making his way up her jaw and around her face to reach her closed eyelids. He slipped his hand onto the back of her neck and kissed her fully not stopping until she was pliant in his arms, the tension drained. She buried her face in his neck when he finally pulled back and he held her, smiling as the girls stared on in surprise. “I love you, you know that Emmy.”
“I love you too.” She sighed, giving into the desire to just be with him, be happy despite what others thought and said, insinuated even. “I’ll still pull her hair out if she gives you that look again though.”
“That’s my baby,” he said with a light chuckle as Megan gave him a nod before gaining the girls’ attention to discuss dresses from the dance, letting him hold Emma close to him, enjoy the feel of her skin against his. It made him want her even more, but he’d deal with it. He wouldn’t try to push her further. He wanted her when she was ready and not before then.
Chapter 9
Emma hurried through the crowd looking for a seat for the final round of the regional academic bowl championship. She spotted Ben talking with the group and gave him a smile and wave as he looked up, loving the angry look that crossed Crystal’s face seeing him spot her. It was amazing that he knew she was there without a word when she hadn’t intended to come all the way out here for it and he lifted a brow her way seeing the smile on her lips atop of her appearance.
‘Good luck,’ she mouthed to him settling down into a seat as they began the round. She was amazed at just how brilliant he was, pushing their team ahead by ten points during the last set of questions. The other team started to buzz in before they fully read the question, and she laughed inwardly when they missed three because they didn’t let the moderator get to the crux of it. Ben answered each with ease and the match ended with them winning by fifteen points.
She grabbed her bag, slipping down to the floor to see him, tell him her news, unable to hold it in for another minute. Not even watching Crystal hug him tightly as they presented them the trophy could bring down her happiness today. She edged around a couple guys from the prep school they’d beaten rollingher eyes at the looks they gave her as Ben detangled himself from Crystal quickly.
“Ben,” she called out, and he handed the trophy over to Greg cutting through the crowd to reach her. He slid his arms around her waist, and she threw hers around his neck kissing him fully, still smiling.
“Okay, I know this giddiness isn’t just because of us winning,” he joked pulling back from it a bit studying her intently. “What’s going on Em?”
She pulled the letter out of her bag and held it up covering her giant smile with it to show him the name. His brow rose in question before he snatched the envelope and pulled out the sheet of paper. His face lit up seeing the words and he turned back to her seeing the utter joy radiating on her face. He couldn’t stop himself and lifted her into his hold, up off the floor a bit and kissed her again.
“Dude, get a room,” he heard Adam complain and he smiled resting his forehead against Emma’s as his parents came over to meet them with the rest of the team.
“Ben, Emma,” Tara said reaching them. “What’s going on?”
“Sorry, I just had to come let Ben know, I couldn’t wait until even tomorrow,” Emma said as his friend Greg pulled the paper from his hands.
“Whoa,” he said seeing the acceptance from NYU for their second set of early decisions.
“Give that back, it’s not yours,” Ben said stealing it back from him before giving Emma a soft kiss. “I am so proud of you, baby. You’re going to do great.”
“What’s going on?” Daphne asked, smiling as Adam looked away rolling his eyes at their interaction.
“Emma got into NYU,” he stated, as she nodded not caring to keep it quiet.
“I didn’t think decisions came out until April for most schools,” Simon said looking between them in question and she realized he hadn’t told his parents that he’d gotten into Columbia still. It’d completely slipped her mind after that disastrous first dinner with them that they didn’t know.
“This was their second round of early decisions,” she answered settling into Ben’s hold. “I didn’t apply to any round one ones because I wasn’t certain when they were due what was my top choice. NYU does a second round of early acceptances that’s due at the beginning of January, but they’re supposed to be binding—if you get in, you’re saying you’re going pretty much for certain. I submitted for the early one instead of just regular though because after a lot of thought and reflection on things, it’s really where I want to go.”
“And with the scholarship you won you should be set,” Ben said, and she nodded smiling fully. “It’s perfect, especially since I’ll be in town with you as well.”
“You will?” Tara said in surprise.
“Yeah, I got accepted to Columbia University with their early decision in December,” he stated, shaking his head no as the group looked between them suspiciously. “Emma didn’t know until the weekend before the dance that I had.”
“I just really loved the feel of the school while I was there this past summer and with some encouragement from Ben and a few others, I decided to apply to a few schools I probably wouldn’t have thought to apply to before getting into the summer program,” Emma added. “I certainly won’t complain that he’ll be in the same city as me though.”
“Just about seven miles apart,” Ben said thrilled about the idea.
“You got into Columbia and didn’t tell us?” Greg questioned, shaking his head at him. “You’re nuts man, if I had gotten intoa school like that and was dating her, I’d be telling everyone that walked into school daily about my luck.”
“It doesn’t matter what they think, just what we do,” he replied before looking to his parents to see about riding back with Emma instead of them.
“We were going to do dinner out before going home,” his mom stated, but he didn’t care about having dinner out, he’d rather spend the time with Emma.
“Why don’t you both have dinner with us and then you can go with Emma?” his father suggested, and he glanced down at her in question.
“Sounds fine with me. Mom and Dad are out of town this weekend so I’m all by myself,” she said although he already knew that.
