Page 1 of #PhiThetaForever

Prologue

For the five of us, college actually started a month before classes.

Between Lena's soccer schedule and my football schedule, we've had little time to actually be together over the last month. I'm looking forward to it all slowing down and classes starting. I miss my girlfriend.

"So, what's the plan after this, bro? I'm thinking we hit the quad for the college fair, then coffee. Then, I'm ditching you all and dragging my girl off for some alone time before classes start tomorrow." Jackson sits back in his chair and stretches his legs out in front of him.

He was seriously worried last year that he wouldn't get into college. But here he is, full athletic scholarship majoring in the same thing as my girlfriend—Marine Biology. Thankfully, I'm a Biology major with a concentration in Physiology, so we have some classes together over the next two semesters. I can't imagine Lena and I doing this whole college experience without him and Candice.

"And does your girlfriend get a say in these plans?" Candice flops down on his lap and kisses his cheek.

Jackson envelops her in a bear hug, and it brings a smile to my face. They're perfect for each other.

Looking up, my girlfriend stands a few feet away, staring at a sheet of paper with her eyebrows pulled together in what I've dubbed her 'worried' look. After my car accident last year, all through physical therapy, that look was plastered on her face. Constantly worried about me. It makes me love her even more, which I'm not sure is really possible.

Getting up from my chair, I walk over to her and snatch the paper from her fingers. She reaches for it and whines in protest until I slam my lips into hers. Her body melds into mine, her fingers finding their way into my hair. I love the way she feels on me. Lena is my soulmate. After almost losing each other several times last year, I know more now than ever, I'd move Heaven and Earth to keep her with me. God destined us for each other. I'm sure of that, even if I'm not sure of anything else in my life.

"Declan," she whispers against my lips, and just her voice makes my nerves come alive. "I was reading that."

"No." I kiss her again softly. "You were worrying over that. No more worrying today. Save it for tomorrow. Today is for fun."

She chuckles and rests her forehead against mine. "Fine."

"Come on, lovebirds," Candice shouts, making us both laugh again. "We've got stuff to check out. Food, fun, sororities, and fraternities galore. It's college time!"

"Don't forget we have to meet Darcy first," I say, standing to put Lena's schedule in my bag. "Lord knows I'd never hear the end of it if we forgot my sister."

Lena slips her hand in mine and squeezes gently. Last year, she and Darcy hated each other. Now, add Candice to the mix, and they're practically the Three Musketeers. It's annoying at times. Jackson and I have been outnumbered all summer.

I lean down, and Lena kisses me again, running her tongue along my lower lip. I almost growl at her. She bites her bottom lip and winks at me. This is going to be the best year of our lives. I can feel it. And what can go wrong? I've got my twin sister, my two best friends, and the love of my life by my side.

1 Declan

Best part of classes starting on a Wednesday? Only three days until the weekend. Which means a short school week and then football. I hate having to leave for away games, and Lena comes with me when she can, but sometimes her soccer schedule doesn't allow it. Plus, she's taking more credits than me this semester, so now she's really got to focus. Not that I don't have to, but she's going to have that much extra work.

Standing outside her dorm room with her favorite coffee from the campus cafe in my hand, I wait for her to come out. It's only a ten-minute walk to our first class, which thankfully we have together, but it's an 8:00 AM class, so she's going to have to get back in the habit of early mornings. Most of the summer, I didn't have the heart to wake her up early, so she got used to sleeping in until ten. Chattering female voices fill the hallways as the door opens, and she steps out, followed by Candice and my twin sister, Darcy.

She’s got a bookbag on and a textbook in her hands. I reach out my free hand and grab her bookbag strap, yanking her toward me. She yelps in surprise as she falls into me. When she looks up at me with widened eyes, I lean down and kiss her softly, which quickly deepens and makes me think about things I shouldn't. It wasn't without effort that Lena and I kept our promise to wait to be together physically. Marriage is important to us, and we want our first time to be special, the way we both believe God intends it to be for us. We don't judge others that don't wait. We both believe everyone is free to do as they please. Jackson and Candice have both admitted that while they haven't yet, they probably won't wait for marriage. And that's okay, for them. For Lean and I . . . we want to wait.

That doesn't mean I don't spend a good amount of hours fantasizing about making love to her. It just means that I have to wait a little while before making that a reality. And I'm perfectly fine with that. I'd wait a million lifetimes for Lena Harrison if I had to. She's my everything. And I've felt what it's like to think I've lost her. There's no way I'll do anything to risk that again. Or anything that could remotely bring those feelings back.

"I brought you coffee," I say against her lips at the same time someone clears their throat.

Lena stands up and takes the coffee from my hand, her cheeks slightly red. I like that I make her blush still. We've been together a little over a year, and I swear, she makes me lose my train of thought every time she walks in a room still. "Thank you."

"Yeah, yeah, perfect boyfriend, blah blah, we're going to be late for class. On the first day." Darcy feigns irritation, but I know better. She already views Lena like a sister, and because of Lena, Darcy and I are closer now than we have been in years. She's finally over the "bad bitch" routine from high school. She goes to church with us and got her grades up high enough to get a last-minute scholarship. I'm proud of her, though I try not to say it too often because she lets it go to her head a little.

"Let's go," I say, taking Lena's hand in mine. As we head out of their dorm building, Jackson jogs over to meet us. He, Candice, and Darcy have their Math class this morning, while Lena and I are in our Intro to Biology class. Since we're both technically Biology majors, just different concentrations, we have a lot of overlap on course requirements. Thankfully, that means I'll get to see my girlfriend more than I have during the month before school.

We say goodbye to the others as we pass their building and head to ours. Most girls would want space from their boyfriends at college. Not Lena, though. She walks proudly by my side, sipping her coffee, while I carry her textbook. I have so much to be proud of in my life—to be thankful for. I'm proud Lena is my girlfriend. She's beautiful, intelligent, funny, and passionate. Lena is a fighter, and in the year we've been together, she's gone from a school shooting survivor who didn't think she deserved any form of happiness to an independent, confident woman who is going to conquer the world.

Walking into our class, we take two seats in the middle of the second row. This class is a lecture, so we both get out pens and notebooks. One of the best things about doing this college thing with Lena is that neither of us will let the other one fail. We've agreed that education comes first, and we will keep each other on track and help when we get overwhelmed—which we both know we will at some point.

As we're sitting there chatting, two hands press into the desk in front of us. We both look up at the same time to a guy almost as tall as me with short-cropped brown hair, hazel eyes, and a very unsettling smirk on his face. It's Bo Sharpton. We're on the football team together. He spent a good portion of the season so far trying to recruit me to his fraternity, which I told him I'd think about. Honestly, though, I haven't had time to think about fraternities yet. Football has taken up all my time, and now I doubt I'll have time with classes.

"Hey, Bo. What's up?"

He holds his fist out for me to bump, which I do. Bo isn't a bad guy. Just really high energy and always getting into something. "D, man, introduce me to your very hot friend." He turns his eyes on Lena, and instantly jealousy chokes me.

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