Page 56 of Beautiful Beginning

I looked at the answers to my test and had an overwhelming feeling of relief. Four days of studying paid off. I flew through the test and had time to check my answers three times. Each time getting the same result.I did it.

Standing from my desk, I walked the answer sheet down to the professor. With a smile on her face she said, “First one done.” It fell when she asked, “You sure you don’t need more time?”

I looked over my shoulder then back to her. “Nope. I’m good.” I tossed my hand in the air in a wave and walked outside. The bright sunshine was a nice boost. But seeing Chaz leaning against the wall brought the biggest smile to my face. “Chaz?”

He walked toward me and passed me an iced mocha. “How’d your test go?”

Considering we were alternating weeks with big exams, studying was a constant thing. “It went well.”

“Must have been. You were the first to leave the building.”

“The professor questioned me too. Said I could take more time. But I checked my answers three times. And each time the same answer. So—”

“Talk your shit then.” The laughter rumbled his chest as his eyes narrowed. “I think,” his laughter dissipated, and his face grew serious, “you deserve a dinner.” The lick across his lips had me thinking the type of dinner he was trying to serve included me on a platter.

I eased into his body and whispered, “Oh yeah?” As I looked up at him.

He pulled me in a little closer and mumbled, “Yeah,” in my ear. The warmth tingling my senses.

“I thought Valentine’s Day would be a given…” it’d been years since the last time I celebrated the day with a guy. Each year it was me and the girls doing Galentine’s Day. We’d go out to eat together, fill the house with flowers we bought, exchange chocolates. They weren’t too excited I would miss out on the celebration but wanted to see what Chaz would come up with. “Didn’t know I had to pass my test first.”

Chaz rubbed his hands over my ass. “You would have gotten dinner either way. But now I’ll have to think of something a little extra since you passed your test.”

“Hmm… thank God we’ve learned the art of multi-tasking.” I hinted at the few times we sexed each other while running through study guides. Drilling each other on questions, as he drilled me. If we could do that, we could do anything. That included figuring out how we’d manage after graduation.

Chaz’s fingers hooked through my pants, and he said, “Thank God for that.” He pulled away to look me in the eyes. “Did you have something in mind for tonight?”

“I have some things I want you to unwrap. But only after a romantic night out. Eating, then feeding each other dessert. Or doing something cute, like a craft date.”

Chaz’s face scrunched up. “Crafts? That’s romantic?”

“We could make anytime we spend together romantic.” I assured him, “As long as we are together.”Together.The smile fell from my face.

“You good?” He lifted my chin. “Where’d your smile run off to? Did she have somewhere to be?”

I shook my head. “No. My mind is getting the best of me. But” I huffed, “I’m here. Right here. In the present.” It took me repeating that in my head to believe it. For my smile to feel confident enough to return.

“Okay. So, dinner tonight. I’ll find some coloring books for us to use afterward. A box of crayons.”

I hit his chest. “If you are looking for a box of crayons make sure they are a jumbo box. I need variety.”

He winked and let our lips meet one last time before he said, “Okay, I’ll be at your place in a couple of hours to pick you up.”

A couple of hours. Would that be enough time to get myself together? Towraphis gift? It had to be. I ran into my apartment, but before I could get to my bedroom Lauren was standing in my way. “Where’s he taking you?” her eyes filled with excitement. She followed me into my room. “Do you need help getting ready? Picking out an outfit.” She was rambling.

“You seem more excited than me?” She ignored me though. “I thought you’d have something else funky to say about me missing our annual plans.”

She waved her hand in the air. “I mean, I’m mad you won’t be there. Me and Nia will look like the sexiest couple wherever we go, or whatever.”

I bent over laughing. “Are you serious right now?”

Her vicious side-eye let me know she was dead ass. “It won’t stop me though. Anyway, where areyougoing?”

“He didn’t tell me. I told him a romantic night could involve something cute. Like doing a craft together.”

“Y’all about to knit a blanket?”

I turned from the closet and shook my head. “His response was coloring books and crayons.”

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