I smiled. “You look amazing.”
His lips lingered in my hair. “I feel amazing, now that you're here.”
“Do you want to get started on history first? Or math?”
“First, I want to hear all about school. I’m sure there’s been a circus act you’ve had to field.”
I snickered. “I mean, whatever you’re thinking is probably right. Roy and Marina have approached me a couple times, too.”
“Oh, I’m sure they’ve had lots to say.”
I rose up, looking into his eyes. “I think Roy has kind of become the schoolyard bully now. He’s picking a great deal on Michael and Allison and me. Of course, with his girlfriend at her side. I mangled her face pretty badly, though.”
He paused. “How so?”
I rolled my eyes. “She made a comment about how injured you were. That maybe you couldn’t—”
I was hesitant to tell him. But he urged me on.
“You can tell me. Talk to me. It’s okay.”
I sighed. “Roy made a comment about you not having a nice face any longer. Then Marina backed it up with a comment about you not getting it up anymore. So, I lunged at her and raked my nails across her cheek.”
He grinned. “That’s my girl.”
I blushed. “Well, she deserved it. Damn bitch.”
“Are you okay, Rae?”
I shrugged. “I’m getting by. I’m really thankful the teachers and the principal are cooperating with me in terms of getting your schoolwork. Whatever it takes, you’re going to graduate with us. Okay?”
“How are Aly and Mike?”
I paused. “Oh. Allison and Michael.”
He nodded. “Yeah. How are they?”
Cute nicknames. I like them. “They’re good. Worried about you. They’re excited for the update when I see them tomorrow.”
“We could call them, if you’d like.”
“Oh, no, no. You’re not getting out of schoolwork, sir.”
“I mean, I’ve got other ways of getting out of schoolwork. But I think my heart monitor might give us away.”
His hand slid slowly down my body and I shivered at his touch. I scooted closer to him, our foreheads falling together. Him joking around was a good sign. Moving a bit on his own. No longer chained to his bed. Our noses nuzzled together as his hand slipped to my lower back, inching me even closer to him.
And just as his lips hovered over mine…
“I think we should start with history.”
He groaned. “Okay, okay. You win.”
I smiled. “Great.”
“What’s up first?”
“Reading. There are three chapters we have to catch you up on. I can give you notes on the first one. Then, I actually have to read the other two. So try to stay with me. After that, two worksheets. Then, we’re done for the night. We can move on to math.”