“Winter, we’re never breaking up. Deal with it.”
My heart swells in my chest. How on earth am I supposed to say no to him now?
“Okay,” I exhale.
“Okay as in we’re getting the apartment?” His face lights up.
“Okay as in you’re goddamn stubborn, and we’re getting the apartment.” I smile. Joy colors his features, and that sight alone is enough to set my heart on fire. He pulls me into his arms, picking me up and spinning me around as I laugh into his shoulder. He kisses me as soon as my feet hit the ground. His lips feel like a breath of fresh air to my lungs. That’s what this guy does to me—the one thing that will never change. He holds my heart in the palm of his hand and could easily crush it. If only he cared to try.
My phone vibrating with a new text message breaks us away from each other.
It’s from Kendrick.
Kendrick: Are you guys going to make out all day or are you going to tell us if you’re getting the place? *shaking my head from afar*
I find myself laughing. It’s official. We’re that couple. We’re that predictable. Haze reads Kendrick’s message over my shoulder and scoffs.
“Come on, let’s go tell them.” He grabs my hand, and I follow him out of our soon-to-be bedroom. When he turns back to smile at me once more, my doubts vanish into thin air. I don’t need to worry. It’s Haze. I know him. Better than anyone. Nothing can tear us apart.
And, if he’s ready to take that step with me?
I’m ready to take that step with him.
HAZE
“This one’s my room,” Will shouts from down the hall, his voice echoing in the empty apartment.
“Like hell it is. I’m calling dibs,” Kendrick chimes in, following Will into the master bedroom.
“What? You can’t do that. I just called dibs two seconds ago.”
“Well, I’m calling dibs on top of your dibs—deal with it.”
“Should we tell them the room is ours?” Winter chuckles, leaning into me as I extend my arm around her shoulders.
“Nah. Let them fight.” I kiss her forehead.
The lady left to go get the papers. Once we sign them, they’ll run a background and credit check on us. She said it shouldn’t take too long, and we’ll k
now if we’re approved in a few days.
“The amount of Canadian chicks I’m going to bring back here, man,” we hear Kendrick whisper to Will.
“Bring a girl over and you’re dead,” I call out. “I swear if one of them has sex on my new furniture, I’m throwing them out the fucking window.”
“The furniture or the guys?” Winter asks.
“Both.” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, and she laughs. “So, when are your summer classes starting?” I bite my tongue not to tell her I don’t think she should be burdening herself with journalism classes this early—she has the whole summer to worry about this shit—but, as much as I hate it, her absence is going to suit my… needs.
“Next week. I know that’s not much time to settle in, but I only have three classes a week, so I’ll still be home pretty often.”
“Does that mean I’ll be stuck here with dumb and dumber all summer?” I wince.
“I’m afraid it does.”
“Damn it, Kingston. What I wouldn’t do for you.”
A soft giggle spills out of her, and my phone goes off in my pocket. I take a look at the caller ID.