I cover my face with my hands in embarrassment. Again, I had just wanted to do something nice, that time for my mom. Dani had always made her birthday cake, and with Dani still missing, I wanted to try to give my mom something special.
“Aww, babe, come on, it’s not that bad.” Zach yanks my hands down and backs me up against the island before wrapping my arms around the back of his neck. His hands settle on my hips.
He closes the distance between us, and I allow myself to forget about the disaster that is this evening as his lips crash onto mine. When he sucks my lower lip into his mouth, I let out a soft whimper.
“How about you go take a nice relaxing bath, and I’ll clean this?” He motions his hands to the mess behind us. “And order some takeout.”
I rise up on my toes and press a brief kiss to his lips. “I’d like that.”
“Now, go relax, baby.” Zach smacks my ass gently.
Fifty minutes later, I emerge from the bedroom, changed into one of Zach’s oversized T-shirts. My breath catches at the view in front of me. The coffee table is pushed to the side and decorated with the candles I had out for tonight. A blanket is laid out in front of the couch, just like on our first date.
An assortment of Chinese takeout is spread across the blanket. Zach sits there waiting for me with his back against the couch and one leg propped up. He looks just as delicious as the Chinese food. His eyes meet mine.
“Wow, you have no idea how sexy you look in my clothes.”
I give a little twirl, and he smirks as I join him on the blanket.
“I mean you look sexy in and out of everything, but I love you best in my clothes. You look like mine.”
I adjust onto my knees in front of him. “I am yours.”
“And I’m yours. Now I say we eat this food and then…” He waggles his eyebrows. “I plan to take full advantage of having the place to ourselves and make you mine on every surface of this apartment.”
I bite my lip in anticipation and clutch my thighs together, hoping I can make it through dinner before I take him up on his promise.
One year later…
Haylee smiles at me. “I am so proud of you, college graduate!”
I wrap my arm around the back of Haylee’s chair and pull her close to me. She places her palm on my thigh and leans into my body.
“Thanks, baby girl. This will be you next year. We’ll throw you a big party.”
I can’t believe I did it. I graduated college. I think back to the moment I got my acceptance letter to the University of Pennsylvania; I couldn’t believe that I had even gotten in. Emmett and I were supposed to do this together. This morning I couldn’t fight back the tears as I broke down in front of Haylee while getting ready for graduation. Em should have walked across that stage with me, my sister there to celebrate as well. But both weren’t there. I didn’t even know where to send a graduation announcement to Dani, and there was no surprise that she didn’t return my calls or texts asking for her address so that I could send her something.
The past four years in college have been intense, some of the best and worst days of my life. While figuring out the worst ones out was easy, it was narrowing down the best days that was harder. There were too many to count, from falling in love with the most amazing girl sitting next to me and seeing not only our relationship grow, but I’ve got to watch her turn into this strong, caring, and badass woman. I think my love grew for her even more while she, Ky, and I were vacationing in New Orleans. Some guy came up to her in the bar and told her that he would guess her weight if she sat on his face. Before I could step in, she spun around and and threw a mean right hook. We got to talking to him, and surprisingly, Bennett and his buddy, Hunter, both became close friends. But it reminded me to never get on my girl’s bad side again.
Our families are celebrating at a restaurant near campus. Kyler’s mom and sisters have joined us as well. I look behind me and see Haylee’s dad and mine standing over at the bar. Now is my chance.
“I’ll be right back.” Haylee looks up at me and puckers her full lips.
I lean down and press mine against hers. She turns and resumes her conversation with Kyler’s sister Lauren.
“There he is! Our big college graduate.” My dad’s hand slaps my shoulder playfully.
“Thanks.” I direct my attention to Brian standing next to him. “I was hoping I could talk to you.” Not wanting to leave my dad out, I say, “You can stay too.”
“What’s going on?”
I wipe my sweaty palms on my dress pants. Deep breaths, Zach. Why am I so nervous about having this conversation?
“You seem nervous? You want a drink first?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. I mean, sure.”
My dad gives me a strange look, trying to figure out what’s wrong while Brian orders three shots of Jameson. The bartender brings them over.