“Okay, but what if—” Xavierpecks the tip of my nose. —hypothetically speaking, I ask you in a year or two once you understand how much I could never change my fucking mind about you even if I wanted to?”
My heart is beating so fast you’d think it’s tryingto go into cardiac arrest.
“Well, then, hypothetically, I’d say yes.”
“Cool. So, hypothetically, can we go the fuck home now so I can strip you naked and—” he leans forward to whisper the rest in my ear.
Sweet Lord.
My eyes flare, his graphic description rousing my animal instincts.
“By home you mean our unfurnished apartment?” I remind him of our less-than-optimal living arrangements. We need to go furniture shopping as soon as possible.
Xav flashes an adorable grin. “Don’t worry, I’ll blow up an inflatable mattress or some shit to make you comfortable.”
I snort. “And they say romance is dead.”
I spot Dia ambling toward the truck with her phone in her hand before I can shower my boyfriend with kisses. She stops by our side a second later.
“Okay, pervs, make-out time over. We should get that last box before Chance gets here,” she says and makes a beeline for the dorms. Xavier and I follow close behind.
My heart hurts from the moment Dia twists the door to the dorm open. A handful of memories linger in the air—move-in day, arguing with Dia, getting ready for our first college party. Dia’s stuff is left untouched, but I was always the hoarder around here. It’s almost… unrecognizable like this.
Xavier picks the last box off the floor without breaking a sweat, and I dread the impending pain of saying goodbye.
“This is it,” I tell Dia, a tear warning me of its descent.
“I can’t believe you’re leaving,” Dia whines.
“Come on, D, I’m not moving to Canada,” I chuckle. “I’ll be a thirty-minute car ride away tops.”
“Still, I’m going to miss you,” she admits, opening her arms for a hug, which I welcome on cue. “Even though you’re messy, and you steal my clothes, and you two broke the bed—literally.”
All three of us laugh.
She’s barely pulled away before she says, “Jesus, is it hot in here?”
“Is it? I can’t tell anymore. Happens every time Vee walks into the room.” Xav smirks, and I swat at his chest, topping it off with a fake gag. What? I can’t have him knowing I’m a sucker for his lines.
“Before you guys go, can you give me a hand? I can never get the damn thing open,” Dia asks, halfway to the window.
“Sure.” I nod, following her lead.
Dia screams like she just saw a ghost the next second.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Dia moves at least five feet away from the window, her palm squeezing her pounding heart. I rush to the window myself, the biggest, stupidest, goofiest smile spreading across my face when I see an old friend crawling its way up the window frame.
Just like that, my fears vanish.
One look and I’m not scared of anything anymore, not the future, not my missed period, not my decision to move in with Xav.
Nothing.
“What is it?” Xavier pops up behind me, craning his neck to see over my shoulder, and I smile.
Because I know everything’s going to be okay.
“It’s a caterpillar.”