I climb behind the wheel and head away from campus. Our place isn’t far, and traffic is light at this time of night.
“How was orientation?” I ask, breaking the silence. I want to hear her talk. I want to know what she’s thinking about.
“Informative, but so long. I think I’ll be set for the first day of classes, though. I’ve been walking around campus, learning where everything is.”
“Did you get all of your books and supplies?”
“Yeah, I’m all set.”
She smiles at me, and I almost crash the car.
Jeez, her smiles are lethal.
Addicting, too, because I’m already thinking of other ways to make her beam at me as I park the car outside our building.
I hurry around to her side and open her door, helping her out. Her small hand is cool and smooth in mine, and I want to lock my fingers around hers, holding onto her forever. I need to get ahold of myself.
I give myself a mental shake as I lead her inside, and we ride up to our flat.
The crock pot is on low, and Avery hangs her backpack up behind the door before she makes a beeline for it.
“Oh, I’m starving! Did you already eat?” she asks as she lifts the lid and piles some shredded chicken onto a plate.
“No, I was waiting for you.”
I toss my keys into the bowl by the front door and join her in the kitchen. She passes me a plate full of food, and I thank her, leading her to the counter. I pull her chair out, and she smiles at me as she climbs up onto the stool. I take my spot beside her, and we both dig in.
“This is really good,” I compliment her.
“Thanks,” she says, grinning at me as she scoops up another bite.
I watch as her lips part and the fork slides between them. My cock hardens in my pants, and I shift. I should be using this time to get to know my future wife, not lusting after her.
“Where did you learn to cook?” I ask her.
“Growing up. My parents both worked a lot, so I was on my own for dinner most nights.”
“That must have been lonely.” My heart breaks as I think of a young Avery all alone. I need to make more of a point to be home for dinner every night, so she doesn’t have to eat alone again.
“It wasn’t so bad. I got some time to myself, plus I had plenty of time to do homework and read.”
“I bet you were a regular at your library back home.”
“Oh, yeah!” she replies with a wide smile, and I can’t help but smile too. “I was there every other day. They changed the checkout rule for me. I got to take out ten books instead of five like everyone else.”
She’s so adorable, bragging about her books.
“What about you? Do you have any siblings?”
“No, I was an only child. My mom had some complications when she was pregnant with me, so they never tried for more kids. I don’t think they minded, though. It was always just the three of us.”
“That sounds nice,” she says, taking the last bite of her food.
“It was. My parents were great.”
“Were?” Her smile drops.
I nod. “Yeah, they passed away a few years ago. Car accident.”