I kiss his cheek and whisper, “Thank you for looking after us.”
He places me down, grabbing the coffees and handing one to me. “Your favorite, a vanilla latte with nonfat milk.” He grabs the bag. “Let’s veg in front of the TV.”
“Sounds perfect.”
As I’m laying in his arms, I begin to think about last night. I was ready to have sex, not wanting to wait any longer. He was everything I needed him to be—patient and attentive. We didn’t fight. I was able to enjoy myself. His chivalry also played a big part in my decision. My mind is made up. I’m ready for us to take the next step. But how do I tell him about it? This is something I want for just us—something private, especially for my first time—and we both have roommates.
Lena wakes up a few hours later and comes into my room.
“How is your head?” I ask as she sits on the foot of my bed.
“I just have a slight headache now. I can’t believe I was out of it for so long… I slept the day away. Everything from last night is still a blur.”
“What is the last thing you remember?” Caleb asks her.
“I remember when you all got up to dance, I headed to the bar to get a refill, but even that has a dreamlike quality to it. Like I remember it, but I’m not sure if it is real. The rest just feels like snapshots.” Just then her stomach growls loudly.
“Hungry?” I ask, laughing.
“I’m going to get something to eat. Do y’all want anything?” she asks.
“I’ll go pick something up.” Caleb insists.
Lena comesinto my room after Caleb leaves and I’m getting into bed.
“I just got off the phone with Preston!” she says with a gleam in her eye.
“And…” She jumps on my bed, grinning like the cat that ate the canary.
“He wants me to go visit him!” she exclaims.
“You’re going to Houston? When?”
“I’ll leave Friday morning and come back Saturday, maybe Sunday.” She lets out a long breath and gets a dreamy look on her face. “I’m amazed Caleb left. Especially after y’alls’ performance last night.” She pinches her lips together trying to hold a smirk.
“What?” I ask innocently.
“You were all over each other. I thought for sure he was gonna get some action.” She giggles.
“No action yet, but maybe that will change.”
“If you give it up, does that mean he will be over more often for sleepovers?” she asks sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
“Get out so I can go to bed,” I say jokingly.
“Good night.”
Suddenly, all I can think about is the possibility of having the apartment to myself.
* * *
Caleb is waitingfor me in class the next day. I brush my hand over his back before sitting down and kissing him longer than I normally would in public.
His eyes narrow. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing…” I say in a sing-song voice and roll my lips over my teeth, biting them to keep from smiling.
“Spill it.” He places a hand on my shoulder and glides his fingers down.