After I open my front door, I glance at my watch and frown. “Why are you here early? I was going to pick you up tonight.”
Daisy hitches her purse and backpack higher on her shoulder. “Something came up, and I left early.” She glances over her shoulder at the car idling in the driveway. “Is it okay if I come in?”
“Of course, you don’t ever have to ask.” I wave the driver on. He nods and backs up as she steps inside. Her face is devoid of makeup, highlighting the paleness of her skin.
“Thank you. I would have called and had you pick me up, but it was daylight, and I didn’t want anyone to see us riding together.”
“Yeah.” I shut the door with a snap. Sneaking around was thrilling at first, but now, it’s hampering our relationship. I don’t want her to start feeling like I don’t want people to know about us. At least about us in the future. But that’s not today’s problem.
“Hey.” I grab her shoulders and study her. “Why are you here early? Is something wrong? Are you sick?” I lift my arm and cup her forehead. She might be cool to the touch, but something is off. Her normal upbeat smile is missing, and so is the enthusiastic kiss.
“It’s been a long day.” She drops her bags at her feet and walks into my embrace. “I need a hug.”
“That, I can do. But then, you’re spilling your guts. Whatever has you upset, we need to deal with it together.” I inhale, taking in the scent of her shampoo and perfume. Her shoulders tremble, making my stomach cramp. I rub her back and kiss her forehead. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
“I had to quit the shelter.”
“What?” My head jerks back from the shock of her revelation. She loves the shelter.
“I feel like a failure and a ridiculous child.” Her jaw flexes as she steps out of my embrace and paces from the back of the sofa to the dining room table and back. “I forgot to submit the application for the medical school interview. The night you were at the shelter, I was working on it.”
“I remember.” I shove my hands into my sweatpants’ pockets and wait.
“Someone came in, and I forgot to hit send.” She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and spins on her heel, eating up the distance to the table again. “My dad found out. He couldn’t get ahold of me and came to the shelter.” Her face heats as she shakes her head. “Where I wasn’t supposed to be volunteering anymore.”
“I’m sorry.”
She stops and smiles weakly. “Thank you. Thank you for not saying I shouldn’t care what he says because I’m twenty-three years old. And I know I don’t have to do what he says.”
“You’re welcome.” I would love to fix all her problems, but it’s not my job. My job is to support her and let her figure out what’s best for her. She’s smart and will make the right decisions. “I can’t say anything. I’m still letting my dad fuck me around.”
Her smile widens. “Thank you for letting me vent.”
“You’re welcome.”
“I must make some changes. He was right. The shelter was a distraction from my obligations. Everything I’ve planned up until now is to finish this semester and begin medical school. I must put that front and center, not on the backburner like I was.” She inhales and straightens her shoulders. “I’ve got to focus on my future.”
My stomach cramps. I’m more of a distraction than the shelter. She was able to navigate school, focus on her goals, hold on to job, and volunteer until I came into the picture. What’s her father going to say about that? It’s bad enough that I’m her professor, but he’s also going to see me as a threat to her future. “Where does that leave us?”
Her face scrunches together as she looks at me like I’ve sprouted a unicorn horn in the middle of my forehead. “This has nothing to do with us. I love you, and I’m not going to stop seeing you.”
Thank God.The level of relief I experience makes my legs weak. Shit. I rake a hand through my hair. A part of me was expecting her to walk away from us. Medical school is a huge commitment.
“Unless you want me to.”Her hair curtains her face, keeping her expression from me.
I cup her face and tilt her head back. Her eyes are wide, and now her bottom lip is trembling like her shoulders were. “Baby, I love you, but I need you to consider the consequences of being in a relationship and attending medical school. Is that what you want to do? I realize this is a big commitment that takes up your time, and I support that completely. But I don’t want you to wake up in six months and realize we were a mistake.”
“We aren’t a mistake. You aren’t a mistake.” She shakes her head and places her hands on my chest. My heart beats erratically under her palm. “I want us, and I will do whatever it takes to navigate a relationship and school. Even if it means I must take a lesser load and not finish as fast as my father would like. I’d like.”
I rub my thumbs over her cheekbones. “I love you, and I don’t want to lose you. So, whatever you need, I’m there for you.” I clear my throat. “I realize this is early in our relationship, but after your graduation, I’d like for you to move in here. I have plenty of money from my job with my father, the potential for taking over when he retires.” I shrug and press my lips together. “Ifhe retires. And I have my software company with Sean and Cora, so you don’t need to worry about money or working while you go to school.”
“Stop.” She laughs and throws her arms around my neck. “As tempting as you are, I can manage to pay my own way. But I’m not going to turn down the offer of living together. I’d love to be with you all the time. It’s not like we’re apart anyway.”
My heart skips a beat. “You’re serious? You’re okay with that?”
“Yes, I’m serious.” She arches her eyebrows. “Did you expect me to say no? Or were you hoping I’d say no?”
“No. That’s not it at all, but we’ve not been together very long. I didn’t know if you’d be ready for that big of a commitment.”