"I'd like to know what's on your mind right now," he laughs, pulling me from my thoughts and making my cheeks even redder. "Do you think we'll have some alone time today?" I ask while looking at our entwined hands. I can't help the shy smile tugging at the corners of my mouth, but I try to suppress it. "And why, Julianna, would you want to be alone?" He inquires in a hushed tone. I shrug my shoulders, attempting to conceal my shyness. "N-no reason," I whisper, and he chuckles. I keep glancing around to see if anyone is eavesdropping, but thankfully, there's no one nearby. "You don't need to feel self-conscious," he brings up, and I just shrug. I hadn't been as sexually active as Kent, and discussing it made me feel uneasy, particularly right now. I was somewhat reserved about getting intimate with people, but I had taken that step with Kent, which was a significant milestone for me. "I'm just teasing," he whispers as if he's noticed how reticent I've become. "Trust me, I was also
"Maybe starting to date someone new was a mistake. Kent has been gone for nearly a week. During this time, I've been stuck at home, incredibly bored, and worrying all the time. I'm concerned about the impact on my roommate and the fact that none of my friends know about it yet. I'm anxious about the newness of this relationship and the distance between us. Every day we're apart, I miss him, and it scares me. I've never felt this way before, and I don't want to appear too needy or clingy. But I always want to talk to him, and it saddens me when we hang up. How did I end up in this situation? I've been dating my roommate for about a month and a half, even though I thought she despised me. Now that we're together, what does it mean? I guess nothing about us really makes sense, but it works, and our connection feels unique. "Hi there," my mom says as she gently knocks on my bedroom door. I'm in the middle of my bed, surrounded by empty Lindor truffle wrappers. She leans against the do
"It looks like she made it from a colorful rainbow yarn ball, as if she took the skins off all The Muppets and stitched them into one sweater. The black collar and cuffs make it even more vibrant, and it seems about four sizes too big for me." "I should've made it smaller; I forgot you've lost so much weight," she chatters. "I finished putting it together last night. Let's see!" From across the living room, my dad and Jesse are trying not to laugh, and I offer her a forced smile. "Thanks, Abuela, it's really nice." "Well, it's so cold here that I thought you could use a warm sweater." I cautiously say, "Yes," and take the sweater from her. Mom smiles from the kitchen, and I know my family finds this amusing. I pull it over my head, and the scents of mothballs, Ivory soap, and her perfume that makes me feel like I'm suffocating hit me. It's so oversized that it nearly reaches my knees, and the sleeves are longer than my fingers. It's huge and slightly scratchy. "Oh, that's perfec
"I can't believe you're here," I mutter, astonished. "I wanted to see you, and getting from the Hamptons to here isn't a big deal," he whispers as he cups my face with his hands. "I was tired of seeing you only through a screen, and I didn't need to be home anymore, so... I decided to surprise you and spend some extra time together. Cut the distance in half." "Why didn't you tell me?" "You like surprises, don't you?" he asks, making me smile. "I do." "I figured, 'Well, I've got your Christmas gift, if that's okay.'" "Oh, shoot! I didn't know we were exchanging gifts," I shake my head and sigh. "Yours isn't ready." "That's okay, I'll get it after you open yours," he says, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling out a white envelope. He whispers. I raise my eyebrows, and he hands it to me with a smile. I open the envelope and pull out a few sheets of paper. Among them is a boarding pass for LaGuardia Airport. "For New Year's, I thought I'd take you to New York," he says quietl
"I don't know why you're so anxious," my mom leans against my door and says, and I sigh. "Mom, I don't have a Christmas gift for him." I mutter to myself as I repack my bag. For my trip with Kent, I had to visit my apartment, do laundry, prepare a new bag, and head to the airport. It wasn't the packing that made my stomach churn, but the pressure I placed on myself. "So? He said he didn't want one, didn't he?" she asks. "But he's taking me to New York," I say quietly. "Isn't that reason enough to at least try?" "Just give him something that feels like it's from you, something that's genuine," she whispers as she walks into my room and gives me a tight hug. "Juls, have a great time. I love you." "I love you too," I smile, and she returns the smile before stepping away. I grab my bags and pile my things in the living room. Kent mentioned he'd be going to the gym this morning but would return to pick me up. A smile spreads across my face when I see his black car pull up outside. "
"This nightclub is way bigger than any I've been to before. Kent kept his promise to take me out for a night on the town, and it was wild." "We were totally wasted, and we didn't know anyone around. It was a blast. The strobe lights were going wild, and EDM was blasting from every speaker. I was soaked in sweat and glitter, like a regular at this place." "Kent and I were both drowning in joy as we took shots. We spent the whole holiday with our wild families, and it was clear we were indulging in some adult fun." "We're hammered. Like, really hammered." "Should we head back?" Kent slurs, and I nod in agreement. "We stumble out of the nightclub, and he chuckles as he arranges a cab for both of us. Somehow, we manage to get into the cab. Kent rambles about where we're headed, and we share an awkward kiss in the backseat all the way back to the hotel. The driver seems irked by our behavior until Kent tips him generously." "I only remember collapsing on the bed when we reach the room
"Baby!" I hear, along with a loud knock on the door. I gradually pick myself up from the bathroom floor, wincing in pain. How did I end up falling asleep here? "Juls, open the door," I hear again. This time, I let out a sigh and make my way to my feet. My dress from last night is still on, the zipper undone from the previous evening. I glance at my reflection in the mirror above the vanity. Red eyes, tangled hair, a brutal hangover with a pounding headache. As I turn my attention back to the door, a mix of emotions wash over me. A significant part of it is anger, actually mostly anger. But there's also a trace of sadness that makes me want to cry all over again. I need some time to think and space away from him. Ever since we started whatever this is with Kent, he's always been so preoccupied. I clung to him whenever he paid me attention. My every thought revolved around him, and I'm starting to believe that's why things keep going awry for me. The truth is Kent doesn't reveal e
"You and Piper were in a weird situation where you got drunk and fooled around." He keeps repeating, "I've never actually slept with her," as if that's the part driving me insane. I shake my head and ask, "So?" "The specifics of this contribute to maybe 15% of my anger," I almost whisper due to my exhaustion. "What upsets me is that you, once again, concealed something from me, hoping I wouldn't discover it." "When the heck have I ever not told you something?" "Where do I even start? I was oblivious to your family until I was at their house. Your sister remains an enigma, and the only topic you've been entirely truthful about is that football injury! Kent, I'm an attentive listener, but relationships require honesty from both sides. You said you were going to work on opening up." "I'm working on it," I state as he presses me, but he remains unconvinced. "I didn't want to learn like that," I whisper. "After you shared such a significant piece of information, you just fell asleep.