I expect his emotions to be evident; they were quite strong last time when he confessed that they'd been in that situation but that he'd never gone through with it. However, he looks confused, as if he can't recall it at all, and now I'm starting to get concerned. "I don't know what you're trying to pull, but we never did anything that night," he says in a low, dangerous tone. "I don't appreciate you causing all this chaos and telling lies." "No, Kent, a lie would be untrue," she says, opening her phone again, and I blink. She displays a picture that nearly makes me sick: it's him behind her in bed, both of them on their knees, his face pressed into her neck, and I feel tears welling up in my eyes. What's worse, I can see everything; she's done nothing to cover her body in this photo. "You took a picture?" I ask angrily. That's a major breach of trust for her. "I have a nice camera in a plug on my wall," she smiles, and I step away from Kent, feeling annoyed. We were supposed to b
"I may have gone a bit too far with the punch, but she truly deserved it. When I returned, she was nowhere to be seen, and Chloe was the only one left from their group. That's when Abby told me she made them leave." "She was so mean, and I had had enough of her causing trouble," she whispered, and I couldn't help but agree. Kent handed me another beer, trying to downplay how tough the night had been already. He kept his hand on my hip or back, showing everyone that we were together. The word will spread in the next few days, but I don't care. Everything was going well until Chase showed up in the kitchen for the first time all night. He seemed to pause when he saw me, looking confused, stressed, but also amazed all at the same time. Then it was tinged with sadness when he realized I was with Kent. Chase had genuine feelings for me in the past, albeit at an inconvenient time. I felt bad for him finding out this way. "I should talk to him," I mumbled, and Kent held onto my arm. I u
He grabs my waist, and I gently rock against him, feeling that bulge in his boxers grow larger. I feel antsy; things are getting hot way too fast. This is different than the other sex we've had; it's less about love, more about sex. But knowing there are feelings woven into it is more than enough for me. I slide my hand between us and reach into his boxers, setting him free and running my hand up and down his length. He groans and moves his hands to the front of my body, cupping my breasts and deepening our kiss. "I need you," I whisper, and he nods, reaching down to pull my underwear aside. His hand slips down and gently traces his fingers over me. It's not enough; I don't want gentle right now. I push up on my knees and slowly settle over him, feeling him deep inside of me, and I nearly scream, managing to keep it to a short moan. He curses, and his jaw hardens, hands holding onto my butt firmly. I rest my forehead on his and grip his headboard, slowly starting to move over him.
Here I am, packing another suitcase for New York. Maybe I should have lied to get out of this, told him I would have preferred his parents to come here. But he would have hated that more than the trip. Kent's parents being anywhere near Brown and his life here made him angry, and I could understand why. I have to suck this up. We're on good terms, things are great between us, and it's time to rip off the last band-aid in our relationship. Besides, it can't be any more of a disaster than when we told Piper. I have a simple carry-on suitcase and my backpack. It's only three days, including this one, so I don't need to pack a whole lot. I zip everything shut and wheel my suitcase out to the main room, going to double-check that my Gravol is in a secure place in my backpack. Mark is at the dining room table doing some work, and I sigh, putting on my sneakers. "You two heading out?" He asks, and I nod quietly. "Can't believe he wants you to meet his parents. I've only met his mom once
"For the past two weeks, our sex life had been almost too much for me. It was fun and nice, and in a lot of ways, it was love, but it had ramped up dramatically." "Because I love you," he answers quietly. "I think you're hot, it feels good, I like watching you-" "Oh my god," I mumble, shoving him slightly, and he laughs. I feel my cheeks turn pink and I clear my throat. "You're really too much for me." I'd never been in a relationship where sex had become such a normal part of it. When I dated in high school, sex was something I did every once in a while. It wasn't anywhere near as often as Kent and I were doing it. "You know there's nothing wrong with us, right? Couples have sex," he shrugs, and I clear my throat. "I know there's not," I whisper. "We're so not having this conversation." I amend a second later, moving around him to get back to the fridge in search of a bell pepper. He's not having it, though, picking me up and sitting me on the island. "Kent! Just let me." "Why a
I feel light and airy while we eat dinner in the small sitting room off the foyer. I refused to eat it in the grand dining spaces surrounding the kitchen because those felt completely cold and uninviting. Kent, of course, agreed and smiled, letting me choose the spot. Our early dinner was steak with roasted potatoes and green vegetables. Incredibly boring as a dish, but delicious in taste. Whoever had made it certainly seemed to know what they were doing. "Did you want a glass of wine with dinner?" He asks, breaking me from my enjoyment of our food. "I'm alright with my water!" I whisper, and he shrugs. "Just offering," he suggests, and I smile briefly. This playful look passed between us every now and then, it continued to make my cheeks flush every time. "Is it good?" He asks, and I smile. "Delicious," I assure him, and he nods, reaching across the table for my hand. I place it in his, feeling warmth tingle through my palm. "Mark finally seems like he's getting used to us," I
I turn on the taps over the bath, letting nice warm water run into it. I add some body wash left on the side rail of the tub along with more neutral bath essentials. It was always ready for someone to drop by and stay. I go back out to grab my toiletries out of my suitcase, and I smile, seeing Kent in the corner on his laptop. It was in moments like this when I could really overdo it and see us together for a really long time; I wanted moments like this forever. I give him a brief wave, blowing him a kiss, and then I head back to the bathroom. I rest the door on its latch and pull off my clothes, looking at the inviting bathwater. I take off my jewelry and tie my hair up in a loose bun this time, walking over and turning off the water. I test it out with my hand, and I grin at how nice it seems. Then I walk over and dim the lights, hurrying back over to the tub, easily settling into the warm water and laying my head back on the bath pillow. I couldn't believe how well stocked this
I sit quietly on the edge of the desk as Kent retrieves the first drawer from the wall safe. I don't know where this story is going, but I'm glad he wants to share it. It's the last secret he's keeping, and I don't need him to give it up, but the fact that he wants to is incredible. He takes a seat and clears his throat, not touching the contents of anything before him on the desk. He seems visibly upset, and I sigh, reaching my arm out. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to," I whisper, and he gives me a weak smile, touching my arm softly. "I don't want to tell you, but I think I should," he whispers back, and I nod. "When I turned fourteen, I started turning into a little brat," he says bluntly, and I smile a bit, only once I see that he is too. "I think that's just a part of being a fourteen-year-old boy." "I know... but, I know I was irritating," he mumbles. "I started getting into things I shouldn't have been, but I'm good now. It was just bad friends, fighting... t
After 2 years... Kent "Today has to be perfect." I've been super busy preparing for this day for the last few weeks. It has to happen tonight, or she'll suspect something's up. Juls is getting her master's degree today, and I've never been prouder. She's incredibly smart, always reading or researching. That pile of library books in our office never seems to shrink. She's applied to Ph.D. programs all over, but I think she'll stay at Brown. I'm okay with that because I don't want anything to change about our lives. Well, except for one thing that I hope to change today. I finished my MBA a few months ago and started working full-time downtown. I'm in marketing for now but aiming for investment banking and trust. I know my path, and with time and connections, I hope to take care of us. Juls keeps saying she'll stay in school because she doesn't know what else to do, but I think it's the other way around. School and academia bring out her best. Her eyes light up when she learns some
"We're almost there," Kent insists, turning on his car's signal. I feel like we're in the middle of nowhere, and we've been driving for over an hour. Kent refused to tell me our destination because, as he put it, "I would just g****e where we're going, and then it wouldn't be a surprise anymore!" The weather was gradually getting less cold, not warm yet but no longer snowing or freezing. I was on my last spring break, trying to finish my thesis and schoolwork. We recently received information about our upcoming graduation. In about a month and a half, we would be finishing our undergrad degrees. It was still surreal to me, moving from starting a university degree to finishing it. Kent had been discussing plans for the summer, including hiking trips, which I pretended not to dread. I wasn't much of a hiker, but I was willing to do it with him. We signed our lease for next year, securing that cute little apartment on the other side of campus. The thought of moving in with him excite
"I got my email." Even though Doctor Binkley said I have a spot, I'm still nervous to open it. Maybe I should've waited to open it when I'm alone, but I can't wait. I'm opening it on my way out of lecture. I open the email, quickly reading the first few lines. But at the top, there's a big box that says 'congratulations' and 'welcome!' My heart immediately slows down, and I feel relieved, clutching my phone to my chest. It's official; I'm staying at Brown next year. That means I'll be with my family, my school, and, of course, Kent. We can start our life together, still have our friends and continue studying, but we'll be together. I remember how tough that month at Northwestern was, how much I missed him, and how I felt like I had no support. I need to text my parents and tell them the news. They've been anxiously waiting to hear what I'd do about my living situation next year. But I'll do it later. Right now, I just want to go home and be with someone I love. I pull out my phone
"I hate school sometimes." Yes, I like researching and finding answers to questions no one's ever thought of before, and I like my degree, but the coursework sucks. I'm sick of reading pages and pages of scholarly articles and books and writing a new paper every other week. My honors project is draining every ounce of energy from me, and I was starting to worry if it was even worth it anymore. I hadn't heard about Brown's Master's program yet, and that's the whole reason for this extra burden. Today was Tuesday, one of my busier days. I only had class today until noon, and then I usually spent the rest of the day grinding out work. Today I had to meet with Doctor Binkley and discuss my work. It was something we did monthly to make sure I felt like I was always on the right track. Kent had a break after his class at one-thirty, and we were planning to meet up and study together until his next class at four. Then I was planning to go home and take it easy. I take the elevator up to
I wake up in the middle of a large bed with Kent beside me. We were completely tangled in bedsheets, just beside each other in a beautiful room. I sigh, feeling my body ache and my head pound, but it's bearable. I shuffle over slightly, laying my head on his chest and snuggling back into his side. That seems to get his attention. He moves under me and groans slightly, eyelids fluttering. I feel his lips press a simple kiss to my temple, and I smile. "Hey, Juls," he mumbles. "Hi," I whisper back, watching his eyes open slowly. He grins at me easily, running a hand through my hair. "How do you feel?" he asks, and I shrug. "I have a headache and I'm tired, but I'm okay," I sigh, tracing my fingertips down the center of his chest. "I had a lot of fun last night." "Good," he whispers, putting his hand over mine on his chest. "I know how hard you've been working and all the crap we've been dealing with." His voice is thick with sleep, deep and raspy. "It was nice to have a day that wa
"It's been an amazing night and an unbelievable birthday. I'm pleasantly tipsy, happy, aware, and buzzing," I express. It looks like all three of our friends have scored phone numbers tonight, giving Kent and me some alone time. I notice the place clearing out, and I realize it's probably time to head home. The bar is closing in about thirty minutes, and it's close to three in the morning. "Want to go somewhere else?" Abby asks as we wait for our jackets. I sigh and shake my head. I'm ready to devour some greasy food, drink water, and snuggle into bed with Kent. We've teased about getting intimate, but with all our roommates around, it's not a possibility. I've let go of that idea and just want a relaxed and easy night. "I'm good," I sigh, and she nods with a simple shrug. "Thanks a lot for everything; this night was so, so fun!" "I'm thrilled you enjoyed it!" She insists, giving me a hug, and I grin. Kent retrieves our coats, and I sigh, not looking forward to facing the cold a
It was nice to feel noticed by him, nice to know that he always seemed to care about what I was up to. I'd never felt attractive before I started dating Kent. We all round up the last of our coats and shoes while the Uber's on its way. I get my coat on, and I feel Kent slide his hand along the small of my back. I gasp a bit quietly and look up, seeing his cocky grin. "You look nice," he whispers, and I chuckle, feeling his fingertips slide around the edge of my waistband. Soon we're all piling into an Uber, and I hear Abby chatting up the driver in the front seat. I'll always be envious of her confidence and how she talks to people like she's known them forever. We grab a quick dinner at a pizza place around the corner. Everyone pushed that we should go somewhere nicer, but I didn't want to. I just wanted to go out and have fun with my friends. I hadn't gone out in a long time, not really since before Christmas, and I'd spent way too much time feeling lonely, buried in work and ove
"Did you want to stay longer?" Kent asks as we step into his car, and I smile, closing the door and putting my seatbelt on. "No, we've been there for hours," I mumble, safely tucking my birthday card into my coat's inner pocket. "If we stay longer, we're staying for dinner." Time with my family was amazing, it meant the world to me, and I was thankful I had it so close to my birthday. "Your parents are really cool," he admits, turning on the car and shifting it into drive. "No, they really aren't," I snort. "Did you miss the part where mom pulled out my baby album and sang my favorite lullaby? To all of us?" I ask, and he chuckles. "Or my dad talking about his Master's thesis? His theoretical chemistry Master's thesis?" "You know what I mean," he defends. "They're...people. Like real, normal, kind people who care about everyone." "I guess they have that going for them, huh?" I laugh, and he smiles. "I can't believe that check, that's not like them. They don't just hand out money
We head inside, and I take a deep breath, walking into our house. My family's house always makes me feel happy, like I'm somewhere safe and full of love. Mom's burning some cinnamon candle, and I can hear noise from the kitchen. "What's that smell?" Kent asks, and I laugh. "Mom loves scented candles, it's probably some clearance one that she picked up from somewhere," I explain, unsure where the nearly offensive candle was. Kent hated strong scents; he claimed they gave him headaches. "Sorry." "It's okay, just... don't go burning anything like that at our place," he says, and I chuckle, reaching for his hand. "Hello?" I call, bringing Kent to the kitchen, and mom gasps, hopping up from the stove and running over. "Juls," she whispers, squeezing the life out of me. "I'm so glad you could come." "Me too, I missed you," I whisper, and she pulls back, rubbing my arms in that aggressive mom-like way. "And I missed you, oh! You're so beautiful and smart-" "Okay, mom," I mumble, and s