The rest of our afternoon in bed goes really well. He shares a bit about his childhood and proudly shows me his trophies and awards, which weren't all for football. Some were for academics, while others were for sports. He always went above and beyond. He leaves me alone in the bathroom to get ready. I put in effort with my hair and makeup but didn't want to look too overdone. I was already nervous about the last thing with Kent. I wanted to stay true to myself. The bathroom was more my style than the hotel, with a large tub and a separate shower, giving off a farmhouse feel. When I'm ready, I step outside to meet Kent, who's impeccably dressed. He looks sharp and dapper in his tuxedo, which fits him perfectly. "You look gorgeous," he compliments me, and I grin. He's almost ready, just needing to change, so he waits for me. "Thanks, honey, but that's your story," I tease, and he laughs, crossing his arms. "Go get dressed." I smile and walk into the closet to change. Being a walk-i
"Hi," Kent said, looking really uncomfortable. "And this must be Juls," he grinned, extending his hand for a shake, and I shook it. His firm handshake suggested he did that a lot. He was nice but quite intimidating. He clearly ran things from top to bottom. "Pleased to meet you," I replied. "Well, Astrid has been talking my ear off about my son's girlfriend," he smiled, and I nodded. "I'm glad you could join us." "I'm glad too." "Son, I had something to talk to you about if you don't mind me taking him, Juls," his father said, and I nodded politely. "Sure, I'll see you later," I whispered, and Kent sighed, looking reluctant to leave. He kissed my cheek and followed his dad through the kitchen. A sinking feeling rushed over me when I realized I was alone. "Come with me," his mother insisted, placing her hands on my shoulders and guiding me out of the kitchen. "You have a beautiful home," I told her, and she smiled. "It's my pride and joy, well, after my family, of course," she
Dinner without him was awful. I felt isolated and puzzled about the food, with no one to assist me. Being not much of a social person, unfamiliar gatherings weren't my strong suit. Those girls from earlier were mean; they kept asking where Kent had gone. They threw questions at me about things I'd never experienced, making me feel like a loser in front of others. His mom looked anxious, as if she might be the reason he'd vanished. His dad appeared unfazed, which made me uncomfortable. I eventually left when the evening became unbearable. After feeling sad and alone, I trudged back upstairs, feeling overweight and unattractive in my dress. He had promised he wouldn't leave me alone, that he'd be there the whole time and that he cared. It seemed like he had lied to me. I removed my clothes, heels, tape, and makeup, tied my hair back, and turned on the TV to drown out the noise. I climbed under the covers in my underwear, not bothering to put anything else on because I knew he would
"I've never felt this way before, whatever it is." "No," I mumbled, "it's over if I give in." He wrapped his arms around me, and I could feel his embrace. I sighed as he put his hand on the back of my head and ran his fingers through my hair. "I'll make up for this, sweetheart. I promise." "Stop making promises," I said stubbornly, and he sighed. "You have no idea how embarrassed I felt here tonight." I couldn't speak loudly because of his chest, but I knew he could hear me. "I apologize," he whispered, and as his hands moved across my back, I felt a tingling sensation. My body was contradicting my mind. "I'm sorry I left you here, Juls. I care about you." He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss. I hesitated, but as soon as it happened, I was back in the moment with him. I didn't have to forget what he had done, I didn't have to be happy about it, and he deserved my anger right now. I just needed him. He pushed the blanket down my body with his hands, and I gasped for a moment, u
"Juls, how did Thanksgiving go?" Mark asks from the couch, and my cheeks start to flush. It's Tuesday night, and I'm preparing dinner before heading to work. Everyone's back from vacation, exams are looming, and I'm eager to wrap up the term. "It went well," I reply, my lips pressed together, as I slice a tomato for a quick salad, reminiscing about the good times from the past. "Oh my god, look at that face!" Kyle teases. "What's going on?" "Nothing," I shrug. In reality, a lot is going on. Kent is eager to expedite our transition to dating. He's been working with a tech guy he found earlier today, explaining his plan and how it should work. If everything goes according to plan, we should be good to go once exams are over. This morning, Doctor Elliot, my backup interviewer, didn't seem too thrilled about meeting me at first. But after we talked for an extra hour due to his interest in my research, my perspective shifted. He kept apologizing for the scheduling hiccup, but in a way,
We were really into each other and had grown so much in the last few days, but now we had to take a step back. And it was killing me. The drive to the pool is short, much shorter than it used to feel. Once we get there, I don't want to leave. "Honey, I'll see you in a few hours," he whispers to me as he parks the car, and I nod, unbuckling my seatbelt. "Go save some lives." "Thanks for bringing me," I reply in a hushed tone, and he nods. We sit in silence for a moment, both wanting the same thing: a kiss, a hug, something to express how much we care. "Go have a great workout." "I'm trying to stay in shape for our date in a few weeks," he teases, and I laugh, rolling my eyes. "I know you have high expectations for yourself." "At the top," I playfully retort, and he chuckles. "Goodbye, see you later." I smile, placing my hand on his arm. He nods and lets me exit the car to walk into the pool. I sigh and try not to dwell on my favorite moments with him for too long. I can't afford to
These past weeks have been tough. Waiting feels like running a marathon, and each day is becoming more difficult. Since Thanksgiving, things have been chaotic. I wanted to spend every day with him, and every night before I slept, I thought about how close he was. I was falling hard, and it was becoming harder to stay away. Exams were good for my mental health; they gave me something else to focus on. It's not great to be so in love with your roommate that it hurts. Before we understood our feelings, he drove me to work a lot, which wasn't unusual, but now he did it more frequently. We got along so well that our friends found it strange. I didn't know what to do because I didn't hate him anymore, but it was easier to hate him. Abby came over to study last night, and I had to lie to her too. Kent walked into the kitchen to get something to eat before his workout while we were at the table. Then he asked Juls, "Do you want anything?" I smiled at him, and his eyes softened, a kind smi
"Juls?" Kent's voice resonates through the apartment. "Juls?!" Five seconds later, he's in my doorway, his chest heaving, backpack on, and shoes and coat still on. "Are you okay? What's wrong? I heard you scream." He farts, and I cover my mouth and smile. "I got in," I say softly. "I'm in, I got a spot in the Northwestern program." I'm so thrilled that tears well up in my eyes. "You got in?" He asks, a big smile on his face, and I nod excitedly. He rushes over and gives me a tight hug. My tears flow even faster. We've been apart for over a week, so it's a relief to see him. "Of course you did; I knew you would." He talks over my shoulder. "I'm really happy for you." "Thanks," I whisper, and he squeezes me until I can hardly breathe. "What are you doing back when you said you'd be at the library late?" I step back, and he chuckles. "Baby, good news comes in pairs," he grins. "The video Piper made is gone. The guy I worked with told me it was only on her phone. No more embarrassing v