It wasn’t enough.
I rested my head back against the headrest and then, as I took a deep breath, the first tear crept out of the corner of my eye and slipped down my cheek.
It wasn’t the last.
Dear Professor, I miss you. More than I thought I would. Xoxo, Darcy.
Six Months Later.
I stepped onto the podium and accepted my scroll.
It was done. My degree was safely in my hand, and somehow, despite everything, I was headed for one of the best law schools in the country. It’d been a whirlwind year, but it was done, and Jordan would be home next week.
We’d spoken every day since he’d left. Somehow, our relationship had been kept a secret except from the people who really needed to know. Jenna and Bella had gotten me through the first days when I’d missed him the most until it’d dulled into a background feeling that popped up here and there. I’d never been more thankful for their friendship.
I felt as though our time apart had strengthened us. We’d had so little real time together before he’d made the decision to go, but I knew that it had been the right one. As crazy as it sounded, it had needed to happen. We needed to be apart before we could truly be together.#p#分页标题#e#
Distance makes the heart grow fonder and all that.
I hugged my parents tight at the end of the ceremony. Mom had tears in her eyes, and Dad looked prouder than I’d ever seen him. They’d heard a boring version of the story. As far as they were concerned, I’d met Jordan before I had known he was my professor. They weren’t happy about the circumstances, but they were happy for me. Even if Dad was skeptical about the age difference. Still, I was under strict instruction to take him home over the summer.
I was still debating that. Dad was still that much older than Jordan that I had no doubt he’d make him feel like a teenage boy.
The man had more guns than a range.
I was glad I was his daughter, not the person dating his daughter.
I kissed my parents goodbye, ruffled my brothers’ hair, which they hated, and got into my car after removing my cap and gown. I wasn’t interested in the parties or the any of the shit that would come after. The girls were coming over for a girls’ night while my parents started the long drive home—we’d had dinner the night before as a preemptive celebration.
I pulled into the driveway and frowned. I’d thought I’d closed the gates, but I must have left them open. I’d overslept this morning and had to rush out.
I put my key in the door, but it wouldn’t unlock, so I tried the handle.
It was unlocked.
My heart skipped into my throat. There was no sign of anyone anywhere, but the thought crossed my mind that I should call the police. Instead, I quietly pushed the door open.
“Hello?” My voice carried through the house, and I closed the door behind me. There was no one downstairs, so I slowly walked upstairs. The steps creaked beneath my heels, and I anxiously smoothed my dress out. “Hello?”
My bedroom door was ajar, and I frowned. Someone had definitely been there. Now, I was worried, so I pushed the door open with a shaking hand.
“I don’t know about you, but I can’t say I’m a fan of the pink sheets.”
I gasped and turned in the direction of the bed.
Jordan was sitting there. Right there. On the edge of the bed. In front of me. With the biggest damn grin on his face.
I screamed and threw myself at him. He caught me, his laughter filling the room, and hugged me tight even as we fell backward.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I shrieked, my face buried in his neck.
“Did you really think I was going to miss seeing my girl graduate?”
Tears filled my eyes. “You were there?”
He nodded, his hand clasping the back of my neck. “Hidden in the back. I just made it back here a few minutes ago.”
“Oh my God.” My voice was thick, and as I pushed myself up to look down at him, he reached up and wiped under my eye. “You’re really back.”
“Right here, sweet thing.” He rolled us over and looked down at me. “Missed you.”
“I missed you too,” I whispered, laughing even as a couple of tears escaped my eyes. “It felt like you were never coming back.”
“Of course I was.” He kissed away the wetness on my cheeks. “I was wondering if I’d come back to find you starving.”
“I am kind of hungry,” I answered.
“Food can wait,” he murmured, his eyes bright. “We have six months to make up for.”
“Who said I wanted food?”
He smirked. “That’s my girl.”
He kissed me then, long and deep. It was desperate. I felt the same. I’d missed the hell out of him, out of this, and I wanted all of him. I needed everything he was ready to give me, because nothing seemed more right in that moment. Except one thing.#p#分页标题#e#