“I know you didn’t, Lay. It’s cool, really! Stop it!” She’s been on the phone trying to calm Layton down as I unpack the last of my things. He thinks that she thinks he told someone about us and that’s why I’m no longer teaching at the college. “I swear! Don’t make me come over there! You know I can’t get around that well.”
I laugh as I put the last of my books on her bookshelf. Our bookshelf. Shaking my head, I stand up and chuckle to myself. I still can’t get over I’m here finally. We’re pretty cramped with my stuff here now, but it’s cozy.
“The guy will not believe me!” I sit down on the couch and she walks over then proceeds to straddle my lap. I lean down and help her pull her casted leg up next to my leg and then lean back and run my fingers through her soft hair, resting my hand on the side of her sweet face. “I give up! I guess he’ll just go around life now feeling guilty over something he didn’t do.”
“I’ll talk to him. He’ll be fine. Hey! Why don’t I call him and invite him over for dinner. He never passes up a free home cooked meal.” I give her a smirk and then wink.
She laughs. God, I love the sound of her laugh. “True. Okay. Maybe he’ll listen to you. God knows he won’t listen to me.”
“But first, we need to get your Calculus homework done.” I flick her nose with my finger and she rolls her eyes.
“Spoiled sport. What do I need that for anyway?” She sighs.
“You need it to finish your business degree and graduate. I’ll be standing in the crowd cheering you on and being so proud of you.”
Her lips cover mine. Soft. Warm. So full of love. Calculus can wait.
It’s Friday and she’s still healing so we decide to go to Randy’s for a while together. This will be weird. A friend of mine that I haven’t seen in a long time is playing there tonight. It will be great to catch up. When we walk into the bar, everyone’s heads seem to turn at the same time. The look on some of the women’s faces is priceless when they see my arm around Emma. “Oh, my freakin’ God!” One of the waitresses comes running around the counter straight for us, and I barely release my hold on Em when she hugs her. “Damn, girl. It’s good to see you.” She looks down at Emma’s casted leg and then back up at her face. “You doing okay? Come sit down.” I stand there and watch the girl fawn all over Emma and my heart swells. I walk over and sit on the opposite side of her smiling as I hear the other girl talking a mile a minute to her and not letting her get a word in.
“And then, Burke threw his ass out the front door. It was the biggest fight in here.” Emma smiles and laughs. “How are you really? Are you happy?”
Emma turns her head to me; her eyes lower and darken with desire. “Oh, yes. I’m happy,” she whispers. My hand finds hers in her lap, and I thread my fingers through hers and smile.
“Damn! You’re a lucky girl,” her friend says as she stands and leaves us alone.
“Yes, I am.” Emma’s smile grows, and I swear I’m so mesmerized by her, I didn’t even hear someone come up behind me until a hand lands on my shoulder. I turn my head to see Nate standing there grinning.
“Hey, man! How are you?” He says with a smile.
I release Emma’s hand and stand up clasping his shoulder. “Great. Good to see you.”
“I heard the news. So proud of you, man. You all must be freaking out over the record label deal. Awesome for you!” He pounds my shoulder, and I hear a gasp behind me. Shit! I knew there was something I forgot to tell her in my excitement of moving in. “Well, I gotta get to the stage. Stick around and I’ll buy you a drink later.” I smile hearing her chair move behind me and nod. He walks off, and I turn in time to be slammed by her body, her lips on my instantly. I’m not complaining.
“I’m so proud of you! Why didn’t you tell me?!” She squeaks and I laugh.
“I forgot?” Her brows raise but a smile stays on her lips, brightening up her entire face. God, she’s so beautiful. “I did! Really! I was so excited to move in I totally blew it off. I actually forgot about it.”
“Wow! How could you forget something as important as that? This is amazing!” She kisses me again and all is right in my world.
We finally sit down. She’s excitingly talking about it, asking me questions, and I tell her everything. The band starts playing and she leans her head on my shoulder, my arm holding her close. They really are good, and they’ve improved their sound. A slow song begins and she sits up, pushes herself up with her hand against the table and then holds one out to me. I look up at her and frown. “I can’t dance.”