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I’ve gone back and forth about this decision for months, but now, the choice is clear. There’s only one right way forward—the path that makes mehappy.
I grab my laptop and open my student account, clicking through the college portal until I find the section I need.
The cursor hovers over the blue “Unenroll from your program” button, and I inhale deeply before pushing down.
Just like that, it’s done.
I feel lighter, a relieved laugh bursting from me. It’s done. I’m not going back. I won’t spend another year studying for a degree I don’t even want. I won’t waste another minute on things that don’t make me happy.
I close the window, shutting the door on that part of my life, and bring up a new tab.
When Trey returns, looking edible in low-slung gray pajama pants and his abs on display, I have a document full of the lists of things I need to do to set up my own baking business.
I grin at him as he drops back down onto the mattress at my side, his eyes widening when he looks at my screen.
“I’m so fucking proud of you,” he says softly, making me melt.
I close my laptop and shove it to the side to kiss him, smiling as excitement and nervousness buzzes through my veins. “I dropped out. I’m going to try following my dreams. You make me feel like I can do anything, and I want to believe that I can too.”
“You can,” Trey murmurs against my lips, kissing me again. “You’re incredible, Talia.”
I blush, pulling away before I’m tempted to spend the entire morning between the sheets with him. “Who was on the phone?”
Trey sits back, smirking at me as though he can read my thoughts. “A friend from the Navy is on leave in the next city over,” he tells me. “He’s throwing a summer pool party at his home this weekend. He called to invite us.”
I squeal with excitement. I haven’t been to a proper party in months. All my friends are at college, and we all went home for the summer so I haven’t seen them in person. I make a mental note to text our group chat later and tell them I’m not going back in the fall.
“Is that a yes?” Trey asks with a chuckle.
“Obviously,” I answer with a smile.
“I was thinking you could bake something for us to bring?”
I nod, agreeing immediately, excited to meet his friends and party with him, already mentally planning what recipes to make.
9
TALIA
Ican hear the music from down the street as Trey holds open the door for me.
I try to grab the cakes and cookies I made from the trunk, but Trey shoots me a look that I know by now meanslet me take care of you, and I step back, letting him carry them for me. I have to admit, I do like being taken care of. Trey makes me feel precious, and I love it.
The sun is high in the sky, and the air is warm, the perfect weather for a pool party. In the bag slung over Trey’s shoulder are our swimsuits and towels, but for now I’m wearing a red tank top and denim shorts that show more of my ass than they cover.
Trey had gone feral when he saw what I was wearing this morning, getting all growly and possessive about how amazing I looked but also how he didn’t want anyone else to see me like this.
I smile as I feel the tender skin at the top of my thigh, just below the hem of the shorts. I expected him to spank me, but I should’ve known that wasn’t Trey’s thing. No, he bit me, sohard it left a mark. It was hot as hell, especially when he kissed everything better after.
I shake my head to clear those thoughts before I drag him into the back seat of the car and recreate the memory all over again. I’ve gone from a virgin to obsessed with sex in such a short time, but I blame Trey. It’s not pleasure I want, it’s hisbrand of pleasure.
Seriously, how am I supposed to focus on anything else when he whispers filthy promises in my ear or murmursgood girlwhen he walks past and claims me all over again in bed, or on the sofa, or on the kitchen counter, or in the shower every day?
It’s like living in a dream with him, and I never want to wake up.
I stand close to Trey while he knocks on the door, which swings open almost immediately to reveal a tall, tanned man who yanks Trey into a one-armed hug. I giggle at the shocked look on Trey’s face, patting his friend on the back before pulling away and yanking me inside with him.
“Good to see you, buddy,” Trey’s friend greets with a big grin.
