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“Since when did you start wearing heavy makeup?”
She sighed. “Are you really going to give me a hard time about this?”
I shook my head. “No. Just making sure you aren’t doing this because you feel like you have to. This is just orientation.”
“It’s not just orientation, Clint. This is where I meet the incoming class. Even some of my professors. There’s a tour of the campus, and I want to make sure that anyone I come into contact with gets a good first impression.”
I grinned. “Then you may want to go easy on the lipstick. You look like you’re back at prom.”
“Thanks.”
The flat tone of her voice made me sigh. I had to pull myself out of my own headspace and put myself in hers. She was nervous. I got that. I just had to make sure my worries about her didn’t trump her own worries. Because hers were the most important. I had to keep her grounded and settled during these meetings and tours. I had to make sure she digested information and didn’t get too overwhelmed. Or lost by herself on campus.
“I think you look great,” I said.
And when she smiled softly, I felt my heart skip a beat.
“Thanks. But you’re right. I think lipstick is a bit too much. So just lip gloss.”
I nodded. “Good idea.”
“You know, I don’t know how late this thing will go today. So, if you ever want to dip out at some point in time, feel free. Okay?”
I shook my head. “No need. I want to be there with you through this.”
“Are you sure? Because I might end up doing some last minute things. You know, if there’s another tour or if there’s an option to meet the English teachers. Things like that.”
I paused. “Do you not want me to go?”
“No, no, no! It’s not that at all.”
“You said that pretty quickly.”
She closed her lip gloss and sighed before turning to face me.
“It’s just…”
I set my bowl of cereal down and went to sit beside her. I took her hand within mine, stroking my thumb along her skin. Her eyes wouldn't meet mine, and I knew why. Even before I asked the question, I knew the answer.
“You want to do this alone, don’t you?”
She sighed. “Is that bad?”
I shook my head. “It’s not bad. I get it.”
“It’s just that having you on campus with me even though you won’t actually be on campus or around campus might, I don’t know…”
I brought her hand to my lips to kiss. “It’s okay, Rae. I promise, I get it.”
“But, that leaves you being the third wheel with Michael and Allison all day. And I don’t want that to--”
“Hey. Hey, hey, hey. This is your experience. And I want you to have this experience the way you want to. You’ve got your pho
ne on you, right?”
She nodded. “Right.”
“Great. So, if you realize you want me there with you, all you have to do is call. I’m sure Mike will drive me over. Or I’ll catch a cab. Something like that. Okay?”
