Page 121 of Made Better Together

“Oh, and I meant to tell you, Rori’s going to be the keynote at a fundraising dinner for Tolliver in a few weeks. I’m one of the student speakers.”

“That’s quite a combo, the two of you.”

“I won’t say anything to her about us. I mean, if I even chat with her at all.”

“I’m not worried, beauty.” He smiles. “Can I see you next weekend? Your game is Thursday again?”

“Yeah.”

“Maybe Sunday night after the Waves game? It’s at one, and I should be home by five thirty, give or take.”

“That should work.” Monday’s a federal holiday, so I don’t have classes and won’t need to rush out. I punctuate the plan with a peck of my own, this time on his lips.

His eyes twinkle as we separate. “That was bold of you when I haven’t brushed my teeth yet.”

“What can I say, you make me brave.”

“You’re already brave. Brilliant and beautiful too. But I’m glad to be here as reinforcement.”

“Me too.” Reluctantly, I pull myself up to a sitting position. “I guess I better go work on my paper.”

He rolls over and props himself up on an elbow. “I’m going to do my homework too.”

I stand up and stretch my arms. “Oh yeah, what’s that?”

“I’m going to look into other things we might enjoy. It’s not fair to have you do all the research.”

I tingle at the thought of him exploring more things we could do together. Next weekend seems too far away.

I don’t admit that, though. I just giggle back. “Well, keep me posted.”

Five minutes later, I’m out the door. But it takes a couple hours before I can successfully concentrate on my paper and not what happened last night.

It didn’t help that Bree tried to pepper me with questions as soon as I walked in the suite. I shooed her away until my lunch break.

“There she is.” She rolls her eyes on the couch once I open my bedroom door at one. “I was about to get worried.”

“Just writing this paper. It’s taking forever. I know what I want to say, but the words are not coming out.”

“I’m all ears for your venting later. But first, hellllooooo, how did it go with Connor?”

I give her high-level details only: the book excerpts we “experimented” with and how it went well.

“You’re blushing,” she squeals. “You really like him? Or are you embarrassed?”

“No, not embarrassed, not with you.” Bree is uninhibited, and I’ve heard much spicier details from her own hookups than I shared about last night. “I do…I think I do like him a lot.”

“Heck yes. This is good. It’s a long time coming.”

I know what she means. Connor and I have been dancing around each other for so long, and it’s surreal to finally get here.

“He asked me to hang out next weekend. I wish it were sooner, but…”

“You’re so busy.”

“Yeah.”

“Girl, I don’t know how you’re going to fit a boyfriend in. But I’m sure you’ll make it work.”