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The sound that leaves my mouth is a cross between a chortle and a cry for help.
“Mom, I have to go get ready for class.”
“All right, honey. How about I pick you up Saturday afternoon and we go shopping for baby-shower stuff?”
“Sounds good,” I say. “Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
Relief floods through me as I end the call, followed by a twinge of guilt for having lied to my mom about seeing Gavin. I just don’t see the point in getting everyone worked up before Gavin and I have even been on a real date.
I’m about to set my phone aside when I notice an email notification in the corner. Swiping down, I see that the email is from my adviser, with an all-caps subject line and five exclamation points. I’m halfway through reading the frantic message when Trevor returns to the kitchen.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I mutter.
“What’s the matter?” Trevor sets his coffee mug in the sink.
“My adviser miscalculated my gen-ed requirements. I’m short three elective credits.”
“Can’t you take them next semester?”
“I won’t have time. I reserved all of my senior-thesis credits for the spring.” I groan and check the time. I only have about ten minutes before I have to leave. “I was really looking forward to a lighter course load this semester.”
“See if they’re offering the natural history class I took sophomore year. It was an absolute joke. You won’t even know you’re taking it.”
I retrieve my laptop from my bag, log in to the student portal, and click over to the registration page. “Looks like it’s a dual-credit course. History and environmental studies.”
“I recall it being extremely light on both fronts. Who’s teaching it?”
“Instructor to be announced. It starts today, and it’s not full.” I scan the description. “This actually fits perfectly into my schedule. I’ll have non-stop classes on Wednesdays, but I’ll still have Tuesdays and Thursdays off.”
I register for the class and then close my laptop.
“Thanks, Trev.” I bump his hip.
“Anytime, love.”
I’m upstairs in my room getting dressed when my phone vibrates with an incoming text.
Gavin: Good morning, beautiful.
My smile takes over my whole face. I’ve been aroused all night and morning from watching the custom porn he made, but it’s the simple act of wishing me a good morning that makes my chest tighten.
When Gavin agreed to come in for a drink last night, I assumed he just wanted to hook up. Then we kissed, and he touched me, and I felt my body come alive beneath his palms.
The feelings I had for him in the past came rushing into the present. I was back on Charlestown Beach, asking Gavin to kiss me.
I knew there was a chance we’d have sex and then never see each other again. I also knew that one night in Gavin’s arms would be worth the heartbreak. I’ll admit, when he stepped on the brakes, I panicked. He was rejecting me all over again, but with the caveat that him walking away this time wasn’t the end of something.
It was the start.
My thumbs fly across the digital keyboard. I text him good morning and then snap a quick mirror selfie in my bra and send it over. He replies with heart eyes less than five seconds later.
Gavin: You’re killing me, you know that?
I respond with a devil-face emoji.
Gavin: Let me cook you dinner Friday night. My place.
