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As we start getting ready to leave, Harrick asks Branum, "How's your studying going?"
"Good," Branum replies. "I take the reading test in two weeks."
"Are you managing to cram in any studying?" Eddie asks.
Branum looks at me, his eyes intense with passion. "Oh yeah," he says with a sly grin. "Been doing lots of cramming."
17
Branum
The cramming is done.
Over.
I've spent the past few nights staying up way past my normal bedtime, trying to get—and keep—all the information in my brain.
I haven't done it alone, though. There was someone else right by my side the whole time, running over things with me, checking over my work, and fetching me snacks, which let's be honest, was probably the most important thing of all.
"Here we are," PJ announces as he parks my truck in the community college parking lot where the exam will take place. "How are you feeling?"
"How does anyone feel before an exam?"
"Good point." He leans over and cups my face in his delicate hands. "But you've done the work and are so well prepared. It'll go well."
"And if it doesn't?"
"Then we'll try again. And again. And again. For as long as we have to until you achieve your goal."
"Thank you so much, PJ. I couldn't have done this without you."
He smiles. "Yes, you could have. But honestly, I've enjoyed helping. You're the one doing all the work."
"I don't want to let you down."
"You won't. You can't.Even if you fail a million times, it doesn't matter. You're showing up and you're trying.That'sthe victory in all of this."
I blow out a breath. "You're right."
"I've got something for you."
"Ah, baby. You've already done so much. You didn't have to get me anything."
"I know." He grins widely. "But I wanted to."
"What is it?"
"Well…" He unbuckles his seat belt. "It's not athing, as such. It's…this." He latches on to my shoulder, leans across the center console until he's by my ear, and whispers, "I love you."
I've only ever cried a handful of times in my life, but I swear, hearing those three words from him damn well nearly does me in.
"I love you, too. I've wanted to say it for a while, but I didn't want to scare you off."
"Scare me off?" He shakes his head, eyes glimmering. "I'm at your house every day. We spend all our free time together. And you fuck me senseless every night. You can't scare me off, because I am stronger than I look."
"You sure fucking are."
I sweep my boyfriend into my arms, and we start making out. I don't know how long we go at it for, but by the time we're done, the windows have fogged up.
