AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Cam.” Her eyes widened as I pulled up at the restaurant. “This place is expensive.”
I shrugged. “You’re worth it.”
She blushed, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of that pretty blue dress.
Getting out of the car, I came around to open her door, offering her my hand to help her out.
“What are you doing?” She whispered.
“Come on,” I offered. “Let me take my girl on the date she deserves. No more sneaking around. Just us.”
Her hand in mine felt like an admonition, like an acceptance of everything I’d been offering. “Just us.”
Guiding her inside the double doors, we were quickly shown back to our private table, lit with candlelight.
“You know, I’m pretty sureyouwere the one who won thedate. But this feels more like I won,” Ella said after we’d sat down.
“Don’t worry,” I said, picking up her hand and kissing her knuckles. “I’ll cash in on that one, too.” I fully intended on it. That blanket and a cozy night under the stars sound exactly like what we both needed, especially with everything we had going on at this point in the semester. Midterms were quickly approaching, then spring break, and after that was the sorority’s spring formal. The remaining weeks of the semester wouldn’t get any less crazy, that was for sure.
Ella pulled out the menu, looking over the options. Her eyes widened as they met mine. “Are you sure this is okay?”
I chuckled, thinking about some of the previous girls I’d taken out, the ones who’d been all too happy to spend my family’s money, who’d come after me because they’d known how many zeros came after my name. “Yes, baby. Get whatever you want.”
She hid her face back behind the menu, finally settling on a seafood dish with pasta, and when the waiter came around, I also ordered a bottle of wine for both of us to share.
While we ate, we mostly talked about classes, the rest of the semester, and Ella’s projects she was working on. I was endlessly fascinated with her ability to create something out of nothing, the way she could take a piece of material and turn it into a piece of art.
After we finished our meals, Ella ordered a chocolate raspberry tart for dessert, and I pulled the last surprise I had of the evening out of my pocket.
“Got something for you,” I said, opening the velvet box and grabbing the chain.
“Oh. You didn’t have to?—”
Standing up, I moved behind her, brushing her hair back to put it on her.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Princess.” I dropped the pendantagainst her neck, moving her hair so I could clasp it around her neck.
“This is beautiful.” She brushed her fingers over the charm before looking up at me. It wasn’t much—while I could have afforded something more expensive, I hadn’t wanted to move too fast. “I didn’t get you anything, though.” Her lips turned down into a frown. “I didn’t realize we were doing gifts.”
I shook my head. It wasn’t about that. “It’s a reminder,” I admitted. “Of the first night we spent together.” It was a little silver heel, the sapphire stone embedded in the front reminding me of her bright blue eyes. “And so you never forget your shoes again.”
She giggled. “Thank goodness for those heels, huh?”
“I was determined to find you, you know. Even if I’d had to go around campus with only your shoes, I would have found you. Except I didn’t have to, because you walked into that meeting and it was like my heart had come out of my chest. My dreams had come to life. I know it’s only been three months that we’ve officially been dating, Ella, but I?—”
“Do you want to move in together?” Ella blurted suddenly, interrupting my thought.
“What?” I froze.
I’d just been about to say those three words, hadn’t I?I love you. I’minlove with you.
“Next year, I mean.” She bit her lip. “It’s just something I’ve been thinking about. After my term is over as president, and I don’t have to live in the sorority house anymore…”
“What about your sister?” I didn’t know why I wasn’t just sayingyes.Living with Ella? Fuck, yes, I wanted that. I loved her. I wanted her.
But something was holding me back. What was it? Fear? That she wouldn’t feel the same way as me? That we’d move in together, and even if we loved each other, she’d still leave?
The worries swirled in my head, and I couldn’t stop them,even when Ella rested her hand over mine. “She’ll be okay. Besides, I think she might have her own someone now.”
