Page 48 of A Storybook Wedding

“That’s fine.”

“I wish you had told me about this before the last residency, Nate,” he says.

“I didn’t know,” Nate replies.

“You got the workshop writing samples before the start of the residency,” Dillon Norway points out. “I’m sure you don’t think there are multiple people named Cecily Jane Allerton.”

“That’s a fair point,” Nate says. “But—and I’m embarrassed to admit this—I didn’t read the workshop samples until we were on the island. And by that point, all the assignments had been made. Also, I didn’t believe it myself until I saw her. So yes, there was definitely a weird dynamic in our workshop because of it, but I don’t think the others noticed.”

“Were you intimate during the summer residency?” Dillon Norway asks.

“No,” I say. “It was only after we got back from the island.”

Dillon Norway exhales. “That’s good.” He pauses, thinking. “Let me see, what else? Oh. Nate. I’ll have to issue a memo to the faculty letting them know about this update.”

“Of course,” Nate says.

“And I assume you’ll want to stay together at the winter residency, so I’ll update my room assignments.”

My breath catches, and I’m not sure what to do. I didn’t consider that as an option.

“Naturally,” Nate agrees. He looks at me again. “Right, babe?”

Babe. All of a sudden, it feels extremely hot in my apartment. I hope I’m not turning red, but I can feel the temperature notably shift in my face. I pray that Nate—or worse, Dillon Norway—doesn’t notice. That word just came out of that beautiful mouth when referring to me.

Cecily Jane Allerton. Get your shit together, please. This is all just for show, you moron.

Maybe I’m ovulating. I’ve read that ovulating women get overly horny. “Uh-huh,” I reply.

But it won’t be fake that we’ll be living together for eight days. In the same room. Oh God. What if I snore? My pulse pounds in my ears.

Get your head out of your ass, my rational brain hisses. Now is not the time for a meltdown.

“As far as seminars go, Cecily, you can attend Nate’s seminar, but we can’t count it as one of the five that you have to review for your residency coursework.”

“That’s fine.”

“Other than that, I just respectfully request that you please be discreet about this new development in your lives. I believe the kids call it PDA.”

I chuckle and nod.

“None of that, okay? There are people who will be challenged by this development, I’m sure. So I just ask that you not put it on display.”

“Not to worry,” Nate says.

“I mention it because you just outed yourselves on national TV,” Dillon Norway reminds us.

“That’s fair,” I say. “I’m sorry about that, by the way. It was all my fault. I had been drinking, and neither of us knew that Questlove was going to come perform with us. I just got too excited.”

“I believe that’s the purpose of the bit,” Dillon Norway affirms. “And I understand. Although, Cecily, I have to say, I’m a little bit surprised that you didn’t disclose any of this to me during the semester.”

My stomach flips over. “I didn’t want to get Nate in trouble. We were working out the details, so to speak. I didn’t want to incriminate him or put you in an awkward position.”

Dillon Norway nods. “Well, thank you for that, I guess.”

“Of course. I know it’s a weird situation.”

“Weird indeed. I believe there will be some form you’ll both have to complete. An attestation of sorts. I’ll forward that to you as soon I discuss this with the dean.”

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