Page 161 of Unloved

“I’m so proud of you!”

Our words are identical, overlapping so perfectly that we dissolve into happy laughter.

It feels like a fresh start—a real one, this time.

I can be whoever I want to be.

CHAPTER 57Freddy

I finish my last final with a beaming smile on my face.

I’m sure I look like an overexcited idiot as I exit the classroom where my extra-time private block testing took place. But I can’t bring myself to care, because I know I passed. I can feel it in my gut.

It’s like shooting the game-winning goal.

Because not only did I pass, but I have someone rooting for me. And I know I’m going to graduate—something my dad swore I’d never do. Something my mom wanted.

God, I hope I’m making you proud, Mom.

I burst through my bedroom door back at the Hockey House where Rosalie Shariff sits cross-legged on my bed with a textbook by her curled-up feet, her laptop balanced precariously on her knee.

She spots me and nearly drops her computer in her haste to stand up and greet me.

“Hey!”

I’m grinning like the Joker now; I can feel it—but she knows why.

“You passed!” Ro squeals, launching herself into my arms. “Oh, I’m so proud of you, Matty.”

She presses the praise into my neck, and I spin her around.

“I’m proud of me, too,” I say with a chuckle, setting her back on her feet and fluffing her hair playfully. “How was your meeting?”

Ro met with Dr. Khabra, the other professor with an internship track built toward her grad school plan. Something to do with neurological testing and creativity. I’m trying to learn more about it, to understand Ro’s work and interests more, but she’s so brilliant most of what she says goes right over my head.

That, and I’m usually distracted by the urgent need to kiss her or lay her back and pull more of those little noises from her. Which is exactly how I’d like to celebrate now.

“Great,” she giggles, dropping back onto the bed. I fall on top of her gently, pushing her shoulders into my mattress. My mouth presses to her neck, hands sinking into her waist. Her hands meet my shoulders, pushing me up off her slightly. “Actually, there is something I want to talk to you about, though.”

“What?” My stomach drops a little. “We need to talk” is never a good thing to hear, but I bite down the frantic thoughts. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah—I just.” She clears her throat. “I’m going home for Christmas.”

“Oh.” I nod. “Yeah, that’s great.”

It is great, asshole. Be a little more excited for her—she misses her parents as much as you do. Encourage her to see them.

“It’s a long flight,” she says, but it feels like she’s dancing around the topic. “Do you want to come with me?”

“To California?”

“Mm-hmm.” She glances up at me shyly. “I know it’s probably way too soon to meet the parents, but I would really love for you to meet them in person—you’ve kind of already met my mom.”

“Yeah, and she’s awesome.”

“Right.” She smiles. “So… will you think about it?”

“I don’t need to think about it, Ro. I’m in.” I barely manage to wait a beat before I ask, “Can I kiss you now?”

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