Page 115 of Bittersweet Revenge

“What?” I asked self-consciously.

She kissed the tip of my nose. “Oh, I love you.”

I glared, but my heart was elated - as it was every time she reaffirmed her love for me.

“What?”

“You are acting like it’s an issue – Cornell or Yale or whichever college. I. Don’t. Care. All I want is to be there with you.”

“How did I get so lucky?” I asked as a weight eased in my chest.

She shrugged. “You’re lucky you're hot.”

I finished my shaving under her inquisitive eyes.

“Something else is bothering you,” she stated. Reaching for the face cloth on the counter, she wiped at shaving cream on the side of my jaw.

I grabbed her hand and kissed the underside of her wrist. “How is it you know me so well?”

She smiled. “Because I’m attuned to you, because I care.”

I helped her down from the counter, but kept her in my arms, molding her body to mine.

“It’s going to be hard, going to class and managing everything. They will not cut me any slack. I’ll be so busy, I won’t see you much. I’ll be exhausted all the time.” I rested my forehead against hers. “It’s going to be trying so early in our relationship and I miss you already.”

She rested her hands on my cheeks, keeping my forehead against hers. “We’ll make it. We didn’t have the best start, but we’ve bloomed despite all odds. It might be difficult, but it wouldn’t be us if it was easy. I have no doubt we’ll make it. We can make it work. I can attend your classes if you can’t.”

My woman was so positive. Just a few words and all the weariness and anxiety caused by today's decisions, evaporated until only hope remained.

She let go of my cheeks and took my hand. “Come on, let’s go party.”

I took her hand and let her lead me down the hall like a lovesick puppy. I didn’t even care that anybody could see us.

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. I saw Doctor Willis today. He gave me the all-clear to resume all my normal activities,” she announced as if it was not a big deal.

I stopped walking just before we reached the stairs and pulled her back toward me.

“What?” she asked with a cheeky smile that made me want to bite her just how she liked it.

“You didn't think about telling me thatbeforewe left our bedroom?”

“Well, if I did, we wouldn’t have made it out.”

I raised an eyebrow, brushing my knuckles against her stomach. “That’s the idea.”

She swatted my hand away. “Later. We have all night. Let’s go before your mother bursts a vein and sends Luke to get us.”

“Fine!” I replied, pouting like a petulant child.

She chuckled again and pulled me down the stairs.

I was grateful to see that this party was much smaller and simpler in tone than the last one. I didn’t hate most of the people here either.

We stood side by side as she accepted all of the well-wishes given in varying tones of sincerity.

“Should we worry?” I asked, jerking my head toward William. He was scowling toward Luke who was deep in conversation with Taylor’s parents.

“Nah.” She waved her hand dismissively. “William is harmless now, at least to us.”

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