Page 50 of Only Fate

“I’m a guy who burns the midnight oil studying. A drive is nothing.”

She nods, but it’s clear she dislikes my answer.

I don’t expect Essie to invite me up to her room.

Would I go if she offered? Hell yes.

But sleeping with Essie isn’t why I came.

When we get back to her dorm and park, she doesn’t get out. She locks the door and lowers her seat.

“Let’s sit in here and talk longer.” She casually drapes herself across the center console and rests her head on my shoulder. “Even though I love texting and talking on the phone, doing it in person issooomuch better.”

I bite down on a smile and lower my head until it meets hers.

There’s no late-night drive for me because we stay in my car, talking until sunrise. Then, we fall asleep until someone smacks on the hood of my car. I kiss her goodbye on the cheek, and she wraps her arms around my neck, hugging me tightly.

On the drive home, I feel a crick in my neck and pain shooting up my shoulder, but the uncomfortableness is worth it.

That night becomes a pattern for us.

When I visit Essie, we select a quiet spot to spend time together, whether it’s a diner, library, or park. Sometimes, we take blankets to the park and lie under the stars, whispering our dreams until we fall asleep. Sometimes we study. Our conversations are endless, and when there is silence, it’s easy.

Familiar.

Never an awkward moment.

Scratch that.

There have beena fewawkward moments.

Those times our eyes lock, dripping with tension, but we’re too scared to make a move.

When we’re sitting close in a cramped booth, sharing a milkshake, and our lipsjust barelymiss each other as we lean in for a sip.

So many slipups have happened that would change our relationship. Our chemistry is impossible to deny.

If we were reckless, we’d have already crossed that line.

I’d have already kissed her, touched her, and confessed how hard I was falling for her.

Neither of us is one to make irrational decisions, though.

Sometimes I wish we were.

Everything we’re doing could be considered dating.

Except for sex, but that isn’t so uncommon.

Plenty of people wait to have sex.

Nights I lie beside her, I wonder if we’ll ever have that shift.

Thefriends-to-loversterm you hear so much.

One day, I want Essie to be mine.

Lord knows, I’d do anything to be hers.

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