Page 104 of Loved

Rob laughed again. "Yeah, this isn't N64. Xbox is for grownups."

"I'm sure it's not that different."

"Well, I guess we'll see later. Game on, Penny. Oh, andProfessor Hunter, could you please pick me up some condoms? Like a huge box? Like all the condoms they have in the store."

"Please don't call me that,” I said. “And there's some in my nightstand. You can have them."

"I think the two of you are going to need those."

"Yeah, we don't use them."

Penny’s face turned completely scarlet.

"Fuck, I hate you,” Rob said. “I hate both of you so much."

I laughed and grabbed Penny’s hand, pulling her toward the elevator.

Chapter 27

Saturday

"What about something like this?" I stopped in front of a huge painting of the beach. There was a boardwalk that overlooked the sand and water. It made it feel like we were standing there together, even though we were standing in an art gallery.

"It reminds me of Rehoboth." She leaned her head against my shoulder.

"Me too. It's kind of perfect, right?" I wrapped my arm around her back.

"That's the day I fell in love with you, you know."

I kissed her temple. "You barely knew me." But fuck, I was already in love with her then. I hadn’t admitted it to myself, but I couldn’t get enough of her from the first moment I met her. I was pretty sure I fell in love with her the moment she first fell into my arms.

"I knew enough."

I turned back to the painting. "Let's get it."

"I thought you liked the idea of moving? Why are we buying stuff for a place we might leave?"

"We can bring it with us.” I was trying not to put pressure on this conversation. I’d been hoping she wanted to move. And I was hoping she wanted to go to New York City. But we needed to come to that decision together. I cleared my throat. “Where do you think you want to go?"

"I don't know. Aren't you happiest in New York?"

"I'm happiest when I'm with you." I kissed her temple again. That was the truth. I’d be happy wherever we wound up. As long as we were together. But I really wanteda chance to repair the damage I’d made with my friends. I couldn’t rewind time, but I could apologize. Maybe it could be like old times again one day. Well, old times plus Penny. They were all going to love her.

Penny smiled up at me "Maybe I should apply to some places and see if I can get in anywhere before we choose. I'm not sure how easy it's going to be. You said people might not think my grades are valid."

"You can get in wherever you want."

"What do you mean by that?'

"I'm more than willing to make a hefty donation to any university that you choose."

She laughed. "I don't want you to do that."

"How do you think I got Joe to change your incomplete to a withdrawal?"

"James. You're exasperating. I didn't ask you to do that. And now I'm going to drop out. That was a terrible investment."

"Eh. Maybe they'll name a lecture hall after me or something. You know, when things die down."

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