Page 281 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 1
"I'm more than willing to make a hefty donation to any university that you choose."
I 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."
"I kind of doubt that."
"Then choose your next university wisely so I don't have to keep wasting money. Besides, I've always wanted a building named after me."
I laughed and looked back up at the painting. "I want you to decide where we go. I'm indecisive. You're better at making decisions than me."
"I'd rather make that decision together." He squeezed my shoulder. "Until then, I definitely want this painting. You like it, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Okay. I'll be right back." He walked over to the art gallery manager.
I turned back to the painting. It was really fun picking out stuff together for our place. James and the manager walked back over.
The manager pulled the canvas off the wall. "Let me package it up for you. I'll be right back."
"James, could we maybe get the picture you sent me the other day printed out?"
"Of Rob giving you the middle finger? I'm sure we can get a better picture than that."
"It's the first picture you ever sent me of yourself. I like it. You look really happy. I even made it my background image." I handed him my phone. I had cropped Rob out of it so that it was zoomed up on James' face.
"You're incredibly cute." He handed me my phone back. "Can it at least be smaller than the painting we just got?"
I laughed. "Yeah, that's fine. Just like a normal sized picture would be great."
"Okay." He wrapped his arm around me again. "So what else do cozy places have?"
"James, I need to confess something."
His arm seemed to stiffen.
"It's not bad. I just..." my voice trailed off. "When I told you I went to my dorm room after I was upset because it was cozy, that wasn't the whole truth. I was embarrassed. When you described what your brother was like, you said he wasn't independent. You made it seem like that was a bad thing. And I don't want you to think of me that way. I wanted to prove to you that I could be strong and take care of myself. And I couldn't. I..."
"Penny, I want to take care of you." He kissed my forehead. "I want you to let me take care of you."
"I need you." I wanted him to know that. When he was drunk he had said that I didn't need him. I did. I needed him in every way.
He lowered his eyebrows slightly. I wasn't sure if he remembered confessing that he thought I didn't need him. But it seemed to affect him either way.
"Penny, I need you too. You shouldn't be embarrassed about that."
"I know. But I told you I could handle it. I just wanted you to think I was strong. And I was embarrassed about how wrong I was about everything. Everyone was so horrible. I just felt..."
"Hey." He cupped my chin in his hand. "I do think you're strong. I think you're perfect. You don't need to prove anything to me."
I smiled up at him.
"Does that mean my apartment is cozy enough already?"
