“So, what are your life ambitions? Goals? Discuss.”
Bailey threw me a look of disgust as he pulled me to my feet, admiring my semi-naked form.
“I’mstarving. Serious conversations can’t take place on an empty stomach, babe.”
I crawled back into bed, pulling the duvet around me for warmth as I shook my head.
“I’m full. I’ll probably still be full tomorrow. You go eat.”
I waved him off as he scoffed at me.
“Full? What does that feel like? Do you want anything?” He paused at the door, tugging a t-shirt shirt over his boxers. We heard a giggle from outside of his room, and I raised my eyebrows at him in curiosity. He shrugged and went to open the door as I cleared my throat.
“Pants, Fenton. I don’t want to share you either,” I commanded as he grinned, picking some pants up from his chair.
“YetI’mdemanding?”
I stuck my tongue out at him as he left, laughing to himself. Then, I heard him greet the mystery girl before jogging down the stairs to attempt to fill his bottomless pit.
I fired a text to Ray.
ANNABELLE: Proposals post-sex standard? Discuss.
I smiled as I turned to see Bailey’s phone lighting up beside me to see a text.
CHASE: Elena is pregnant. What the fuck am I going to do, man? I don’t want to be a daddy!
I gulped as I realized the rumor was true. Part of me felt terrible for Elena despite everything. It wasn’t hard to use a condom or birth control; how had she managed to sleep around and get herself in this situation? The door opened, and Bailey entered, his mouth filled with cereal. Milk dripped down his chin as he spooned in another mouthful.
“A bowl of cereal won’t fill you up, will it?”
“This is my third bowl.” He managed to say in between mouthfuls.
“Chase has sent you a message.” I nodded to his phone as he shrugged.
“So?”
“So it’s confirming the rumors. It flagged up on the screen; I didn’t go into your phone,” I explained quickly, anxious he didn’t think I was some bunny boiler girlfriend who ate his phone whenever he was out of sight. He sat on the bed, pushing the bowl away from him.
“Two, six, zero, four,” he stated as I stared at him in confusion.
“Is that a safe combination?” I giggled as he smiled softly.
“It’s my phone password. Anytime you like, you can look in it.”
I stared at him in disbelief, part of me itching to grab it and go through it with a fine-tooth comb, the other part of me filling with admiration for him.
“I don’t think I’d like that. It’s not how you build trust, snooping. But thank you,” I said as he nodded.
“But Idowant to build trust. I’ve never had a girlfriend before, so I didn’t think much about my actions before you. Didn’t think I’d fall in love with the first one I had, let alone be planning marriage with her.” He took my hands into his, and my breath caught.
“That’s the second time you’ve mentioned marriage,” I said slowly as he smiled.
“Yeah. So, life goals.” He leaned back, gazing at me as he spoke.
“I want to finish school and study sports at college. I was hoping to go to Kings, but I know that is far from here.” I nodded, realizing Kings was about three hours away, maybe more. “Then I planned to marry you, buy a decent house close to the beach so when we have kids, they have the beach as their backyard. Get rich, grow old, I guess.”
My heart pounded in my chest as his fingers laced with mine, and he studied me.