Page 43 of Campus Crush
“I had something I needed to tell you tonight too, but I think it might be easier if I show you.”
She gave me a quizzical look and then followed my lead in taking off her skates. When we had our street shoes back on, I stretched out my hand. “Come with me.”
TWENTY-FOUR
I followed Foster out of the rink in silence, my pulse thudding in my ears while I tried to wrap my head around what I’d just done.
I’d kissed him.
With his arms wrapped around me and our breath mingling, the only thing I’d been able to think about was if his lips felt as good as I remembered.
My memory wasn’t even close.
Because his kiss felt better than any memory I could’ve scrounged up.
But then when I’d pulled back, it was like a record scratch went off in my head.
What about Bear?
I tried to tell myself I didn’t owe Bear anything. He’s the one who’d bailed on meeting me.
But I still felt guilty—because I liked him.
AndI liked Foster.
God, how had this gotten so complicated?
Never in a million years did I think I’d ever find myself in this type of situation.
I wrapped my arms around myself as we stepped into the cold night air. The warmth from the kiss—his hands, his mouth, his steady voice—had faded into this trembling uncertainty. I felt like I’d just split myself in two.
He walked next to me, just as silent and seemingly lost in his own thoughts. What was he thinking?
When we got to his truck, he opened the back passenger door and grabbed something off the floor behind my seat.
I thought I was confused before, but now I was super confused.
What the hell was that?
It looked like a box, but it was clunky, uneven, and covered in glitter.
And then he spun it around and I realized it wasn’t just a box.
It was a diorama like something elementary school kids make.
Inside were mini crops, a little wooden house, and tiny pathways lined with trees. It took a second too long to register the significance.
It wasmy farm. The one I’d built inStardew Valley. The one Bear had complimented—and teased me about—night after night.
“Foster?” I whispered, the words barely audible because this couldn’t be happening.
He held the diorama between us and stepped closer. His eyes searched mine, and I didn’t miss the hint of fear, like he was bracing for a storm.
“I made this for you,” he said, voice low. “Every piece of it. Took me forever and I still managed to mess up the barn.”
My throat felt tight. “Why?”
“Because there’s something I need you to know.Something I should’ve told you weeks ago, but I didn’t know how.” He glanced down, then back at me. “I’m Bear.”
