I stop to stare at her. “For what?”
“For laying all that on you in front of them, for not talking to you sooner. Obviously, I know you’re leaving and we can’t actually be a thing right now, but?—”
I press my finger to her lips, silencing her. “Let’s go.”
She frowns, but I drag us along the sidewalk until we reach the truck, and I open her door. She slips the gown off first, showing me what’s underneath—a white dress with some sort of puffy sleeves. Her blonde hair is hanging down her back in loose curls, her eyes shimmering in gold, and her lips painted a deep pink I’m already imagining smeared around my cock.
“Like what you see?” She throws back at me.
“Fuck yes.” I wink and she blushes. “You look beautiful, Olivia.”
“Thank you. And you look really good in that suit.” She fastens her seat belt, and I drive toward my apartment.
“You good?”
“Never been better.”
I can’t help but smile. “I’m proud of you and not just for graduating. When did you decide you were staying?”And why didn’t you come to me?
“A while. I was going to tell you, but I wasn’t sure it mattered, you know? I needed to make a decision for myself, and I’ve never done that before. I don’t know what comes next. Ellie’s family has paid for our apartment for six more months, so I have a little time to figure it out.”
“That’s great. I’m happy for you.” That’s what I wanted for her. To be happy and choose herself.
“Thanks. I don’t know what I’ll do for money yet, but I’m sending my résumé out on Monday.”
“Sell your stuff. Startyourbusiness.”
She’s been talking about it for weeks, ever since she had to create a mock business for one of her classes, and every time she did, her face would light up. She shakes her head.
“Your stuff is good, Olivia. You can do it.”
“You really believe that, don’t you?”
“Fuck yeah, I do. Why wouldn’t I?”
She’s never been bad at anything, and she’s too stubborn to fail. She just needs to believe in herself.
“Maybe I will,” she says, but I can tell I have more convincing to do. Lucky for her, I have all night.
“I’ll be your first customer.”
“What if I fail?”
“Nah, you won’t.”
She gives me a look.
I shoot her one right back. “What if you don’t?”
She huffs a laugh, shaking her head but she doesn’t have a witty comeback for that because she knows I’m right. I ease into my parking space and shut the truck off, turning to face her.
“Penn.” She sighs, and my muscles tense at theseriousness of her tone. “I know you said take you out of the picture, but I can’t. When I think about my future, you’re there. I love you. I know you might not feel the same, and that’s okay, but I wanted you to know.”
“What?” I choke out a relieved breath. I was hoping that’s what she was saying to her parents, but hearing it hits different. My chest swells.
“I know you’re leaving and might not want to start something right now, but I’ll be here when you get back and?—”
“Fuck, Olivia.” I reach over, dragging her onto my lap. “I love you, too.” I cup her face softly, resting my forehead against hers.
