I arched a brow at him. “What’s wrong? Oh, I don’t know. Maybe that my boyfriend has been replaced by some jerk.”
A look of confusion filled his face. “What are you talking about?”
I crossed my arms. “I’m talking about how you changed our lunch plans and then totally ignored me during lunch with your friends, and then I heard the comments you said after I left.”
He at least had the decency to look chagrined.
“And just so you know,” I continued. “You’re not going to betappinganything for a while.”
He took a step toward me, but I stopped him with my hand on his chest.
“C’mon, baby.” He slowly put his hands on my waist and pulled me toward him. “Don’t be mad at me. Isn’t it a good thing I think you’re so hot?” I was a sucker for his puppy dog eyes, and he knew it.
“I hate when you do that,” I said, but there wasn’t much heat in my voice.
“Do what?” he asked, feigning innocence as he leaned down and kissed me below my ear.
“The look, the soft touches, the tender kisses. You know I can never say no to you,” I said, exasperated.
“That’s one of the things I love about you.” He leaned down to give me a soft kiss on the mouth. “I’m sorry I was a jerk. And I’m sorry I talked about you that way with my friends. I’m just excited you’re here. I love showing off my hot girlfriend.”
I pursed my lips. “Are you sure you’re excited I’m here? We’ve barely seen each other.”
He let out a heavy sigh. “I know I’ve been busy, but I am excited you’re here,” he said, his tone sounding sincere. “And I’m here now.” He pulled me even closer to him, smiling down with a happy look on his face.
I slid my hands up and around his neck, finally giving him a small smile in return.
“I accept your apology,” I said. “But no more jerk comments—and no more putting me on the back burner. I moved here for you—for us. I’m not saying you need to drop your whole life for me because I know you’re busy, but a little effort on your part would be nice.”
He rested his forehead against mine. “You’re right. I promise no more jerk comments, and I promise to make more time for you.”
“Thank you.”
“Now can I come in?” he asked, his tone light.
“I guess,” I said playfully.
He chuckled and picked me up, carrying me as I directed him to my room.
We spent the next couple of hours together, and it was like my old boyfriend was back. The one I’d fallen in love with so many years ago. When it was just the two of us, everything seemed right in the world. He was my constant, my comfort zone.
Yes, today had been a bad day, but things could only go up from here. Josh and I were going to be just fine.
3
Slate
Music blasted out of the speakers on either side of the small stage as we waited for the next person to sing. Thursdays were for karaoke at the Wolf’s Den, and the place was packed, as usual. There weren’t too many other places to hang out close to campus, so the Wolf’s Den was the automatic hot spot.
My friends and I had grabbed one of the last remaining tables, and I leaned back in my chair, looking around at the familiar place. It looked exactly the same as it had for the last two years, with its scuffed wooden floors, dim lighting, and Waterford University Wolves paraphernalia covering the walls.
“You looking for your next victim?” Scarlet teased, her Southern accent prominent.
She was one of only two friends I had who were women. We’d become friends our freshman year once her roommate, Olivia, and my best friend, Wilder, had gotten together.
And speaking of Wilder and Olivia, they were currently sitting across from me, making goo-goo eyes at each other. They were cute in a sickening way. I wasn’t jealous, not even a little bit. I wasn’t a relationship kind of guy. Nothing and no one could talk me into a situation like that. And as much as I had tried to change Wilder into being more like me before he’d met Olivia, he really was a one-girl type of guy.
“Ah, don’t be jealous, Scarlet,” I teased back, causing her to roll her eyes at me and shake her head, her brown curls bouncing.
