Fuck. I shouldn’t have asked.
I knew I shouldn’t have, but the words just came out of me.
Because I don’t want to lose her.
Which is why I didn’t let that burning disappointment take me from her bed last weekend. I stayed. Spent the whole day there. Even helped her pack a few boxes. She doesn’t actually have that much stuff, so she can just put her clothes in a suitcase and leave.
I hate the idea of her moving into a motel, so I offered to help her look for some places in Nolan.
She seemed surprised by my offer, but I just mumbled, “You want all your options open, right?”
I think she was grateful that I’m not making her feel bad over not jumping on my offer.
Shit, she didn’t jump.
She hesitated. And fuck, that stings.
I ended up leaving on Sunday evening, returning to Football Frat with my tail between my legs.
And the rest of this week, I’ve had my head down as I survive finals week. Graduation is only a few days away, and I’ve onlycaught moments with Dani. We’ve had two more dates, and she spent the night at Football Frat on Friday, which was awesome. We were all celebrating the end of exams. It was a low-key event, just the original crew and our women. Everyone was nice to Dani, and I think she could feel the warmth of the place.
She seemed to really connect with Satch, which was cool. They sat next to each other for ages, talking about who knows what, but I loved seeing it. Satch is shy and sweet, and it can take some effort to draw her out, but Dani seemed to do it within minutes.
Standing tall, I gaze around Wily’s room. It’s looking sparse and empty as he finishes packing up the last of his shit.
“Damn, I’m gonna miss this place,” I mutter.
Wily glances at me, running a hand through his blond hair. “Yeah, me too, man.” He gives me a sad, resigned smile. “It’s been an epic few years here.”
“Yeah.” I bite my lips together, trying to squash down my sadness. The thought of moving to Dallas just isn’t sitting right.
Not without Dani.
Damn, how do I convince her to come with me?
It’s taken maximum effort not to keep raising the issue, asking if she’s made a decision yet.
She still hasn’t found an apartment, as far as I’m aware, and I don’t know what she’s gonna do. It’s driving me crazy.
“But we’ll still see each other again. You’re coming to visit us in Glendale, right?”
“Us?” My head pops up.
“Oh shit, didn’t I tell you?” His smile gets all big and cheesy. “Satch got into Arizona State. She’s coming with me.”
My lips part, a smile rising as I take in his excitement. I refuse to be jealous, even though a small part of me is. His woman’s following him. Supporting him.
Because she’s totally in love with him.
And that’s what’s eating at me. I don’t know how Dani feels. She makes love to me. She kisses me. Her eyes sometimes tell me she’s fallen as deep as I have. But she’s never actually said it. And she hasn’t told me she’s coming to Dallas. So what the hell am I supposed to think?
Does she love me? Or not?
“Stoked for you, man.” I raise my chin at him.
“Thanks, bro.” He lets out this euphoric kind of giggle. “Couldn’t believe it when she told me she was moving her entire life for me. I was never gonna demand that of her, you know? She’s tight with her family, and I didn’t think she’d want to move so far away from them, but they’re encouraging her to go.” He opens another empty box and starts throwing books and magazines into it. “I’ve told her I’ll pay for her to fly back on the regular so she can do weekends with them, and I’ve offered to have her parents come to us as well.” His smile just keeps getting bigger. “I’m relieved, to be honest. I knew Grady and Carson were happy to keep an eye on her, but the thought of her staying in this school with those bitches still roaming campus just didn’t sit right with me.”
“Yeah, I get it, man.” And I do. The thought of leaving Dani here without Jed or Tobin or Nix to have her back? It’s eating me alive.
