“I think so,” Lincoln said with a chuckle. “Lily! You got it.”
“I got it?” I said, my voice cracking. “I… can’t believe it.”
“I can.” He pressed his lips against mine. “Congratulations, gorgeous girl. Simucon is the best place for you to learn. You’ll get all the experience you need to really tap into the skills you’re already developing, provided you’re willing to deal with a few jerks.”
Joy and nerves prickled across my skin. “I can handle them.”
He nodded, grinning. “They’re in trouble. They have no idea what they’ve gotten themselves into.”
I crawled closer to him, already thinking of all the things we could do to celebrate.
But then the doorbell rang, and Lincoln held up a finger before going to the front door. He returned with the pizza.
He sat down and placed it between us before opening it to reveal the super cheesy perfection. I grabbed a slice and bit into it, gesturing for him to speak. Finally, he told me all about his meeting with Professor Hahn.
I swallowed the food before it was ready to be swallowed. I coughed. “You’ll be a lecturer?”
His frown returned, but there was a smile playing there too. “Yeah. I’m gonna try. I don’t know if I’ll be any good at it.”
“If you were my professor, I’d either have passed everything to impress you or failed everything because you’re gorgeously distracting.”
He burst out laughing.
“Lily,” he breathed, and shut his eyes, “you’re not helping.”
I reached out and pinched his chin. “Link, you’re the best teacher I’ve ever had. During games, with road design and traffic analysis, even on-site. You’re patient and kind, even when I thought you didn’t like me.”
“You thought I didn’t like you?” His dark brows pulled together.
“Uh-huh.” I took another slice. “You were so angry around me.”
“I couldn’t think clearly,” he said with a long sigh, and I knew he was about to give me one of those toe-curling compliments. “Elizabeth, I enter a black hole of focus, and it helps my productivity, but it’s not always easy. Then you were there, shimmering and shining. All I wanted to do was look at you, make wishes upon you, bottle you and take you everywhere.”
There it was.
I lifted the pizza box because I couldn’t handle the separation. Lincoln pulled me closer until I was on his lap.
“I can’t wait for you to take me everywhere.”
“I will.” He offered me a kiss. “But for now, can I take you home? To my home?”
54
ELIZABETH
[8 weeks ago]
@pancakesareelite:
Wish me luck
@theanswerisno:
For what?
@pancakesareelite:
I’m starting something potentially life-changing tomorrow
