“Wes,” I say slowly. “Did you have something to do with that?”
He shrugs a shoulder. “Maybe.”
My mouth drops open. “Maybe? What do you mean? What happened? How did you even prove anything?”
“Once you told me Alexis was the one who started the forum,” he says, “I was able to do some digging into her profile. She uses the same username on UChat as she does on her social, which is idiotic if you ask me. But Stratus has a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and harassment, and I had enough evidence to show the disciplinary committee. Plus, Rich finally came in handy for something. I had him put a word in with his dad who’s on the board. It was the least he could fucking do after all the shit he’s pulled.”
I stare at him, letting his explanation sink in. “You did all that for me?”
“I’d do anything for you,” he says seriously. “You know that, right?” I manage a nod, still in disbelief, and he gestures for me to come closer, so I’m standing between his legs. He sets his hands on my hips, squeezing lightly. “How did your appointment go today?”
“It went well,” I tell him, thinking about the chunk of time we spent discussing Wes’s graduation.
“You’re still seeing her over the summer, right?”
The reminder of the summer spikes my anxiety. I know I want to be with him, and he wants to be with me, but the details of actually making that work seem a little daunting. Once Wes passes his TEAS exam next week, he’ll be admitted into the EMT program over the summer. Fifteen weeks of classes, meeting three times a week. “We’re going to do virtual sessions.”
Wes studies my face, a crease forming between his brows. “You okay?”
“Just thinking about the summer,” I admit.
He squeezes my hips again in a reassuring gesture. “Ives, we have a plan. You can spend as much time at my parents’ house as you want, and once I’m certified, I’ll target the hospital close to campus. We’ll make it work. Trust me, okay?” His eyes search mine. “I don’t think I’ll survive being away from my girlfriend for too long. I get major separation anxiety.”
My stomach flutters, and my brows shoot up at the unfamiliar term. “Girlfriend?”
“Is there a different label you’d use?” Even though he asks the question with so much confidence, I glimpse the tiniest bit of doubt behind his eyes. He’s tried this approach before, and I always pushed him away.
“No, girlfriend is perfect,” I say, and a huge grin stretches across his face. “I’ve never been anyone’s girlfriend before.”
“Well, the title suits you.”
I smile back at him, wide and uninhibited, and he pulls me close.
Girlfriend.
I knew we were exclusive. Official, even, but I never gave any thought to the label. Now that I have, I can’t stop grinningbecause there’s nothing on this planet I’d rather be than Wes Tucker’s girlfriend.
“You’re so smiley,” he says, laughing as we break apart.
“I can’t help it. You’re rubbing off on me.”
He nuzzles my nose before kissing the tip. “Okay, girlfriend.”
“Okay, boyfriend.”
We are so cute it’s nauseating, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I really wouldn’t.
That night, tucked under Wes’s covers and wrapped in his arms, he kisses me softly. Slowly. Our tongues tangle as we explore each other, and my body presses up against his as my hands chart over the hard muscle of his chest. His hand slips under my t-shirt, palming my lower back and pressing me closer, and I feel the familiar flare of desire as the intensity heightens.
I want to keep going, but something prevents me from taking things further, and I know I’m not ready. Wes, perceptive as always, can tell immediately from the shift in my body language that I want to stop. He tucks me against his chest without protest and kisses the top of my head.
My body’s still trying to catch up to my heart, unfortunately, and I try not to feel frustrated with myself, especially when Wes has the patience of a saint. I try not to get in my head about it, but I’m the queen of overthinking, and Wes can always tell when I’m beating myself up.
“Everything okay, baby?” he murmurs into my hair.
Before, my instinct was always to apologize.
I’m sorry I’m not ready.
