She quirks an eyebrow. “Why, you offering yourself up for the job?”
I shift on my feet. “Maybe. If…you’re interested.”
She blinks at me and holds up a finger. “I will be your roommate next year on one condition. You never ignore my texts again.”
“Done,” I say simply.
“I mean it,” she warns. “No matter the subject. If I text you about how gassy I am, you better respond.”
“I promise I’ll respond.”
She pulls me in for a hug, and I squeeze her tighter than necessary, making a promise to myself to value our friendship. Genuine people don’t come around that often, and true friends are hard to find. If this year has taught me anything, it’s to hold on tight to the people that matter. To the people who are worth it.
When our arms drop, she sighs. “I’ll help you clean the bathrooms before I leave. I’m not a total bitch.”
I grin at her. “I appreciate that.”
Quinnand I spend the next hour cleaning up Ava and Kinsley’s mess before her parents arrive, then say our final goodbyes. Alone in the apartment, I rush through a shower and get ready for Wes’s celebratory dinner. He picks me up a little after seven, and we meet his family at the same Italian restaurant as last time. We spend the meal talking and laughing, and I have a blast, grateful not just for Wes but for his loving family, who welcome me into their fold with open arms.
While Wes has flexibility as far as when he moves out of his house, I have to be out of the dorm tomorrow, which is also when my parents arrive to collect me. Wes offers to help me clean, but no way am I letting him waste his last official night in college packing up my dorm. There’s a bit of back and forth before I finally convince him to hang out with his friends and party until dawn, and then I head back to my empty apartment.
After cleaning the kitchen and making ten trips to and from the dumpster with all of my roommates’ shit, I move on to my own bedroom. I take down my minimal decorations and stuff allmy books in a box. I pull clothes off hangers and fold them into my suitcase.
I’ve just cleaned my desk when my phone buzzes with a text, and I glance at the screen in surprise.
Wes:Whatcha doing???
I smile at the text from my boyfriend and type out a reply.
Me:Still packing unfortunately. What are you doing?
Wes:Missing you :(
I snicker at his dramatics even as my heart skips a beat in response to his words.
Me:It’s been an hour! Shouldn’t you be getting drunk with Ben and Kaden?
Wes:Ben’s at the hotel with his parents. Kaden’s with some girl…
Me:Wow, so much for the bromance.
Wes:I know, right? After all we’ve been through. They abandon me like it’s nothing.
Me:Well, can’t you go to parties without them?
Wes:Nah, it’s not appealing. I’ve been to enough college parties to last me a lifetime.
I frown at his message and type out a reply.
Me:So, what are you doing then? You’re all alone??
Wes:Not anymore :p
I startle at the knock on my front door and drop my phone on the desk. Shaking my head in disbelief, I hurry out to the living area and open the door to reveal my boyfriend.
I beam at him, my stomach fluttering. “What are youdoinghere?”
He grins at me, stepping inside the apartment and shutting the door. “I missed you,” he says, and gathers me in a tight hug.
