“Yeah, it has been for the last hour. What about it?”
Grinning at him, I say, “The best thing that’s ever happened to me is about to get out of class and walk home in it.”
Understanding crosses his face, and he rolls his eyes. “So you’re going to pick her up instead?”
I dip my chin in confirmation and turn back around, giving him a small wave. As soon as I get to the locker rooms, I quickly shower, get dressed, and head out into the storm. Rain pelts my back as I race to my car.
It takes only minutes for me to get to her building, and I spot her right away, holding her backpack above her head to shield herself from the rain. I pull up to the side of the road and honk my horn.
She looks at me, and grateful reassurance overtakes her face as she makes a mad dash to the passenger side. Dropping her backpack at her feet, she quickly shuts the door and breathes a sigh of relief. “You didn’t have to pick me up,” she says, out of breath.
I pull away from the curb and turn on the heat when she starts to shiver. Despite her backpack, half of her is soaked. “I wasn’t going to let you walk in this.”
Goose bumps rise over her skin, and she crosses her arms over her chest for added warmth. “Don’t you have a class?”
I shake my head. “The professor was sick today.”
“Convenient,” she murmurs.
Chuckling under my breath, I switch the topic. “Where are we headed?”
“My place.”
I steer the car in that direction, and it takes less than a minute to pull into the parking lot. I park the car, and we both groan as the wind begins to pick up, pushing the rain nearly sideways. In a bout of shared bravery, we quickly pick up ourbags, get out of the car, and race to the building’s door. Once we’re inside, we start to laugh, and I quickly steal a kiss from her wet lips.
Taking her hand, I drag her up the stairs. When we’re at her door, I start to go inside her apartment, but she stops me with a tug of her hand in mine. “What are you doing?” she hisses, looking back at my apartment door.
“Coming with,” I say with raised eyebrows, and then I wiggle them suggestively. “You promised I’d get to see you naked.”
She looks around nervously, and I relax a little as I add, “He’s still in class.”
She bites her bottom lip. “Are you sure?”
I nod, push the door open, and close it behind us. Water droplets fall everywhere when I shake my wet hair. Glancing around, I ask, “Ivy?”
“Still in class too.”
“Good.” I take her to the bathroom, and when we’re inside, we drop our bags near the vanity and kick off our shoes. Quietly, I shut the door and turn on the shower.
I start to strip out of my clothes but pause when she asks, “What are you doing?”
“Weare going to shower. You’re freezing.” I take off my jeans and underwear and then go to her. She’s nervously pulling at her fingers, and I seize them, plant a kiss on her knuckles, and then lift her soaked shirt over her head.
Steam starts to billow out over the curtain as I grab my phone from my bag and start the playlist I listen to when I do homework. I set it on the counter, and when I turn around, she’s stepping into the shower. I hear her soft moan as the water hits her cold skin. Smiling, I follow her in and circle my arms around her middle, sharing the spray.
She rests the back of her head against my chest and asks, “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
I chuckle under my breath, surprised by the random question. “I don’t know. With my degree and a good job, I guess married. Maybe a kid on the way.”
Drawing small circles on my hand, she says, “Married to someone famous.”
“Definitely,” I joke before kissing the top of her head. “In all seriousness, I see you wearing my ring.”
She hums in agreement. “So I fit into your future?”
I frown. “Of course you do. Avery. I wouldn’t have been chasing you if I didn’t see a future in us. Okay?” She nods against me. “Where’s this coming from?”
She shrugs a little. “I just wanted to make sure this wasn’t, like…a fling or something. I wanted to see if you were as serious about us.”
