CHAPTER SEVEN
Aislin
All day, inevery single one of my classes, I’m thinking about Zuri—last night with Zuri, telling her my family’s secrets, touching her…the way she touched me. And then I do this really fucking annoying thing that I never thought I would do, and I startimaginingmy future with her. What even is that? I don’t do that kind of thing. It’s over the top and sappy and…sweet. Because I really want a future with Zuri.
As long as I don’t start doodling our names together, I guess everything is okay.
I get out of class early today, so I head to my dorm to freshen up. When there’s a knock on my door, I get a goofy, silly smile, knowing it’s her.
“Hey,” I say, leaning in for a kiss.
“Hey yourself.”
“Let me grab my jacket,” I tell her, before plucking it off the chair and slipping it on. We’d decided earlier to go to The Pizza Palace for dinner, which is where both Ollie and Shai work. Rory is often there when Shai is because they’re codependent and obsessive that way.
When we get into the hallway, Zuri takes my hand. This isn’t something we have done out in the open on campus before. The feel of her warm hand in mine is comfortable, exciting. Everyone we see will know she’s mine and I’m hers and…what the fuck? I’m totally head over heels for this girl. My girl.
“What’s wrong?” Zuri asks, making me realize I must be showing something on my face.
“Nothing. I just realized I’m a lot more like the boys than I realized.”
“How do you mean?” she asks, as we make our way downstairs.
“Holding your hand…all I can think of is people will know we’re together.”
She frowns. “That’s not a good thing?”
“Shit. No. It is. That’s my point. It’s like I want to say,mine, mine, mine, and wear a shirt that says,hers, hers, hers, or something, so everyone knows we’re together. I tease the guys about it, and now here I am, wanting the same thing.”
Thankfully, Zuri laughs instead of running far away from my family and our obsessive ways. “I can get you that shirt,” she says. “But we have to find one for me, too.”
I can’t stop the grin that pulls across my face. “I think we can figure something out.”
“Good.”
Now we’re both smiling like idiots as we continue to hold hands and walk out to my car. I unlock it and open the passenger door for her. Zuri leans in and kisses me before sliding in.
“How was class today?” I ask as we drive over.
“I couldn’t stop thinking about last night.”
“Oh my God. Me too!” I admit.
“It’s so gross.”
“Agreed.” We both laugh, but then I add, “Not really gross, though.”
“No.” Zuri smiles. “Not gross at all.”
“Oh, Rory’s here,” I say as we pull into the parking lot.
“He’s…”
“Wild? Chaotic? Dangerous?” I ask.
Zuri chuckles. “All of the above.”
“He is, but he also has the biggest heart of anyone you’ll ever meet—at least for his family. And now you’ll be part of his family, too. That’s how we all work, but especially Ror.”
