The Senior (College Years 4)

She has to.

“Don’t go,” I whisper. “Just—hear me out.”

I have no idea what to say to her next. Have no plan of action either. But this is the first time we’ve spoken in months. The first time we’ve been in each other’s presence and I just want to marinate in it for a little bit longer…

“Is there really anything else for us to discuss?” she asks, the disappointment heavy in her voice. “What’s done is done, Eli.”

“So that’s it. You’re just going to walk away from me again?”

She stares at me, her expression turning weary. “You’re exhausting.”

I shift forward, pulling her into me at the same time. She goes willingly, and I wonder if that’s because she wants to, or if it’s just habit. “You give up too easily.”

“I could say the same about you,” she returns, her breath catching when I gently squeeze her arm. Yep, she feels it. “I shouldn’t always have to prove my love for you. When was the last time you proved your love for me?”

Well, fuck.

When did I not prove my love for this girl? Where the hell has she been the last four years?

Clearly, she wasn’t paying attention.

Six

Ava

I’m so mad, I’m shaking. Can he feel it, from the way he’s gripping my arm? He’s so close, his body heat emanates toward me. And all that barely restrained anger contained in his body radiates too. His hazel eyes are greener tonight, as they blaze at me, and when I glance up, I catch him staring at my lips.

As if he’s thinking about kissing me.

I don’t want him to. If he does, I might not be able to stop him.

“Why does it have to be about proving our love to each other?” he finally asks, his voice low. Husky.

Sexy.

Shit.

I need to get out of here. Being alone in a room with a drunk, pissed-off Eli is not good. He’ll most likely try to pounce.

And I won’t be able to resist.

“It doesn’t,” I say. “You’re the one who always puts conditions on our relationship.”

“That is such crap and you know it.”

I say nothing, because I know I’m right. He’s always had these expectations from our relationship, and half the time, I felt as if I couldn’t meet them. Especially once I went away for college.

That was the kiss of death for us. I see it now. With actual physical distance, we grew more detached. I firmly believed we’d survive just fine. Look at my sister and Ash. She was in Santa Barbara while Ash was here for the entirety of college. Four long years. And now they’re engaged and still madly in love. Maybe even more in love than they’ve ever been. I thought for sure Eli and I were solid. We could survive anything.

But Eli and I are not Autumn and Ash. They were stronger. Ash is definitely more mature than Eli. He’s not as selfish either.

I still love Eli, but I meant every word I said earlier. He is truly the most selfish human I know.

“Ava…” His voice drifts and he tugs me even closer, our bodies gently colliding. Heat explodes through my veins, making my skin warm and my body ultra-aware of our proximity. “I miss you.”

Those three words are worse than a kiss. They completely devastate me and I close my eyes so I can’t stare at his handsome face any longer. “Don’t,” I say weakly, my body swaying toward his.

It knows what it wants. My mind and my heart can’t control anything right now.