“Of course you didn’t, Paige,” I cut in. “You never gave me a chance. All you did was make my life hell, and the lives of others. Do you think any of this matters? In ten years, where will you be? Still judging people on the very little you know about them?”
She didn’t respond. Instead, she dropped her gaze and waited for me to finish.
“Do me a favor and learn from this, because often what seems perfect really isn’t.” I turned and stalked off before she could reply, flipping my hair over my shoulder.
Damn, that felt good.
***
“Are you sure we’re not going to be…interrupted?” Dalton mumbled, kissing my neck. I nodded. Layna and Dan would be tied up with school-related graduation things for at least the next two hours.
Then, we were having dinner. The four of us—something that made me completely anxious. Since the truth about us had come out, I hadn’t had the pleasure of being in the same room as Dalton and my family, so I had no idea what to expect.
Up on my toes, I curled my arms around his neck, tilting his lips down to meet mine, loving the feel of his hand on the curve of my back. Reaching for his hand, I led him to the bed, curling up with his arms around me. I didn’t need sex to feel close to him. Just having him next to me was enough.
***
Well, this was awkward.
Dalton, Dan, and I sat at the table as Layna carried over the roast that had been slow cooking all day. The table was full of fresh rolls, beans, roast vegetables, and other foods, the smell of which were making my mouth water.
We sat in silence. And not the good kind, either. It was that weird, eerie silence where you rack your brain trying to think of some amazing conversation starter. I came up with nothing. I glanced at Dalton, silently willing him to say something. He shrugged helplessly.
Fuck.
“So, I’m finally free.” It was the first thing that popped into my head. “No more school work. Not until college starts, anyway,” I added. Okay, now I was just rambling, but it was better than the alternative.
“How does it feel?” asked Dan, relieved a topic had been put forward.
“Good. Kind of scary, but a good kind of scary.” I felt Dalton squeeze my knee under the table. I put my hand on top of his and smiled at him, tensing as his hand wandered further up my thigh. My body tingled, his touch arousing me even in the presence of my family. I shot him a look. He winked at me, hiding a smile.
“So Boston University here you come, huh?” Dalton grinned at me, his hand still stroking my thigh.
“And how about you, Dalton? What are your plans now that the school year is over?” Dan asked pointedly.
Dalton glanced at me. “Well, Wrenn doesn’t know this yet, but I’ve applied and been accepted into study elementary teaching at BU.”
I turned to him and gaped. What? He would be at BU with me?
“Really?” I squealed. I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, throwing my arms around him. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks,” he mumbled, flashing me a smile. “I know we haven’t talked much about the future, and I wouldn’t accept the offer without talking to you first, but this is something I really want to do.”
“I think it sounds perfect for you. And we would be in college together,” I laughed. “How freaking weird would that be?”
“We would almost be a normal couple,” he chuckled.
Layna sat down as Dan carved the roast. She smiled at Dalton, and I could tell she was genuinely happy for him. “That’s great news, Dalton.”
The rest of dinner went okay. It wasn’t a completely natural, easy meal, but it was much less painful than I’d been anticipating. I couldn’t expect for them to be comfortable with the idea of us being together right away, but the fact that they were trying meant the world to me.
***
“That didn’t go too badly,” Dalton chuckled, sitting down on my bed. “Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay in your room?”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, it’s fine. I’m eighteen, remember? Hell, I’m not even in high school anymore,” I joked. I walked over to the bed and joined him, lying on my side, my hand propped up against my head.
“And I’m glad,” he grunted, shaking his head. “Believe it or not, you being my student wasn’t a big turn-on—more like something I had to push out of my head.”