Finally, despite Trent’s distractions, I managed to get the keys to cooperate, and we pushed the door open together. Trent slammed the door behind us and grabbed me in a bear hug, lifting me off the ground.
We never made it to the bedroom. We sealed our new professed status on the living room couch in a tangled weave of arms and legs. We leaned against each other in a heap of satisfaction.
“Why was me saying ‘I love you’ so significant?” I asked, trailing my hand over his bare chest.
He waited a moment to answer. His voice was low, but filled with intensity. “I’m not sure. Let’s be honest. We’ve all known that I’ve been in love with you, well, forever, but that was superficial, right? I mean, I always thought you were pretty amazing, but over the last few months, I’ve gotten to see that even back then I never realized just how special you are. You’re the funniest, most sarcastic person I know, and I love everything about you. When you said you loved me too, it sort of lifted this heavy weight off my shoulders. The words consumed me. Well, obviously, since I practically mauled you when we walked in the door.” He turned his head to look at me. “Did my response scare you?”
I chuckled at his question. “I’m not sure you could ever do anything to scare me. And what we just shared is probably the furthest thing from scary I’ve ever experienced. The only scary part is how badly I already want you again.” My lips trailed across his chest, moving toward his lips and rekindling our fire.
22.
My final exam grades came in three days before we were supposed to head to Woodfalls for Christmas break. The three As in my business classes were a nice surprise, but it was the A in statistics that completely floored me. That test was hard as hell. Considering all the erasing and reworking of problems, I was convinced I had failed miserably.
I rushed home to share the good news with Trent, but found the apartment empty.
Hey where u at?
Had to help Professor N. Did u get your grades?
Yep
So?
So what?
????!!!
I smiled. I could picture his exasperation as he waited for me to tell him.
All A’s, baby!!! I’ll be ending the term with 2 A’s and 2 B’s.
I knew u could do it. Will celebrate later.
By sexting?
That would be a little hard since I’m not alone.
Oh, it’ll be hard, all right.
You’re a bad girl. I’ll call you later.
Party pooper.
Don’t pout.
Fine.
Love you.
No, you don’t. If you loved me, you would sext with me.
Be good.
Fine. I love you too.
I was grinning when I tossed the phone on the couch and headed to the kitchen to fix something to eat. Trent refused any sexting. He was convinced that nothing on cell phones was safe from hackers. I tried to make my case by saying I didn’t care if some pimply-faced kid hacked my phone, to which he responded that it would suck if he ended up knowing the pimply-faced kid. You gotta love dating a tech-hard.
I made myself a sandwich and chips, which was the extent of my culinary talents. I didn’t want to overdo it since I didn’t know what our celebrating would entail. Staying at home so much was starting to get a little old, so I was looking forward to going out. I ate standing at the kitchen counter, debating whether I could talk Trent into going to the new restaurant that had opened on South Street. It was a restaurant/bar that I heard had a small dance floor. It was time to show Trent what real dancing looked like.