“Hmm . . . I thought that’s one of her more endearing qualities—her strong personality.” I recalled how Daniela was the one who set up the double-date at the Bearded Squirrel and how she hit on that Phi Kappa Delta guy on Valentine’s Day. When it came to men, she was often the one to make the first move.
“Maybe to other girls it’s endearing. I mean, I do know some guys at the gym that are attracted to that kind of personality, at least initially—it’s a thrill to be around a feisty girl—but after a while it can get tiring.”
“Umm . . . isn’t that kind of an insensitive thing to say, Hunter?” I remarked.
He shrugged. “There’s a thin line between being a go-getter and being pushy just as there’s a thin line between being arrogant and being confident. You’re confident and sassy without being pushy. I dunno how you do it.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “I mean . . . I get what you’re saying. It makes sense, but I’m not sure I’m liking it for some reason. It’s almost like you’re saying I’m meek or passive.”
He chuckled. “Nah, babe. We both know you’re anything but meek.” He rubbed my arm affectionately. “You’re funny, sweet, polite, you call me on my shit, and you draw awesome pictures of human-fly hybrids. I’m crazy about you. You’re complicated but somehow it’s like I get you and vice-versa. You’re unlike any girl I’ve ever met—when you’re being hard, you do it in a way that doesn’t push me away. Maybe it’s because I feel that strongly about you, or maybe you’re good at being hard but soft. Maybe it’s both.”
“Hmm . . . I guess I’ll take that.”
“Good. Also Daniela’s afraid of kitten poo. That’s a deal breaker for me.”
I laughed even as I suddenly felt bad for Daniela. “She’s actually pretty smart you know and she’s probably not as pushy as you think.”
“Yeah, I’m sure she’s a great girl. She’s just not the one for me. You are.”
I blushed and curled into his chest, inhaling his masculine scent.
“But while we’re on the topic,” he said, “what do you think of Gary?”
I spluttered a laugh. “Wow, I didn’t think you would ask me that in return.”
“Well, I did. And it’s a serious question.”
“Don’t worry about it, Hun,” I said patting his chest lightly. “Gary’s a cool guy but he’s got nothing on you. He doesn’t ooze raw sex like you do.”
He grinned. “I’m more than just a piece of meat ya know.”
“You’re so much more than that. But as a piece of meat, you’re Prime Grade.” I reached down to play with his c**k and I licked my lips to signal to him my arousal. “I want some more of this meat you’ve got here.”
After having sex, we spent the rest of the day hanging out with the cats, watching Bridezilla, and trying to study in between dopamine-inducing sex bouts. It was another perfect day—one where I felt wonderfully alive and safe. But as night fell and we finally ran out of condoms, we realized we couldn’t stay nestled inside the cozy apartment forever. We had responsibilities to the outside world: classes, training, friends. The pressures of the real world were growing and we both felt it. After a heartfelt discussion, we finally decided to go to our classes in the morning. It was time to face the real world again. As boyfriend and girlfriend.
Chapter Nineteen
NEW BEGINNINGS
Daniela would not stop staring daggers at me in Muller’s class Wednesday morning. It was the first time I had ever seen her not paying attention to the lecture. I did my best to take notes, but it was hard with my best friend staring at me.
When class finished, I hadn’t even gotten my bag out to put my stuff away before Daniela was on me. “Someone didn’t come home for four nights straight,” she said, her green eyes expectant. “Quite a vacation you’ve been on.”
“Yeah,” I said casually, packing my notes and books into my backpack.
“Did you at least bring me a souvenir?”
I handed her a pencil I’d stolen from Hunter’s place. It was the same one I’d used to sketch him and I’d been using it take notes during class. “Here you go. A souvenir from the illustrious land of apartment 2E.”
She pushed the pencil back to me. “Alright, Lorrie. Cut the crap and spill the juicy beans.”
I took a deep breath, trying to refrain from smiling. “Let’s save some time. Yes, Hunter and I are dating now.”
She squealed and hopped up and down. I look around, embarrassed. Several people were staring at us trying to figure out what was going on.
“I knew it!” she whispered excitedly. “That’s so amazing Lorrie!”
“Keep it down,” I whispered back. “People are staring.”
She nodded and looked around, gradually wiping the smile off her face. The lecture hall gradually emptied out as I continued to put my stuff away.
“So are you guys like keeping it a secret or something?” she asked, this time keeping her voice low.
Were we keeping it a secret? We hadn’t really talked about it, but I guessed it would get out soon enough. Still, I didn’t want to broadcast our involvement to the world immediately.
“I don’t know,” I answered. “I guess not. But I still don’t like people being in my business.”
“I can understand that. People are going to find out eventually though.” She finished packing up and slung her bag over her shoulder and I did the same. We left the lecture hall and headed over for our usual post-psych Starbucks mini-date.
I walked behind her and out into the cold winter air. The sky was the kind of brilliant light blue that only comes around in a cold place during winter. Seeing the sun for the first time in a few days cheered me up even more.
“So,” Daniela said, breaking me out of my spell. “There’s this party I’m going to Friday night. You should come! Oh, and bring Hunter.”
I thought nervously about going to a party that weekend. All I really wanted to do was curl up with my new boyfriend and hang out with him and the kittens—maybe for four more days or even four weeks. “I don’t know . . .”
“Oh c’mon! I haven’t seen you in almost a week and you’re gonna bail on me just like that?”
I suddenly felt bad for wanting to ditch her; she was a good friend and the eagerness in her expression indicated she really wanted me to go with her to this party.
“Alright, alright,” I said, yielding to her guilt trip. “I think I can go, but I don’t know about Hunter. We only just started dating, I don’t feel like I can drag him to parties yet.”
“You have to set the rules early!” she said, smiling mischievously. “Plus I bet he’ll love it. Free drinks and hot music. Who wouldn’t love it?”
“I don’t know. I’ll ask him, but I’m not promising anything.”
She turned to me and shrugged. “Okay, just let me know. When are you seeing him next, anyway?”
“He actually wants to see me tonight. We’re having dinner in the dining hall together.”
She smiled. “You guys were together twenty-four seven for four days straight and don’t need a break from each other? He must really like you. Lemme guess, then you’re going back to his place to hang out with the kittens?”