“Really? You’ll come?” His face lit up like a Christmas tree.
“Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
He shrugged with a bounce, “I don’t know. I’m just so happy. That’s so cool. Thank you.” He kissed my cheek and then pulled back, “Seriously, you are frozen stiff.”
We walked back to my dorm. The air burnt my face, and I realized how truly cold I was. We had about two hours before I met with Dr. Eyebright and he had practice. That should give me enough time to thaw out and fill him in on things.
“I told you, I met up with a friend.” I met his eyes briefly. “Remember the high school girl Karson?”
He nodded, running his fingers through my hair.
“She came and got me out of class today.”
“Wait, got you out of class? Dude, can I get in on that?” He chuckled low, “So she just found you in class?”
I nodded, trying not to get lost in the green sparkle of his eyes.
He stared at me, completely amazed, “Do you have any idea how cool you are?” He played with a wild lock of hair. “Most guys have girlfriends that get all kinds of freaky, I have one that is an actual freak!” He laughed and pulled me into his arms.
My face fell, and he must have felt it. “Hey, I was just kidding. I think you are like a superhero.” He pulled back to look into my eyes. He took my chin in his hands. Dang it, I couldn’t focus when he did that. “Savanah, I am very sorry if that hurt your feelings.”
I wrinkled my brows, “No, I am completely aware I am a freak. That doesn’t bother me.”
“Then what is it?”
I buried my face in his chest, “The other guys have girlfriends that get freaky,” I looked up at him, “I’m sorry we haven’t done that yet, I just...”
“You are sorry? Savanah that is not something that we need to rush. If and when you are ready, we will take that step. We don’t have to hurry. Seriously.”
“I just know you are like super experienced, and I am sorry you are dating a complete novice.”
He chuckled and shook his head, “Why must you worry about the stupidest things?” He kissed my nose and stroked my hair again. “You don’t think if that was all I cared about I wouldn’t have taken off by now?”
I swallowed. No, he wouldn’t have. He needed my help with the box. I stayed very still.
“Savanah, you don’t think that is all I care about, right?”
I shook my head, knowing it wasn’t all he cared about.
“I liked you the moment I saw you. You had this edgy vibe that you weren’t even trying to pull off. It was just you. And then I couldn’t handle your crazy mood swings, and then I find out that you are like a wizard. And THEN like every other guy on campus wants you and you still want to go out with me. Trust me, sex will happen,” he smiled at me impishly, “And it will be amazing I promise. But it isn’t all I care about. When you’re ready, is soon enough for me.”
He meant it to be not pressure, but I swallowed hard to try and erase the lump in my throat. It wasn’t like I hadn’t thought about it, I had.
Many times.
But I just didn’t feel like I could go through with it. And the few times I considered just throwing caution to the wind, it was not in the best of locations.
I sighed, “So if I couldn’t have helped you with your grandpa’s stuff, you would still want to date me?” Oh, it was pathetic how sniveling that sounded.
“Yeah, Savanah it wouldn’t change a thing.” He kissed my head again. Laughing lightly, “You know your hair is starting to thaw, it doesn’t feel like my lips are going to stick to it anymore.”
I pulled away. “Ha-ha.”
“So, tell me, why the Miss Freeze routine?” He wrapped a blanket around my legs, rubbing them fiercely.
I gave him the condensed version, simply that Karson has taken me to the roof, I left out how to get up there exactly, it was her private spot after all. I shared the highlights of Brocks’ exploits. “She said he only hit her a few times,” I shook my head, “He is such a dirtbag.”
“High school guys who hit are headed for bad bad things. That is the time when they shouldn’t have enough confidence or alcohol to cross that line. They should be beating up other guys, not girls.”
I stared at him in disbelief.
He held his hands up. “I am not saying that it is ever ok, Savanah. I am saying usually those types of personalities don’t come out that early.”
“I thought you were pre-med?”
“I am, but I also took a few psychology classes too.”
“Well, technically he was out of high school. He was two years older than her.”
He wrinkled his face, “Eww, that is the worst. So, he is a dirt bag that never left high school.”
“Pretty much.”
He reached around me, “I am so sorry for her. That is seriously the worst. I’m glad she has you to talk to.”
“Yeah, I’m glad too. I just wish there was something I could do to help her.”
“Don’t you think you are? I mean, you are listening to her, that’s more than anyone has been able to do for her.”
“I wish I could make Brock go away.”
“Well, maybe that’s what the subject of today’s session needs to be with Dr. Eyebright.” He rolled me onto my side and pulled me closer, “Let’s just watch some boring stupid tv.” He grabbed the remote
