“Good to know I have an open invitation to the messiest room in the world.” I assumed it hadn’t gotten any cleaner since I’d last seen it. I wondered how different it would be to see it the next time.
“It’s not that bad.” He pushed open the door to the café. It was a small space, but cozy, decorated in all sorts of French décor—from signs to paintings.
“No, it could be worse. As long as you change your sheets, we’re okay.”
“I do my laundry. You’re the one who forgot my stuff in the washer.”
“Maybe, but at least I know how to sort my clothes.”
He laughed as he led me to the counter. I checked out the display case, eventually settling on a chocolate croissant. Reed got one too. He also ordered us coffees. I loved how he didn’t have to ask how I liked mine. He knew to put in exactly one and a half packets of sweetener.
We took a seat at a small table, and I dove right in to my croissant. “Mmm, this is so good.”
“So, you make that sound other times?”
My face heated when a couple at the next table looked at us. I kicked Reed under the table.
“Hey!”
“You deserved that. Get your mind out of the gutter.”
“You can’t blame me.”
“I was there too, and I’m thinking about normal things.”
“I didn’t moan.”
I shook my head. “What’s the plan for today?”
“Anything you want to do, darling.” He leaned over and wiped chocolate off my lip. It was such an intimate gesture, and he seemed to do it without thinking.
“Good. Let’s explore.”
We ended up in Forsyth Park. As someone who loves Southern foliage, I was in heaven. Yeah, I know I talk about trees a lot, but they make me happy. Large, mossy oaks lined the park. I had a feeling they’d be nice when it was hot. It wasn’t the trees putting me in such a good mood that day though, it was Reed.
“You aren’t too cold, are you?” He squeezed my gloved hand. The temperature had dropped into the forties. Thankfully, the sun helped a lot.
“I’m fine.” I smiled.
“You seem happy.”
“I am. Beautiful day, beautiful park, and good company.”
“I’m not beautiful?” he teased.
“Of course you are.” I took my hand from his long enough to pat him on the back.
He took my hand in his again. “Part of me doesn’t want to go back.”
“I know what you mean. I don’t want this to end.”
“It won’t end. It will just have to fit into the real world.”
“Good thing my boss won’t mind me flirting with you on the job.”
He laughed. “I think he’s going to insist on it.” He leaned in to give me a quick kiss. “This park is really nice in the spring. We’ll have to come back.”
“Did you come to Savannah a lot growing up?”
“I didn’t move to Charleston until my last two years of high school.”
“Oh… I thought you were from there.”
“No. I moved down from Philadelphia after Shannon died.” He looked away.
I squeezed his hand. “You just wanted to get away?”
“From my parents. I can’t even look at them. I make it my business to stay away when they visit Al.”
“You mean when they visit you…” I said it softly, but I wanted him to hear.
He responded just as quietly. “Yes.”
“Do you blame them? For not believing her?”
“For not believing either of us. For caring more about reputation than their daughter.”
“It’s been five years…don’t you think it’s time you gave them a chance?”
“You’ve been my girlfriend for less than twenty-four hours, and you’re already nagging me?”
“Girlfriend?”
“That wasn’t a random hook up, and this isn’t a casual date.” He said it so confidently, like there was no other way to view it.
“Girlfriend. I’m Reed’s girlfriend.”
He laughed. “Trying it out?”
“I think it fits.”
“I know it does.” He put his arm around my waist, pulling me against his side, and I knew I’d found my favorite spot.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Reed kissed me goodbye when he dropped me off in front of my dorm. Other than that, it could have been like any night after work. That was one of the best parts of our relationship: how seamlessly we’d moved from friends to more than friends. It didn’t stop there either.
We fell into an easy routine during the last few weeks of classes and exams. We already worked together three nights a week, and I usually ended up spending those nights at his place. One side benefit was that I saw Cara tons more. She spent almost every night with Aaron. Mallory joked that we needed to find her another Kappa, but I think she enjoyed the single life.
I’d managed to avoid Dylan so far, but he still left me weekly voicemails to “check in.” I told Reed about them, just to keep everything in the open. He offered to talk to Dylan for me, but I was afraid talking might involve a fist, and the calls weren’t that bad. I assured him it wasn’t that big of a deal.
“Have you figured out your winter break plans yet?” Reed moved behind me on his bed, giving me a shoulder rub. I needed it. Putting off my biology studying was turning out to be a huge mistake.
“My brother, Brandon, is supposed to pick me up after my last exam, and my dad is going to bring me back.”
“Any chance you’d come back early for New Year’s?”
“Won’t the dorms be closed?”
He pulled me back against him. “This house won’t be.”
“My dad would have a heart attack.”
“Can’t he drop you off at the Delta Mu house?”
“Reed Bryce, are you suggesting I lie to my father about my sleeping arrangements?”
He took one of my hands in his. “You’re already doing it. I doubt they know how often you stay here.”
“True.” I definitely hadn’t mentioned that to my parents when I’d told them about my new boyfriend. “All right. I’ll come back early.”
“Good. I want to spend New Year’s together.”
“Me too.” I turned around and got in his lap.
“Before I get too distracted, I have another idea.”
“Yeah?” I asked impatiently. I really wanted him to kiss me.