Chapter 07.08

We walked back through the park, and I refused to let go of her hand. It was already dusk, and the streetlights cast a warm glow over the path.

“Why have you been so uncertain lately?” I asked as we walked.

“Because I’m confused,” she admitted quietly. “I hoped you wouldn’t stay at that faraway university—it was a bad idea even without considering me,” she said in her beloved know-it-all tone. “But I have no idea what you want from me. If you had told me everything at the end of summer, we wouldn’t have had to set all those rules, and I wouldn’t have been so flustered at Brian’s place.”

“I love that I can still make you flustered,” I said, stopping under a large tree.

I leaned against the trunk and gently pulled her close. I lifted her chin so she would look at me.

“I never stopped loving you,” I said, losing myself in her beautiful eyes. “When you walked out of the shop, I already knew I’d been an idiot, but I didn’t want to admit it—not until I thought I’d lost you. I tried everything to convince myself I was better off without you, or that school was the right choice—but I failed. I ate a ridiculous number of pastries with a ridiculous number of girls, but I’m not the same person anymore,” I laughed. “I only want you. I’m in love with you—whether you like it or not.”

“I—I like it,” she managed to whisper before my lips silenced her words.

After a year, she finally kissed me back—pressing against me, arms wrapped around my neck. The world fell away as we stood beneath the tree.

“Will you be my girlfriend?” I asked when I could finally speak again.

“You’ve never asked me that before,” she laughed.

“I’ve never asked anyone that before,” I teased. “So... will you?”

“I’m still thinking about it,” she smiled, running her fingers through my hair. “Messyhair.”

“I’ve missed hearing that more than I can say,” I murmured against her lips. “Have these amazing lips kissed anyone else this past year?” I asked, cautiously.

She just chuckled. “What do you think? Of course not,” she whispered against my lips.

“Right answer, little girl.”

“Will you walk me home?” she asked after our brief kissing battle, still brushing her lips against mine. “It’s getting late.”

“I’m never leaving you alone again,” I said, smiling into her playfulness. “Where’s your car?

“I walked. Paul dropped me off at the theater, saying you’d take me home,” she said, and I laughed.

“I parked at your place,” I grinned. “Brian dropped me off at the theater, saying you’d take me to my car.”

“Well, I guess we’re walking,” she laughed, heading off in one direction.

“Babe,” I chuckled, stopping her. “You live the other way.”

“Oh, right,” she laughed. “It’s dark, and I usually drive.”

We started walking in silence. Jenny leaned against my arm, the one holding her hand.

“Do you really love me?” she asked suddenly.

“I really love you,” I said.

“At the end of summer, at Susy’s, I decided I was going to fall out of love with you,” she laughed.

“And? Did it work?” I teased.

She stopped, ran her fingers through my hair, and kissed me passionately.

“What do you think?” she laughed as we continued walking.

Finally, we could talk properly. She told me about the shop, her school, and everything that had happened to her over the past year. Every now and then, I stopped her just to kiss her, and she returned each one with passion. I wanted nothing more than to pull her close and never let go.

We arrived at her building, and Jenny stepped onto the stair in front of the door again.

“I won’t be around tomorrow, Messyhair. I’m leaving at dawn and closing the shop late,” she said between kisses. “Will you call me?”

“If necessary, I’ll call you every hour,” I teased.

“You can spare me that nonsense,” she smiled.

“Our anniversary is next week,” I said, my hand sliding to her waist, my lips brushing her shoulder.

“I—I didn’t know we were celebrating it. We weren’t together the whole time,” she stammered slightly.

“Just because I was an idiot doesn’t mean I don’t want to celebrate it,” I said, looking into her eyes. “I love you.”

“Then let’s have dinner on Saturday. Does that sound good?” she asked.

“Perfect. It’s a deal. I want to be the kind of man you deserve.”

“We’ll see,” she smiled.

She kissed me one last time before heading inside.

I got into my car and drove back to the dorm. My roommates had all arrived except for Tom.

“Where have you been?” Dave asked.

“I had a date,” I smiled.

“The girl from the park?” he asked. I just nodded.

“I finally got the courage to ask her out on Saturday, and she said yes,” I laughed.