Chapter 09.03

The next morning, I sat down for my exam with Dave. A few minutes before the start, Karen and Miss Wenword arrived.

My girlfriend looked stunning in her modest outfit, but I understood if some of the whistles were meant for Karen.

“Good morning, everyone,” Karen greeted as Jenny started organizing the papers. “Please take your bags and move to the row assigned to your group.”

She pointed out where each group should sit. I moved to the edge of my row—I had been placed in the hardest group.

Jenny and Karen waited until everyone had moved, then handed out the test papers from opposite sides of the room. I heard a few guys making comments, but Jenny handled them effortlessly. Karen, being a teaching assistant, was treated with more respect.

Dave sat a few desks away—he was in the middle category.

If there had been an even harder group, the bonus questions would have still been tougher. The test was full of questions about our weekends—things that weren’t in the textbook. There were a few curriculum-based questions, but they were practically in fine print.

I had to smile—Uncle Steve’s standards were high.

Between questions, I glanced up and saw many students flipping through their books in their laps, but Karen didn’t say anything.

I barely finished all the questions in time.

After the exam, I packed up my dorm room and waited for my girlfriend’s message that she was done and ready to head home.

“Dr. Wenword doesn’t mind if students cheat?” I asked Dave in our room.

“She said last year that she wouldn’t stop us, but we wouldn’t finish the test in time if we did. Phil tried last year and missed a few questions.”

“So that’s why the assistant didn’t say anything,” I noted. “Both of them are pretty cool.”

“Phil said you have a girlfriend,” Dave said while packing. The others had already gone home yesterday.

“I do, but Miss Wenword is attractive,” I smiled.

“True,” he laughed. “How long are you staying?”

“I’m waiting for my girlfriend—she’s taking her exam now,” I said, lying back on my bed.

“Well, see you next year,” he said and walked out.

Jenny texted when she was done, and I drove over to her place, waiting while she packed up.

We didn’t rush—we got home late at night.

“My house will be chaos,” my love said as we pulled up to her place. “Adam’s family is staying until New Year’s, but I’d love for you to come over for a day.”

“It’ll be crazy at my place too, but only for a few days,” I said, pressing my lips behind her ear. “And I’d love for you to come over too.”

“Then we’ll figure out the details,” she said, pulling my mouth back to hers before stepping out of the car.

By the time I got home, my parents had already finished dinner, but they were still up.

“When is the family arriving?” I asked while eating.

“Tomorrow,” Mom said.

“Is the little girl coming over?” Dad asked. “We haven’t seen her since summer.”

“Yes, she’s coming over, and I’ll be going to her place for a day too.”

“Jane is glowing,” Amber said. “We reshot all the outfits for the new boutique last month—she looks stunning in the photos. I put up a few here too.”

“I’m lucky,” I grinned.