Chapter 11.01

During the exam period, I barely spent any time at the dorm. Paul was constantly coming and going, and Jenny occasionally helped him prepare for his basic exams. We organized our schedules so I could go home every month for the agreed weekends with Uncle Steve.

A week before the exams ended, both Jenny and I had finished, so we drove home in two cars. None of my other subjects were difficult, especially with Uncle Steve’s guidance, and Jenny was clearly interested in what she was studying.

I spent my free week with Uncle Steve, while Jenny traveled between cities for the shop and took on a few interpreting jobs.

“I don’t know if I’ll be coming home again before the wedding,” I said to Amber during a family dinner. Brad traveled a lot, and when he did, she stayed with us.

“No problem. Jane still has one more photoshoot before then,” Amber said.

“Have you been to the shop?” she asked. “Did you check what I told you about?” Our parents listened with interest.

“I have, but I still want to look around near the university.”

“Then don’t come home during the photoshoot week, or she’ll figure it out,” my sister noted.

Dad smiled—he had pieced the information together.

“If you need an opinion, I’ll help,” Mom offered.

“Thanks, but I’ll decide,” I said, closing the topic.

“Of course—you’re the man,” Dad teased, making everyone laugh while I grimaced.

—

The second semester began, and Uncle Steve personally administered the placement test, though his arrival was met with mild grumbling.

“I assume I wasn’t the one you were expecting,” he laughed as he set down his bag. “I’m sure there will be times when I won’t be available to give the test,” he said cheerfully. “I’ll let you know in advance which exam dates I’ll have a substitute for—though it’ll be harder to concentrate with them around,” he glanced at me, and I just grinned.

The bonus questions were just as difficult as before, but the two I had missed on the exam appeared again. He had gone over them with me during our time together.

My girlfriend made sure we kept studying consistently so we wouldn’t have to scramble at the end of the year. We still met up with our friends weekly.

“Guys,” Daryl announced one evening, “we have a date.”

“Do you have your dress?” Jessica asked. She had stopped pressuring Aaron about marriage, so things had settled between them.

“Not yet, but I’m looking,” Diane said. “Jane, is it okay if I don’t choose from your shop?”

“Of course,” Jenny laughed. “Amber is still just testing things out there.”

The girls started discussing Diane’s wedding, while the rest of us moved to Paul’s guest room. He shut the door, and silence fell.

“We have to go through this four times?” Aaron asked in despair.

“Diane is trying to spare me—she talks mostly with Mayoko, Jessica, and Susy,” Daryl said.

“She’s leaving Jenny out?” I was surprised.

“Depends,” Daryl laughed. “She doesn’t ask about the invitations or the plate designs, but she has talked to her about the seating arrangements.”

“So, if it’s too girly, she skips her,” I laughed, and Paul did too.

“I don’t know how the princess is going to survive that,” Paul said. “I think that’s part of why she’s still hesitant.”

“Jay, what’s he talking about?” Daryl and Aaron asked almost simultaneously.

“Jenny doesn’t want me to propose yet. She avoids the topic,” I said simply. “But don’t worry—I’m working on it.”

“Jessica said you two are happy as you are and don’t want to change anything, so she hasn’t brought it up since New Year’s,” Aaron said.

“Jenny told her what she needed to hear for your sake,” I smiled. “But honestly, I messed up from the very beginning.”

I told them everything Paul and Brian already knew, including the key conversation during our breakup.

“Man,” Daryl said, “it’s a miracle she’s still with you.”

“This is why you’re the chick magnet,” Aaron laughed. “Only you could make this many mistakes and still win back someone like her.”

“You’re right,” I grinned. “She is with me, after all.”

“Do you have a plan?” I asked Brian.

“I do,” he smirked. “She’s expecting it to happen on our vacation—but she’s wrong.”

“But the date is set for next summer,” he added. “Mayoko will graduate after that.”

We discussed our upcoming trip, talked about cars, and other guy topics before heading back to the living room.

The girls were chatting, Jenny was reading on the edge of the couch, and Paul and I burst into laughter.

“Babe,” I sat beside her and took the book from her hands. “What’s the topic?”

“Flowers,” she shrugged. I knew she was fully aware of everything.

“Alright, let’s switch to something less exciting,” Paul said, pulling out a dartboard and hanging it up.

“Teams, little girl?” I asked, seeing that this actually interested my girlfriend.

“You guys versus us,” she said calmly.

“This doesn’t require strength or hair gel,” she laughed, running her fingers through my hair. “Just hand-eye coordination.”

“And what does the winning team get?” I asked.

“The losing team has to wear outfits chosen by their partner for a week,” Jenny smiled. “Of course, nothing humiliating—I won’t make you wear a costume or women’s clothes to school. I’d just play with style and colors, but it has to be normal everyday wear.”

“So I should pick something for you that other girls wear casually?” I laughed.

“Careful with that confidence, pretty boy,” she kissed my nose. “I already have a song from you at our wedding.”