Chapter 13.04

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Messyhair,” she murmured, playing with my hair and pressing against me. “I know my taste. You’ll never guess it, and even though our friends have asked, I’ve never shown them what I’d actually accept.” She laughed. “Besides, I’ll just say it’s not the right one.”

“But you hate cats,” I whispered against her neck.

“Maybe, but winning is what matters,” she laughed as I started tickling her on purpose, making her run into the bedroom.

I followed and playfully tackled her onto the bed.

“You could tell me about your admirer,” I said.

“About what?” she asked.

“The exchange student who wants to take you away,” I said. She pushed me away.

“There was never talk of anything like that,” she said seriously. “There’s a foreign guy who’s been trying to court me since last year, but I’m not interested.”

“Why not?” I asked, stroking her shoulder. I trusted her completely.

“Because I love you,” she said, smiling as she ran her fingers through my hair.

“Correct answer, little girl,” I said, kissing her.

—

By Sunday, she finally persuaded me to leave the house. We went out in the afternoon to catch a movie—at the same theater where we had our first date after I transferred. She looked just as beautiful as she had then—maybe even more.

I got the tickets while she picked up the drinks, and we met outside the theater.

“You act like we just started dating,” she teased, laughing as I leaned in and kissed her against the wall.

“You’re the one who wanted to go out,” I replied. “I would’ve been perfectly happy staying in. I would’ve found something to do.”

“I offer you the same challenge as our first long weekend,” I whispered. “Starting tomorrow, I won’t touch you until you ask me to.”

Her eyes lit up. “And what do you want if you win?”

“A day in the woods. Just the two of us.”

“And if I win—you’re coming with me to the gym.”

“Deal,” I said, grinning. She ruffled my hair, and I pulled her in for another kiss.

We watched a comedy, but we kept interrupting each other with kisses. Sometimes I initiated, sometimes she did. I loved how she played along. We had no idea what the movie was about—we spent the whole time kissing.

By the time we got home, it was dark. Jenny looked around as I parked behind the gated lot.

“Guess what—they’re building a gym with a swimming pool here,” she said, pointing at the construction equipment nearby after I turned off the engine. “Paul mentioned it yesterday.”

“That would be convenient. I could go swimming every day,” I said, smiling.

“And I wouldn’t gain weight,” she laughed.

“You’re beautiful, Babe. There’s nothing wrong with you,” I said as we stepped into the elevator.

“I know,” she said, laughing. “And if I win, I’ll prove it to you—at the gym.”

“Kissing’s allowed?” I asked, backing her gently into the corner of the elevator.

“Kisses to the face and head only,” she smirked. “Nowhere else.”

“And that rule starts tomorrow, right?” I asked as we entered the apartment, wrapping my arms around her from behind.

“Right.” Her smile turned wicked as her hands slid under my shirt.

“Then we should definitely make the most of today,” I whispered, peeling off my tee and nudging her toward the bathroom.