Slowly We Trust (Fall and Rise #3)(64)
Author: Chelsea M. Cameron

“I think you know a place,” Aud said, nudging my shoulder.

“I do?” I had no idea what she was talking about.

“The pie place? Unless you still want to keep that a secret.”

“No, no that’s perfect. We’ll probably have to call ahead, because there are only a few tables.” Bea would be thrilled, and I knew she wouldn’t kick us out for being loud.

“Who likes pie?” I yelled.

“Who doesn’t like pie?” Several voices said.

I hid the album Maria gave me in the bottom drawer of my dresser under some old sweatpants that I never wore because they were full of holes. I hated hiding it in my dorm room, but I didn’t really have any other place, and I liked to have it near me so I could pull it out and see Emily’s face. Even if it was just in a picture.

Will noticed my distraction, but he was also busy planning something for me. I kept racking my brain in the moments that I wasn’t thinking/worrying about Emily with what I was going to do for him for Valentine’s Day. I had exactly zero ideas, so I went to the one person who would know what I should do.

Lottie.

“Okay, do you want to be sweet? Or sexy? Or something that he’ll never forget?”

“How about all of those things?” I said. We were having lunch in the Union, and I didn’t have a whole lot of time.

“Well, the sexy thing you could get a gold bikini and do your hair in the Leia buns. That’s pretty obvious. And the sweet thing you could always set up a Star Wars marathon night with themed snacks and dishes and so forth. You can get all that stuff at the party store over by the mall, and there’s a ton of ideas online I can send you. And if you want to give him something he’ll never forget, he’s been coveting this Luke Skywalker replica lightsaber for like, EVER. It’s kind of expensive, but I’m pretty sure if you get it for him, he’ll propose on the spot, so be prepared. But if you don’t want to spend that much, get him one of the Lego sets. God, my brother is a child.”

That made both of us laugh, but I couldn’t really comment on his fandom because I had my own.

“Or, if you’re sick of the Star Wars thing, you could always do something athletic. Batting cages, or rock climbing. That’s not my cup of tea, but he’d be all over it.” That was another good idea, but I wasn’t much of an athlete either. But maybe I should start.

“Okay, great, thanks for the ideas. I’ve just had a lot on my mind lately and I was drawing a blank.”

“Anytime. I’m more than happy to let you in on the warped workings of my brother’s mind.”

“Speaking of tea, I could really go for a cup. You in?”

I said yes and she went to make two cups.

For Will’s gift(s), I decided on a compromise. A trip to the batting cages, followed by dinner at his favorite pizza place, and I caved and bought the lightsaber. It cost me an arm and a leg, especially with the rush shipping, but I couldn’t wait to see his face when he opened it. Maybe it was my guilt doing the buying, but I couldn’t help it. He deserved it after everything I’d put him through.

The lightsaber arrived to Lottie’s apartment the day before Valentine’s. I still hadn’t heard from Eddie, and I was completely on edge. I even snapped at Will.

“Aud, you okay? Not to be an ass, but do you have PMS right now?” I almost yelled at him again, but reeled it in.

“No, I’m just stressed about this project I have to do. It’s one of those group things and I feel like I’m the only one doing any work.” Once again, this wasn’t a total lie. I was doing a group project, and I was the only one pulling my weight, but I’d started caring less and less about perfection in my schoolwork. I still put in a lot of effort, but I was less obsessive about getting every single detail exactly right.

“Anything I can do to make it better?” My answer was to take his shirt off. That would make it better. For now.

28

Valentine’s Day arrived and for the first time in a long time, I was awake before Audrey. Lucky for us, the day had fallen on a Saturday this year.

“Are you watching me sleep?” Aud said when her eyes opened and she caught me staring at her face. I had been watching her, but not in a creepy way. More like the way that I still couldn’t believe I got to sleep next to (and with) someone so stunning.

“I wouldn’t watch you if you weren’t so cute.” Her hair, which was normally so sleek and in control, was all over the place and her voice rasped with sleep.

“I’m definitely not cute right now.”

“Yes you are. Happy Valentine’s Day,” I said, kissing her on the nose. She didn’t like me kissing her lips in the morning until she’d brushed her teeth.

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” she said and pushed my own rowdy hair out of my face.

“Didn’t I just give you a haircut?”

“It grows fast,” I said, climbing over her and putting my pants on. “Are you ready for today? I don’t think you are. It’s going to be epic. Like, destroying the Death Star epic.” I couldn’t stop smiling, thinking about how much she was going to love her surprise.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” She turned on her side and grinned at me.

“Well, get ready. We have plans.” I threw a random shirt, bra, panties and jeans at her from her dresser.

“What are you doing?” her voice was sharp with sudden alarm.

“I’m hurrying you along.” I closed the drawers and she started putting on the things I’d picked for her.

“That’s really not fair. I’m supposed to dress up for this.”

“You can get dressed up all you want later, but right now, you need to be comfortable. Come on, hurry up.” I clapped my hands and she stuck her tongue out at me and put her arms through the sleeves of the shirt with deliberate slowness.

“You’re pushing my buttons,” I said, crossing my arms and glaring at her. “If you don’t get dressed in the next ten seconds, I’m going to pick you up and take you out as you are, and it’s pretty f**king cold out right now.”

Her dorm room was a sauna thanks to the faulty heating, but judging from the pedestrians outside, it was cold enough to freeze your balls off. Not that Aud had balls. Or at least they were only figurative.

She made a little squeaking sound and dressed so fast I didn’t even have time to start counting to ten and time her.