I give a quick nod of approval. “I like this place. If the food tastes half as good as it smells we’ll be set.”
We check out the menu and place our order. Miles seems so serious as he leans his forearms on the table, angling his body toward mine.
“What’s wrong?” My hackles go up.
“Nothing at all. I was just thinking about school in the fall and wondering if you’d decided where you’re going to live? Are you staying in the dorms or will you be moving in with Tenley?”
“I’ve weighed it out carefully. As much as I’d like to live with Tenley, I can’t really beat not having to pay rent. If I move into an apartment, I’ll need to get a job to pay for the bills. That will cut into my time with you and Joey and also time to study. If I stay in the dorms, it’s all included in my scholarship. It’s really a no-brainer.”
“I think you made the wise decision. You’ve already got a full schedule and I know a lot of that is because you spend so much time with Joey and me. But obviously, I don’t want that to change. If anything I want to see more of you.”
“Really? You’re not getting a little sick of me?” He shakes his head. “Are you sure? I never want to smother you with too much attention.”
“You couldn’t come over too much. I want to be selfish and tell you that you’re moving into the house with Joey and me, but I love you too much to do that. It’s important to me that you enjoy college, and when you graduate we can start the next phase of our lives together.”
“What do you think that will be like? What do you see for us in the future?”
He takes my hand, his thumb caressing over the back of it. “I don’t know exactly what we’ll be doing, but I know without a single doubt that we’ll be together and I’ll love you even more than I do now.”
“God, I love you, Miles Decker.”
“Not as much as I love you.”
The waitress picks this moment to drop off our food and interrupt our mushy moment. But if a mushy moment has to be ruined, this food is a great reason. I take a deep breath and prepare to overeat. There’s no way I’m not finishing every bite I ordered.
* * *
“What do you want to do now?” Miles asks when we walk out of DASH.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should walk some of that meal off. I just ate more than I do in two whole days.”
“Let’s go back to the condo this way.” Holding my hand, he guides me over to a small side street.
“Are you leading me down this dark road for nefarious purposes?”
“I plan on saving the nefarious stuff for once we’re back in our room.”
“Damn.” I snap my fingers jokingly.
“This road cuts over to Shore Street, which runs parallel to the beach. We can listen to the waves and enjoy the ocean breeze as we stroll home.”
“Great idea. And with these heels I’m wearing, strolling sounds just like my speed. Can I ask you something and you’ll be one hundred percent honest?”
“Sure.”
“I mean it. Don’t lie or sugarcoat this to spare my feelings.”
“Okay, I won’t.”
“Do you regret leaving King and taking the job at Alexandria University?”
“No, not at all,” he answers with no hesitation.
“You’re positive?”
“Absolutely. It’s worked out great for me. My drive is shorter. I can travel back roads instead of the highway. I make more money and most importantly, we can be together without anyone caring.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. I never want you to give up something that’s important to you for my sake.”
“If you were the only reason I took that job it would still be worth it to me. You’re worth more than anything. You and Joey are the most important people in my life. You’re my best friend and partner. I’d work a job that made me miserable if it meant we could be together.”
“I love you so much. You make it hard to out romance you. You’re better at it than I am.”
“How about you show me instead of telling me?” he raises his dark brows up and down with a gleam of mischief in his eyes as we approach the back deck.
I slowly snake my tongue out over my bottom lip. “I can do that.”
He yanks me along and I laugh. “A little eager, are we?”
“A smart man doesn’t dawdle when a statement like that is made.”
The back deck is empty as we cross the stained boards and enter the house. Miles propels me up the stairs in front of him with a hand on my back. Entering our room, I set my small bag down on the dresser.
“Want to sit outside on the balcony for a bit? The weather is perfect for it.”
“Sure.” I’m a little surprised by his question. I imagined him throwing me on the bed as soon as we walked through the door. We head to the sliding glass door and once we’re outside he flips on the light.
Have a seat, he motions to the double lounger and I sink down onto it with him coming down beside me.
“I found this scallop shell last summer when we were here. I’ve found a lot of shells on the beach over the years, but I’d never seen such a perfect one before. None of the edges were chipped and there were no pieces missing. Each scallop at the end was perfectly curved and It looks unblemished. It made me wonder how something so tiny that gets battered and pummeled by the tide each day can remain untouched. Reaching in his front pocket, he removes the shell and takes hold of my hand, almost reverently pressing it into my palm. When he lifts his hand away, I see what he means about it being in pristine condition.
“This is so adorable.” My fingertip glides over the ridged texture before tracing over the gently scalloped edge. “It’s perfect.” I glance at Miles beside me.
He smiles. “Look at the color. It’s the same brown as your eyes.”
He’s right, it really is. I smile over at him. “That’s so sweet of you to notice.”
“There’s a reason why I’m telling you about finding this shell. I’ve kept it and even carried it around in my pocket for the six plus weeks you and I weren’t together. Whenever I was missing you, which was most of the time, I’d pull it out and think of you.”
“Miles,” I whisper.
“Let me finish. This shell reminds me of you, now more than ever. Tiny and perfect on the outside, but strong as steel. No matter what life hands out, you remain strong through it all. I’m sorry we had such a rocky start, but I like to think that everything we went through has made us stronger as a couple.”
I nod in agreement. “I know it has.”
“I found this shell one year ago today and it seemed fitting that I should give it to you since I don’t need it anymore. Now I have you by my side to keep me heading in the right direction and reassure me when things go wrong.” My eyes fill with tears at his sweet words. “And whenever you’re worried that you’re not strong enough to handle something, you can look at this shell and remember you are.”
“Miles,” I cry, throwing my arms around him. “I love you so much. I don’t know how to say all the things my heart feels when it comes to you. You’re so wonderful at communicating the deeper stuff and I want to be the same for you. That’s what you deserve, not just ‘I love you.’”
“Are you kidding? Hearing that you love me is incredible and no matter how many times you tell me, I’ll never tire of those words.”
“I know, but I should be able to do better than that.”
“What about your idea you had earlier?”
“What idea?”
“I remember it had something to do with feeling, tasting, and showing.”
My eyebrows raise. “Oh yeah.” I slide from the lounger on my side and walk around to his side. Reaching behind me, I manage to undo the zipper and I let the red material fall to the ground, pooling around my feet and leaving me completely naked. Except for some sexy high heels.
“Jesus,” he rasps.
I guess he likes what he sees. I step free from the dress and walk the few s
teps to him, my hips rolling from side to side. I situate myself over his thighs and run my palms up his chest to his shoulders. “One year ago today, I touched your cock for the first time. It seems only right that I do the same tonight.”
“Yes, please.”
My fingers move to the button and zipper on his pants. “But there’s one stipulation I’m going to insist on.”
“Anything. Anything you want, is yours.”
“You have to answer to Professor Decker and call me Miss Gardner.” His dick twitches under the black fabric. “Oh, you like that idea do you?”
“Do you know how many times I imagined fucking you during class? Or of taking you on the desk in my office?”
“No, but why don’t you tell me.” I tug his thick length free from his pants and lean forward. “Tell me every dirty detail while I suck every drop of come from your cock.” My lips wrap around him and he begins to speak. He doesn’t make it past the first scenario before he’s hoarsely calling my name. Professor Decker and I might need to play this game again.
Epilogue
Miles
FOUR YEARS LATER
“Look, Dad, it’s Mom.” Joey points to Sophie as she walks across the stage on the way to accept her diploma. I still get a thrill hearing him call her that. Even though he started right after he turned three. His love for Sophie pretty much cemented our status. I knew I loved her for me, but I also fell deeper in love with her for how wonderful she was to Joey. And I can’t say I’m not looking forward to having more children with her.
As Sophie takes her diploma, Joey and I clap and cheer vigorously. All her hard work has paid off. I can’t keep the prideful smile from my face.
“She did it,” Miranda comments from the other side of me.
“Did you doubt she would?” I ask, quirking my brow.
“No way. I’m only surprised she didn’t make valedictorian.”
“Eli squeezed in there and got it. But I don’t think she’s going to complain about the number two spot. Besides, she said she didn’t want to have to make a speech.”
We watch the rest of the graduates receive their diplomas, but as soon as the final name is called I’m ready to go.
“Come on. Let’s get a head start before we get caught up in the crowd. I told Sophie to meet me by the chapel and I don’t want to keep her waiting.” The three of us file out of the row and down the aisle.
“You’re not surprising her with a wedding are you?” Miranda asks as we slowly move along.
“No.” I smile. “As long as we’re together that’s all that matters. I want her to get settled into a job and being out of school before she makes any important life decisions.”
“Miles, I think it’s safe to say she wants to spend the rest of her life with you.”
“I know and that’s why I don’t feel the need to rush into marriage. We’re already as good as married now.”
We hit a point where the aisle narrows, creating a bottleneck and we get held up. Swiping my arm over my sweaty brow, I grind my teeth in frustration. I want to get to my girl and tell her how proud of her I am. She’s done so well juggling school, loving me, being a mother to Joey, and our relationship. And now that we made it through these four years, I know together we can accomplish anything.
I place a hand on Joey’s shoulder, keeping him anchored close to me as we filter through the expanding crowd. Apparently, I wasn’t the only one with the idea to leave early.
I know Sophie’s family are all here somewhere and they’ll be heading back to our house with a lot of other people too. Her parents are great. They love Joey and dote on him as if he was their own. And he calls them gram and pops.
Sophie’s older brothers have fully taken on the surrogate uncle role. And Joey can’t get enough of Uncle Luca and Uncle Chaz. They hit it off with him from the start.
They didn’t accept me quite so easily, but with time they’ve seen how much I love and respect Sophie. And now I consider them good friends of mine.
Not surprisingly, Tanner fit in with them from day one. Sometimes, I think they wish he was the one to fall for Sophie.
“It’s hotter than balls out here.” Miranda fans her face with the graduation brochure.
“Auntie, balls is a bad word,” Joey points out. His indigo eyes stare earnestly up at her. “Unless you’re talking about a game of ball. Then it’s okay to say it.”
I grin and ruffle his hair and flick an amused glance at my sister. At seven years old he’s become a wealth of knowledge on most subjects.
“You’re right, Joey. Auntie has a potty mouth. I’ll try to do better.” She winks at me.
We finally reach the chapel and wait for Sophie under the shade of an American Elm tree. When I glance up, Sophie’s walking our way. I grin at the sight of her in her gown, cap in hand. Her long, brown hair waves over her shoulders, the sun glinting shades of red and gold through the darkness. She looks like an angel… she is an angel, and she’s mine.
My stomach is more turbulent with each step she takes. Overcome with emotion, I swallow over the lump in my throat.
“Hey.” She jumps into my arms and I spin her around.
“You did it, baby. I’m so proud of you.”
She looks down at me. “I’m proud of me too. Sometimes, it felt like this day would never come. But it did and now we have so much to look forward to.”
I set her on her feet, my arms still wrapped around her and press a soft kiss to her lips. “We sure do.”
“Mom, congratulations.” Joey squeezes between us for a hug and Sophie kisses him on the top of his head.
“Thank you. Did you get bored listening to them calling all those names out?”
“Dad let me play games on his phone until it was your turn.”
I shrug and smile ruefully. “Hey, a dad’s gotta do what a dad’s gotta do.”
Miranda steps over to hug Sophie. “I’m so proud of you. I knew you’d do phenomenally, no matter what. It’s just who you are.” She cups her cheek like a proud mother.
“Aww, Miranda. You’re going to make me cry. Thank you. It means a lot that you feel that way.”
“Are we still going to your party?” Joey asks.
“Of course. Unless you don’t want to.”
“No, I want to. You guys are taking forever and it’s hot as balls out here.”
“Joey,” I caution.
“Hey, don’t look at me. Auntie Miranda’s the one who said it.”
“You repeated it and that’s almost as bad. And Auntie knows better now too.” I glare at her.
She mouths the words ‘I’m sorry.’
“Okay, should we get this show on the road?” Sophie rubs her hands together. The sun’s rays glint off the ring I had made for her. The round center diamond is bordered by a smaller, singular black onyx stone on either side, to remind us of our first bike trip. The day we saw the black bear, and Sophie told me she loved me.
“Yes, please.” Joey tugs on my arm.
“We parked right down the street this way.” I point and we start walking. Sophie holds my hand and Joey slips onto the inside of the sidewalk like we’ve taught him, taking his mom’s other hand. That’s who Sophie is to him, the only mom he’s ever known and he loves her more than I could’ve hoped.
“Back at our house there’s going to be about fifty people waiting to see you. How do you feel about that?”
“I feel like I should run in the other direction,” she jests.
“Who’s there setting up?”
“I had my mom and dad come over, so they could be there to direct the caterers.”
“Aww, you thought of everything.”
“I tried to, but I’m sure there’s something I missed.”
Sophie slips off her robe and bunches it into a ball along with her cap. “God, it feels good to get that thing off.” She stores them in the hatch with a careless shrug. “Not like I’m going to need those again.”
The air conditioned ride to our house
is a nice respite from the heat. When we round the corner on our street, parked cars line the curb.
“Are all these the cars of guests for my party?”
“It looks that way.” I turn, taking a quick glance at her. “Don’t worry, it will be a great time.”
We walk through the house and out to the back patio where we are greeted by shouts of ‘congratulations, Sophie.’
Sophie’s feet halt as she takes it all in. There’s a lot going on. Between the balloons, the long banner strung along the fence, and the large crowd of people, I know she’s overwhelmed.
We make the rounds saying hello to all the guests and Sophie thanks them all for coming. By the time we finish up, Joey’s already in the pool with Luca and Chaz and there’s a water war going on. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much splashing and so many waves before.
Taking Sophie’s hand, I lead her to the middle of the patio. Whistling shrilly, I get everyone’s attention. “I’d like to say a few words if you guys would be so kind as to listen.”
“Do we have to?” Luca shouts from the pool and everyone laughs.
“Do you ever listen to anyone?” I question.
“Good point.” He tips his head my way.
“Okay, where was I before I was so rudely interrupted?” I smile. “I just want to say how unbelievably proud of Sophie I am. She’s worked her tail off the past four years to get to this moment and I know it hasn’t been easy. Especially with Joey and me in her life. She always makes time for us, no matter what she has going on.” I squeeze her hand and gaze down at her standing beside me. “I love this woman more than I thought was possible and I know she can achieve anything she sets her mind to. And now I can’t wait for her to move in with us.” Everyone hoots and hollers.
“But Daddy, Mommy’s already moved in,” Joey shouts letting the cat out of the bag.
Tanner and Sam stroll over with gloating expressions on their faces. “Is that so? Looks like there’s some new ink in your future and we know just what it will be.”
DEPRAVITY: KING UNIVERSITY Page 26