“Maybe I need an apron, a good breeze across my backside, and a tray of colorful cupcakes?”
“When we get back to Adamson, I’ll naked bake the crap out of some lavender-vanilla cupcakes. I’m also more than happy to bend you over that counter again and fuck the shit out of you.” Ranger taps the screen of my phone with a blue-painted fingernail as Church sips his coffee and the other boys groan. “But only if you open this damn email and put us all out of our misery.”
“Actually, I was more interested in the story of Nutmeg and the Montagues—”
“We all got in,” the twins say, interrupting me and pausing with their forks paused halfway to their lips, a glistening bite of cherry pie perched on the tines of each. “We already checked with our Mom.”
“We got in?!” I scream, standing up so suddenly that I dump my entire chocolate milkshake into Church’s lap. My hands clamp over my mouth, but he barely reacts, taking another sip of his coffee before setting the mug carefully down on the table. “Church, I’m so, so, so, so sorry …”
“Don’t be, my sweet little bride,” he says, flicking his eyes up to mine before he smirks. Ranger and Micah slide out of the bench seat and Church follows, dripping milkshake everywhere. “Our apologies, Merinda.”
“Not a problem,” she says, as I struggle between wanting to freak out, and wanting to help clean up.
“I’ve got it,” Ranger says, taking the rag from Merinda and shaking his head at me. “Just do it. Go freak out or scream or whatever it is you need to do.”
“Really?” I ask, my eyes filling with tears. I’m about to get all blubbery and start snotting everywhere. Is that a word? Snotting? Because it really sounds like one that’d get used a lot … “We got into Bornstead U? All of us?”
“We’re in,” Tobias says with a laugh as I hold my arms up above my head and squinch my face up, screaming internally since it’s not considered polite to shout in the middle of a crowded diner. I fist-pump hard and then turn to slap a strong high five with Spencer. “And guess what? Your tuition is covered.”
“I haven’t applied for any student loans yet,” I say, and the four boys still sitting around the table give me looks. “What? I mean, just because we’re dating, I don’t expect you to—”
“We’re paying for it,” the twins say together, taking bites of their pie and then holding their forks up in an X, effectively cutting me off from what I was about to say. “Don’t argue with us. It’s happening.”
“You really think I’d sit by and watch you rack up student loans like that?” Spencer asks, looking over at me. “What sort of asshole do you take me for?”
“I need a minute,” I say, holding back tears as I slip under the table and crawl out the other side, my shoes squeaking on the floor as I run outside and throw my back against the sun-warmed wall next to the front door. “Yes!” My voice echoes down the street and several people turn to look at me. I don’t care though. The only thing I care about right now is reveling in this moment. It’s hard to say how many strings the guys pulled behind the scenes—because Bornstead U is a seriously competitive university—but I did work really hard to turn things around. I’ve got A’s in all my classes currently. First time this has ever happened for me.
I do a ridiculous little jig for the guys’ enjoyment, and then throw open the doors to the diner, my chest swollen with pride.
“I’m a future college student,” I tell some random Adamson students near the door. I don’t really know who they are, but the way they murmur Student Council lackey under their breaths shows that they know who I am. When all four of the boys at my table turn to look at them, the students change their tune real fast.
“Go check on your milkshake-laden boyfriend, college student,” Ranger says, and I bounce over to the unisex bathroom, pushing in the door to find Church cleaning chocolate off of his crotch with a wet rag.
“Do you need help with that?” I ask, but when I reach to take it from him, Church just leans in and kisses me hard on the mouth.
“Please don’t. I’ll get a hard-on, and then we’ll end up doing it in this bathroom, and Merinda will never forgive us.”
My cheeks flush.
Last night, Church and I may or may not have gone at it again in our dorm room. It became a bit of a game to try to stop groaning and moving when Nathan popped by for the nightly room checks. Pretty sure he knew what we were doing, but screw him. He’s just as shady and close-mouthed as the asshole librarian.
