Graduating (Covenant College Book 5) (2 page)

“That’s just the way I like to greet the morning.”

Aric was resting on the bed, his body slick with sweat and a self-satisfied smirk on his face. It was my last day of work at the resort – ever – and we’d celebrated the same way we’d celebrated every other milestone this summer.

What? We had a lot of time to make up for.

I rested my head on his shoulder, pressing my ear into the hollow next to his heart. I loved hearing the rapid beating diminish to the normal pace that set the tone of my sleeping patterns.

After a token fight, my parents had acquiesced when I announced that I would be moving in with Aric for the summer. We’d agreed to a weekly dinner, which relieved some of their anxiety, but the fact that my last months at home weren’t spent under their roof was hard for them to deal with.

Ultimately, though, they did deal with it.

“What are you going to do today?” I asked once my breathing had returned to normal.

“I may just stay here and wait for you to come home from work,” Aric teased. “I’ve been enjoying my life of leisure. I only have a few days left.”

I brushed his jet-black hair from his forehead, losing myself momentarily in his chocolate eyes. “I promised Jen we’d go out with her tonight.”

Aric frowned. “Why?”

“It might be the last time I ever see her,” I said. “I can’t see coming up here again after I graduate. She’s sad. I promised.”

Aric ran his hand up my bare back. “What did you have in mind? If you say we’re going to party on the eighteenth green of the golf course, I’m going to kill myself. I’m just warning you.”

I was one-hundred-percent positive Jen’s plan wasn’t the same thing he had in mind. “You’re so dramatic,” I teased. “But, no, Jen was hoping we could just get dinner and drinks at the restaurant on the lake. She has some guy she wants me to meet.”

Aric played with a strand of my long blonde hair, running the ends through his fingertips. “Just dinner and drinks?”

“I might make you dance,” I said, shooting him a flirty smile.

“And I might make you dance later,” Aric said, tickling my ribs. “Okay. Dinner, drinks, and dancing it is.”

“You’re being awfully agreeable,” I said. “I thought, since it was our last night alone, you were going to put up a fight.”

“It’s not our last night alone,” Aric said. “I have my own apartment back at school. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?”

“No,” I said. “I’m still going to want to spend some nights at the house,” I cautioned. “I want to be able to hang out with Paris and Kelsey. This is our last year together.”

Aric brushed his lips against my forehead. “I know. Just so you know, I’m going to be spending those nights there with you.”

“You want to stay in a house with a bunch of girls?”

“I want to stay with you,” Aric said. “I told you before we came up here for the summer, and I still mean it, I’m not going to be separated from you. That’s why I’m staying there.”

“You know we don’t have pillow fights in our underwear, right?”

“Do you have to ruin everything for me?”

I snorted out a laugh and then dropped a quick kiss on his mouth. “I love you.”

Aric pulled me down to him, holding me close. “I know. It’s nice to hear, though. I love you, too.”

“WOW,
this place is the gnarliest. Can you believe how gnarly this place is?”

Chris, Jen’s new boyfriend, hadn’t stopped talking since we’d sat down. We’d opted for a table on the patio, one that overlooked the calm lake, and his voice had an unnatural ability to travel.

Aric raised an eyebrow, taking in the round-faced young man sitting next to Jen with a mixture of amusement and annoyance. “It’s totally gnarly.”

I pinched his thigh under the table, shooting him a look. “I love this restaurant.”

“I do, too,” Jen said, her excitement palpable. “It’s like we’re actual adults sitting out here. I love it.”

“It’s a step up from partying on the eighteenth green, huh?” Aric had made no attempt to hide the fact that drinking in a field – even when that field was actually a golf course – wasn’t his idea of fun. He’d still gone night after night, although I was fairly certain it was only because he wanted to keep an eye on me.

“I still like to party on the golf course,” Jen said, sticking her tongue out at Aric. She wasn’t afraid of him, like so many others were. Given how tall and built he was, most people were standoffish where he was concerned. Not Jen, though. In fact, she enjoyed messing with him. “You’re such a killjoy. You were more fun the last summer you were here.”

“I’m a grownup now,” Aric countered. “I have to be mature.”

Jen snorted. “Mature? Wasn’t that you I saw sneaking into the VIP room under the restaurant so you could grope Zoe in private the other night? Yeah, you didn’t think anyone was looking, but I saw you.”

Aric smiled, his dimple coming out to play. “Well, there’s grown up and there’s grown up.”

Chris smiled at the conversation, but I wasn’t sure he was following it. I couldn’t help but think that Jen could do better. I immediately chastised myself. I was trying to be less judgmental. “So, Chris, tell me about yourself.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Do you go to school?”

“Just community college right now,” he said. “I’m hoping to transfer next year.”

“What do you want to do?”

“I want to be a doctor.”

Yeah, there was no way that was going to happen. I could practically imagine him telling his patients how gnarly their tonsils looked. “Well, that sounds like a good idea,” I lied.

“Well, either a doctor or a mailman,” Chris said. “I haven’t decided yet.”

Aric’s shoulders were shaking with silent laughter when I risked a glance in his direction. This was so not funny.

I turned my attention to Jen. “What about you?”

“I already told you, school isn’t my thing,” she said. “I don’t have any aspirations for higher learning.”

“So, you’re just going to stay here?”

“I’ve already got a job lined up in the main dining room,” Jen said. “I love this area. I don’t want to leave. Heck, I love this resort. I can be happy here.” Jen leaned forward. “Not all of us want bigger and better things.”

What if I wanted them for her? Aric read my mind and reached over so he could capture my hand and bring it up to his lips. He was trying to get me to take a breath before I said something I would regret.

“I hope you get everything you want,” I said. That was the truth.

“What about you two?” Jen asked, her eyes sparkling. “What are you going to do after you graduate?”

Getting to graduation was my immediate concern. “I don’t know,” I said. “I’m just looking forward to enjoying my senior year. After that? Who knows?”

“What about you, Aric,” Jen pressed. “What do you want to do?”

Aric has a way with people. He knows how to divert them when he has to, and this was one of those times. “The only thing I want to do is have dinner, a few drinks, and then a nice night with my girl. I’m pretty easy.”

“You’re a charmer,” Jen agreed. “I can see why Zoe is so happy with you.”

Aric’s smile was warm and honest. “Thank you.”

“I have to say, I like you a lot better than the pouty thing she had up here with her last summer,” Jen said, referring to Rafael. “He just glared at everyone all summer. He was no fun at all. We invited him to go kayaking, and he couldn’t say no fast enough.”

Since Rafael was a vampire – and he couldn’t go out during the day – the idea of him trying to kayak made me giggle. The idea brought another smile to Aric’s face – this one darker.

“I would have liked to see that,” he said.

“You know him?”

“We’re … familiar with one another.”

“They’re friends,” I corrected.

Aric’s smile faltered. “We’re friends,” he conceded.

“What, you guys like to watch football games and stuff together? How does that work? He was dating your girlfriend.” Sometimes Jen doesn’t realize when she’s overstepped her bounds. Of course, she had no way of knowing the truth behind the complicated triangle Rafael, Aric, and I used to form.

“No, we don’t watch football games together,” Aric said. “We have joined forces from time to time, and I do owe him a lot.”

Jen furrowed her brow. “What does that mean?”

“It means that we’re friends who don’t hang out,” Aric said. “We’re kind of friends from afar.”

“And you don’t care that he was dating your girlfriend last summer?”

I tightened my grip on Aric’s hand when I heard the low growl in his throat. “We weren’t dating,” I said.

“He didn’t think that,” Jen said. “You were all depressed, and he kept trying to distract you. He liked you, though.”

Crap. Why did she have to keep pressing this? “We debated dating,” I said finally. “We ultimately decided that it would never work.”

“Why?”

“We had nothing in common,” I said. “He’s mature for his years … and I was already spoken for, even if I didn’t want to admit it.”

Aric’s smile was back. “I’m just immature enough for her.”

I shot him a look. “Do you have to be difficult?”

“Generally.”

“So, what are we ordering?” Jen asked, changing the subject. She wasn’t sure exactly what was going on, but she knew she’d hit upon a touchy topic.

“I want prime rib,” Aric said.

“Red meat is bad for you, man,” Chris said. “It clogs your arteries. Yeah, I definitely want to be a doctor.”

Aric rolled his eyes. “I like red meat.”

“That sounds good,” I said. “I think I’ll have that, too.”

“I want some seafood,” Jen said. “I’m thinking of getting the crab legs.”

“What are you going to get, Dr. Boy?” Aric challenged.

“I’m going to get the blackened chicken and rice pilaf,” he said. “I’m trying to watch my figure.”

Jen faltered. “Maybe I should do that, too. All that butter isn’t good for me.”

I frowned. Jen was not fat. She wasn’t a waif, but she certainly wasn’t fat. “This is our last night together,” I said, knowing she really wanted the crab legs. “You should splurge.”

“She should have the chicken,” Chris said. “It’s better for her. She needs to focus on lean meats and vegetables instead of the crap you guys have been eating all summer.”

Well, what had started out with mild annoyance was rapidly turning into overt dislike. “She should have what she wants,” I countered.

“Well, I’m paying, and I say she gets the chicken,” Chris said. “It will be gnarly.”

Aric leaned forward. “I’m paying,” he said. “She’s getting the crab legs.”

Chris looked surprised. “Well, if you’re paying, maybe I should get the crab legs, too.”

“Oh, no,” Aric said. “You’re too healthy for that. You’re going to be a doctor. Chicken and rice is what you’re getting.”

Chris scowled, but when our plates were delivered, his bland dinner was the lone standout. After we were done, Jen and I said our goodbyes in the parking lot. Aric leaned against his truck, his armed crossed over his chest as he watched.

Once Jen was settled in the passenger seat of Chris’ car, I put words to what had been bothering me for the bulk of the night. “Hey, Chris?”

He paused, his hand on the door handle. “Yeah?”

“You should definitely be a mailman.”

“You think?”

“Yeah,” I said. “If anyone deserves to be bitten by a dog and wear those embarrassing shorts in the summer, it’s you.”

Aric was doubled over with laughter when I turned around.

Well, another summer was in the books. Now it was time for senior year. I couldn’t wait. No, really.

“This house is definitely better than your last one.”

I was parked in the driveway of the new house, a two-story monstrosity on the corner of Roosevelt and High. It had a full basement, and enough room for seven girls to spread out without stumbling over one another at every turn. Since that was how many girls would be living there, I couldn’t help but be a little relieved.

When the house had been selected the previous year, I’d trusted Kelsey and Paris’ judgment. I’d been caught up with taking down the monster-hunting academy on campus, fighting with my former professor every step of the way. I was just happy they’d selected so well.

“It is,” I agreed.

“Do you want me to start unloading stuff now? Or, do you want to go inside first?”

“Let’s go inside.”

Aric followed me through the front door. I knew we had two new roommates, although I knew nothing about either of them. I was thankful that Kelsey’s was the first face I saw.

“Zoe!” She jumped off the couch and threw her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

I hugged her back, not realizing how much I’d missed her until I actually saw her. “You’re really tan,” I said when I pulled away. Her green eyes were startling against her bronzed skin, and her hair, which was always long, was flecked with shades of summer and cascading down the middle of her back.

“I laid out a lot,” she admitted. “I figure I can’t do it for very long before I get wrinkles. I might as well enjoy it.”

“That makes sense.”

Kelsey moved her gaze to a spot just over my right shoulder. “Hey, Aric.”

“Kelsey.”

“You two look like you had a good summer,” she said. “You look really … relaxed.”

“We had a relaxing summer,” Aric said, knowing what she was getting at and not caring in the least.

“I bet.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Let’s not immediately start being crass, guys,” I said. “Tell me about your summer. How is Kevin?”

“He’s good,” Kelsey said. “He doesn’t arrive until tomorrow, though.”

“Well, it’s only one night.” I glanced around the large living room. “This place is nice and big. I like it.”

“I knew you would.”

“Where’s my room?”

Kelsey raised an eyebrow. “You have a choice,” she said. “Since she had the smallest room last year, Paris got first choice. She took the huge master bedroom on the second floor. You get second choice. There’s a big bedroom up there at the end of the hall, or this one over here.”

Kelsey moved across the floor, pushing open the French doors that separated the living room from another bedroom. The room was large and airy, with hardwood floors and a big closet. I knew instantly it was the one I wanted.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Are you sure? The other one is more secluded. I figured you and Aric would want some … privacy … when you’re here.”

“We’re not going to be here more than a couple nights a week,” I said. “Plus, I like the idea of being so close to the front door. If I need to get out in a hurry, I can’t fly, so climbing out of a second-story window doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.”

Kelsey turned to Aric expectantly. “What do you think?”

“I don’t care who hears us having sex,” he said. “I have no shame.”

“He’s telling the truth,” I teased, leaning into him.

“Besides, she’s right about the door and windows.”

“I think you’re just saying that so you don’t have to carry her stuff up the stairs,” Kelsey challenged.

“That, too” Aric agreed.

We all looked up when a girl appeared in the doorway. She was thin, with shoulder-length dirty-blonde hair and bright eyes. Those eyes immediately landed on Aric, and I couldn’t help but notice the way she shifted her body when she saw him.

“Hi.”

“Kate, this is Zoe,” Kelsey said.

“Oh, hey,” Kate said, sending me a small wave. “It’s nice to finally meet you. I wanted to last year, but you were always so busy. Now I see what you were busy with.”

Aric shot Kate a small smile. “I’m Aric.”

“Zoe’s boyfriend,” Kelsey stressed for my benefit. “Her very serious boyfriend.” She must have noticed the change in Kate’s demeanor, too.

“Oh, well, I’m sure you two are happy,” Kate said, never moving her eyes from Aric. “I’m sure you’re just … so happy.”

Aric draped an arm over my shoulders. “We are.”

Kate waited a second, and then the smile faltered. “Oh, well, good.”

Another girl stepped into the room. This one was a little plumper. Her hair was platinum blonde, clearly from a bottle. Her face was long and angular, and she carried all of her weight below her waist.

The smile on her face when she saw me seemed genuine. “Hi, I’m Heather,” she said. “You must be, Zoe.”

“And this is Aric,” Kate said, her voice breathy.

I rolled my eyes. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“You, too.”

We all lapsed into uncomfortable silence.

“Um, where is Paris?”

“She’s at Seth’s house,” Kelsey said. “They’ve been apart for a month. I think they had some time to make up for.”

I knew how that went.

“She should be back later tonight,” Kelsey added. “She didn’t want to miss you.”

“Well, okay,” I said. “I guess I should get moved in.” I turned to Aric. “Star flexing, bud. I need you to lift stuff.”

Aric smiled, sending me a small salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

TWO HOURS
later, I landed on my bed and took a look around. Everything was unpacked and in its place. It wasn’t home, but it felt homey.

Aric was already resting there, his head on my pillows and my childhood stuffed dog on his chest. “I like this room,” he said. “There’s plenty of space in here. You can get away from the estrogen mafia if you need to.”

“The estrogen mafia? You’re such a man.”

Aric reached around and pinched my rear. “You know what this room really needs, don’t you?”

I glanced around. “What? Did I forget something?”

Aric wrapped his arms around my waist and rolled over on top of me. “That’s not what I was talking about.”

“Ah,” I said. “You want to christen the room, don’t you?”

“Am I that transparent?”

Since his desire was pressing into my thighs through his jeans, transparency wasn’t the issue. “You’re just predictable.”

Aric’s face clouded with mock hurt. “Predictable? You wound me. Are you already bored?”

“You could never bore me,” I said. “I find comfort in your predictable nature.”

“Oh, you are trying to wound me,” Aric said, climbing to his knees and pulling his shirt over his head.

I reached a hand up, rubbing it over his chiseled chest, and sighed. He was a masterpiece. “The door is open,” I reminded him. “Are you going to give my new roommates a show?”

“Would that be too predictable of me?” Aric asked, his grin wolfish.

I made a face. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Maybe if you beg,” Aric said, lowering his mouth to mine. “And I plan to make you beg.”

“Oh, my … oh … .”

Aric sighed, glancing up at the open bedroom door where Kate was standing and staring at us. “Do you need something?”

“I just thought … I thought maybe you needed something to drink,” she said, her eyes transfixed on Aric’s bare chest. “I thought you were probably tired from moving everything.”

Aric’s face twisted with disappointment, and he rolled off of me and settled in at my side. “I think we’re okay.”

“I … um … I’m sorry I interrupted you.”

“It’s okay,” I said, rubbing my hand against Aric’s waist reassuringly. “We were just fooling around.”

“Yeah, I kind of figured that out myself,” Kate said. “I didn’t mean to … you know.”

Aric opened his mouth to say something – and I had a pretty good idea what it was – when another roommate joined the fray and cut him off.

“Zoe!” Paris raced into the room, jumping onto the bed with us. “You’re here.”

Aric groaned, the idea of christening the room becoming nothing but a distant notion as the room got more and more crowded. “You know, when I thought of being in a bed with two women, this wasn’t what I had in mind.”

Paris smacked him playfully. “Weren’t you two living together all summer? Didn’t you have plenty of time to do
that
when it was just the two of you? I haven’t seen Zoe in three months.”

“Yes, but we were going to christen this room,” Aric said. “I had special plans.”

“Do those plans have an expiration date?” Paris challenged.

“They might.”

Kate was still standing across the room, eyeing us all nervously. “Are you guys into freaky threesomes or something?”

“No,” Paris and I said in unison.

“Maybe,” Aric said, flinching when I reached over to pinch him. “Oh, well, now you definitely have to pay. If you’re going to abuse me, I get my turn.”

Paris huffed. “I’m not going to watch you guys have sex.”

“Then you better get going,” Aric said. “You two can catch up in an hour or so. I’ll buy everyone pizza if it gets me some alone time with my girl.”

Paris considered the offer. “I want beer, too.”

“Done.”

Paris got off the bed, casting one last smile in our direction. “I’m so glad you’re happy again.”

“Me, too,” I said. I meant it.

The heartfelt moment was gone the second Aric’s hands reached under my shirt, causing me to screech. Paris hurried toward the door, pushing Kate as she went. “They’re going to be naked in thirty seconds flat.”

Kate didn’t look like the idea of seeing Aric naked bothered her all that much.

“Shut the door,” Aric ordered, never moving his gaze from mine. “And you might want to stay out of the living room for a little while.”

I have no idea how Paris got Kate to leave, but the door was shut and the room was christened before the hour hand on the clock moved from two to three. And, no, he was not predictable.