The Space Between Us(55)
“That was amazing,” he whispered. I bit down on my bottom lip and nodded in agreement. “You’re amazing.” He pressed his lips against mine and we melted together. There was no urgency or lust in this kiss. It was simply loving. “I’m going to miss you.”
“I’ll miss you too. But thinking about missing each other is what got us naked in a hay loft. Come to think of it, as much as I enjoyed that, I’d really like to take a shower now. I’m starting to itch.”
That last night we spent together on the farm was quiet and a little bit sad. I never had to leave Asher before and I dreaded having our usual roles reversed in the morning when he took me to the airport. But, as sad as goodbye kisses are, hello kisses were ten times better. And that’s what I kept telling myself on the plane ride home. I could wait to get my hello kisses.
Chapter Seven
Sophomore year of college started pretty much just like the previous. Asher tried to convince me to get an apartment with him and, again, I opted to live with Reeve in the sorority house. Reeve’s emotional well-being improved over the summer, but I still didn’t feel like abandoning her to live with my boyfriend. Asher’s frat was just down the street and I knew we’d see each other all the time.
The homecoming game approached again, and even though Reeve seemed fine, I was on best friend high-alert just in case the anniversary of her attack were to bring back any bad feelings or memories. I wouldn’t be any use to her today though, I was sick and in bed.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to bring you anything?” Reeve asked me as she stood at the door, getting ready to leave for her morning class. I was curled up on my bed, trying not to move. I woke up with a stomach bug and was trying to fend off the nausea.
“No, I’m fine. I just need to lie really still so I don’t puke anymore.”
“Ok. Does Asher know you’re sick?”
“Um, no. I don’t need to tell my boyfriend that I’ve been throwing up. That’s a surefire way to kill the romance. We’ve been together forever, but that doesn’t mean he needs to know those sorts of things.” Reeve laughed as she pulled her backpack up onto her shoulder.
“Ok, but you know if he finds out you’re sick and you didn’t tell him, he’s going to be upset about it.”
I groaned. “Fine. Text him and tell him I’m sick, but I’m fine, and that I’ll be missing classes today.” Reeve left grinning, probably because she knew what I was in for. Asher wouldn’t leave me alone if he knew I was sick. He was kind of irritatingly adorable that way. I began to breathe deeply, in through my nose and out through my mouth, trying desperately to make the terrible feeling go away. It wasn’t working and I could feel the urge getting stronger and stronger. Eventually, when I knew I couldn’t avoid it any longer, I got up from the bed and ran to the bathroom.
About an hour later, after I had showered, I came back to my bedroom and found my phone blinking with several messages, all from Asher. I rolled my eyes and started to scroll through them when my door swung open to reveal him rushing through with a somewhat panicked look on his face.
“Bit, are you ok? Reeve said you were sick.”
I laughed at his antics, a little disappointed that it took him a full hour to get to me. “Asher, you know guys aren’t allowed upstairs,” I admonished him. It was strictly forbidden for any men to be anywhere in the sorority house besides the foyer. If it were any other guy I would be worried about getting in trouble with the sisters for him being there, but I knew Asher could charm his way out of anything, so I tried not to let it get to me.
“Are you ok?”
“I’m fine. Really. I was sick earlier but I’m better now. I’m even going to go to my afternoon classes.” He walked towards me and pressed his hands to my face.
“You don’t feel warm. Are you sure you’re alright?”
“Yes,” I said as I placed my hands over his. “I think I must have eaten something bad because I was just sick for a little bit. Something didn’t agree with me. But I’m better now, promise.” He kissed my forehead.
“Want me to wait downstairs and walk you to class?” I melted a little at how sweet he was to me.
“Sure. But try not to let any of my sisters see you walking around up here. Be sneaky.”
“Like Bond?” His eyebrows waggled up and down. “You could be my Bond Girl.”
“After my morning, I’m nobody’s Bond Girl. Today is not my sexiest day. Go downstairs and wait for me before someone catches you up here.” I shoved him playfully towards the door. He did his best spy impression by flattening himself against the wall before he darted out of the room and I tried to hold my laughter in until I knew he couldn’t hear me.
The rest of the day went without incident, but I still tried to lay low just in case I was really trying to fight off a bug. Asher and I spent a quiet evening in his room watching a movie and snuggling.
The next morning I had to get up early for class so when my alarm went off I tried not to wake Asher up. He looked adorable with his face smashed into his pillow, but I took a moment to admire the strong muscles on his naked back too. He really was the best of both worlds. Sweet and goofy one minute, then scorchingly sexy the next.
Our houses were only three blocks apart and the walk was nice early in the morning, and it gave me an opportunity to think about my day ahead of me. I was about half way to my house when I started feeling the saliva pool in my mouth and the familiar feeling of my stomach roiling about. I tried my breathing technique but knew it wasn’t going to work. I was unprepared for the moment and was also completely mortified when I threw up in the bushes outside of the Phi Beta Pi house.