I wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived back at campus. We’d had an amazing week together, but so far we’d completely dodged the conversation about what would happen when we returned to real life. I wanted to believe that nothing would change, that we could continue where we left off, but a part of me worried that she’d disappear like Cinderella leaving me with just a glass slipper or something. Jade had slept most of the flight back to Charleston, and I hoped it didn’t mean she hadn’t slept well. I had only gotten a few hours of sleep, but that was different. I never slept much. She stayed quiet while we waited for our bags at baggage claim, and she didn’t break her silence until we were back in my car.

“Are you going into the station today?” Jade asked when we got in my car back at the airport.

“Probably out of habit, but I don’t have to.”

“Want me to go with you?”

“That’s up to you. If you want.”

Her face fell. “Ok, then I won’t.” She turned to look out the window.

“Jade?”

“Yes.” She turned back.

“You’re not reading into that, right? I actually mean you should come if you want, but you don’t have to.”

“Yes, of course.” She looked down at her hands in her lap.

“Ok, I’m checking because you seem upset.” Even before our trip I was able to read Jade’s moods. I was even better at it now.

She sighed. “I’m just going to put this out there. Are we going to pretend this week never happened?”

“Of course not.” I shook my head. “I don’t think that’s possible.”

“But what does that mean?”

“It means we should try to make this work.” I mustered as much confidence as I could. I wanted things to work. I wasn’t ready to let Jade go. Things couldn’t return to where they were before the trip. Way too much had changed between us for that to happen.

“I don’t want us to end up hating each other.”

“I couldn’t hate you.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Do you want to make things exclusive? Give this more of a shot?” I’d laid awake the night before thinking about it. I knew I’d lose my cool if I saw another guy with Jade. The thought of one sleeping with her? I wasn’t okay with that.

She said nothing.

“I mean, are you planning to sleep with other guys?”

“I’m not ready for a relationship.” She bit her nail.

“I never used the word relationship.” I wasn’t sure if I was ready for that either, but I knew I wanted to see where things went.

“Then what are you suggesting?”

“We let things just happen—but no sleeping with anyone else.”

“Because I tend to have random sex every night.”

“You were the one who said you were looking for it,” I teased.

“But since you’re providing your services, I’m good.”

“Okay. So we’re good?” I glanced over.

“We’re good.” She looked at her finger guiltily and put her hands in her lap.

“Good.”

“Yeah.” She looked out the window.

“By the way, I changed my mind.”

“About?”

“I need you to come to the studio with me.”

“Why the sudden change of heart?”

“I want your company.”

“Ok.” Her face relaxed. “I want to drop my stuff off first and maybe get a work out in.”

“Take your time. We don’t have to do it early.”

“Great.”

“Want to come over for dinner tonight?” I wasn’t going to leave things to chance. If we didn’t want things to fizzle out, I needed to start us on a routine, and dinner the first night back seemed like a good way to do it.

“You don’t have to invite me over. This isn’t a relationship, remember?”

“Yes, but I also know the truth about you eating Ramen every night.” Jade had admitted to her complete lack of cooking skills the night before. “Don’t you want to see Savy anyway?”

“You were the one who said she didn’t live with you.”

“She does. I admit it.”

“Fine. I’ll come over.” She smiled slightly.

I assumed her initial hesitation was nerves. “Great. One of my goals for the summer is teaching you how to cook.”

“Oh yeah? You think it’s going to be easy?”

“I’m not pretending either of us is going to become a gourmet chef, but you need to be able to make normal food.”

“I live in the house. During the year there’s food.”

“Yes, but you won’t always live there.”

“Fine. What are we making tonight then?”

“What would you like?”

“I’m not sure. I’ve eaten way too much this week already.”

“I’ll come up with something.”

“Good.” She closed her eyes and leaned back against the seat. “Thanks for a fun week.”

“When we left here a week ago I never expected to hear you say that.”

“Me either.”

I reached over and took her hand in mine, relationship or not, I enjoyed touching her, and I was going to do it any chance I had.

She opened her eyes. “By the way, what did you say to Dylan?”

“When?”

“After the first night.”

“Oh, I reminded him that you were off limits.” And gave him twenty grand, but I wasn’t telling Jade that.

“Ok… just wondering.”

“Evidently that didn’t work.”

“It wasn’t that big of a deal. I can handle that kind of stuff.”

“You shouldn’t have to.”

“It kind of comes with the ‘hanging out with bands’ territory.”

“Are you trying to make me tag along every time you do interviews off air now?”

“Nope. See, that’s another reason for the no relationship thing. You aren’t responsible for that kind of stuff.”

“Not responsible? Technically I am since the interviews are for the station that I run.”

“You never cared before, and don’t pretend you didn’t know.”

“I care more now.”

“Exactly. Don’t. I can take care of myself. Only care to a friend level.”

“What if my friend level is really high?”

“That’s fine then.” She laughed. “There is one thing I wouldn’t mind your company for.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Want to catch the Sinister Tour in Charlotte? It’s the last stop, and Cara really wants me to go.”

“I do have anytime tickets from Chase for defending Cara’s honor.” Cara’s boyfriend had thanked me with a set of free concert tickets to be used on any stop during the tour.

“Perfect. You can protect my honor while we’re there.”

“Oh, I’ll be protecting your honor.” I turned onto Jade’s street.

“Give me a call before you head over to the station.”

“I will.” I drove as slowly as possible before stopping in front of her sorority house. I didn’t want her to get out. Despite all the promises I’d made her, I was nervous about what was going to happen.

“Thanks.” She unbuckled.

“Jade?”

“Yes?” She hesitated with her hand on the door handle.

I unbuckled and leaned across the center console. I didn’t hesitate before connecting my lips with hers. I needed another kiss, another taste before things moved into new territory.

She kissed me back with just as much enthusiasm, opening up to me and encouraging me to deepen the kiss. Her hands tangled in my hair, and she pulled me closer.

Finally, breathless she broke the kiss. “Can we finish that later?”

“We can finish that anytime, remember?”

“So glad you changed the Monday, Wednesday, Friday rules.”

“Yeah, those were only going to hurt me.”

She kissed me on the cheek.

I got out and pulled her bag out of the trunk. I walked her up to the porch.

I leaned in for another kiss, but she stopped me. “If you start that again now, I’m never getting inside.”

“And the problem with that would be what exactly?”

She laughed. “See you soon.”

I waited for her to type in the code to her house and walk inside before returning to the car. Joking aside, I did worry about Jade. I couldn’t help it. I knew what jerks guys could be, and I wasn’t letting anyone mess with the girl I was determined to make mine.

---

“You’re back!” Savy nearly ran me over as I walked into my apartment.

“Glad you’re so excited.”

“Where’s Jade?” She looked behind me into the hall.

“She’s at the house.”

“I’m going.” She glanced behind her. “Glen, I’ll be back later.”

“Don’t interrogate her too much, babe.” Glen kissed her lightly on the lips.

“I have to. I can’t trust you to get all the details from Kyle.” She gave me a long look. “You’re not going to hurt her, are you?”

“No, of course not.”

“Good.” She grabbed her purse and hurried out the way I’d just come in.

“Didn’t take you long, huh man?” Glen asked as I headed down the hall to my room. At least Jade had shared the news with Savy. That meant Glen knew too. We weren’t old friends, but when you live with someone they tend to play a big role in your life. Hopefully that would make the transition less awkward.

“I’ve known Jade for close to a year, so technically I did.”

“I mean on your trip. You waited a few hours?”

“It just kind of happened.”

“You just happened to have sex with Jade?”

“Hey, I know your back story with Savy. You’re not one to talk.”

“No, I’m not. I also know what it’s like to hurt a girl. Just be careful.”

“Trust me, I am trying to be. It’s still new, but I’m hoping it turns into something.”

“Only hoping? Having doubts already?”

I started to unpack. If I didn’t do it right away my bag would sit on the floor until I needed it again. Since I was hoping for company that night, I wanted my room clean. “Not doubts on my end. More on hers. She seems hesitant to commit to anything.”

“Why?” He watched from the doorway.

“I’m not sure. My guess is someone hurt her somewhere along the line. We’ve agreed to make things exclusive, and otherwise we’re going to let things happen naturally.”

“If by naturally you mean having Savy interfere. Just warning you, she’s been rooting for you guys to get together for months.”

I remembered what Jade said about how everyone knew about her crush. “Did you know Jade was into me?”

“Even if Savy hadn’t told me I’d have figured it out, and I don’t even know her that well. She hasn’t exactly been hiding it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me? You already knew I liked her.”

“I figured I’d let things happen naturally.” He laughed. “This should be interesting to watch.”

“She’s coming over for dinner.”

“What are you making for her?”

“I’m not sure, but part of it is a cooking lesson. I told her she needs to learn.”

“Does it have to be tonight? I was thinking about grilling some steaks.”

“She’d probably go for that. She wasn’t exactly thrilled about doing the cooking.”

He laughed. “A girl who doesn’t want commitment or to cook. I like Jade.”

“She’s something else.”

“So is Savy. That makes things more interesting. I’m heading to the gym, want to come?”

“Sure.” Maybe I’d get lucky and run into Jade while I was there.