Epilogue
Three months later …
Nate
“What’s all this?” Morgan asks, pointing to the index cards that are face down on my coffee table.
“Those are all the cities that have graduate programs to which I’ve been accepted.”
She twists her mouth, thinking. It’s so damned cute I can’t hardly stand it.
“Okay. Why are they on cards? Wait, you’re not picking at random, are you? Don’t do that, Nate.”
“No, not at random. I know we haven’t talked about this at length, but I fully intend to be wherever you are. So, I want you to draw a card. If it’s a city you’ll consider, put it in the yes pile here,” I point to the Post-It with, ‘YES!’ written on it. Next to it is the ‘Hell, no!’ Post-It.
“Obviously, the other pile is for places you don’t want to be.”
“Nate, I’m not sure—”
“Morgan, I’ve already concluded that each of these schools can get me where I want to go. The only thing they can’t get me is you or your happiness. I don’t care where I am. I care that you’re happy.”
It’s true. I don’t care where I am as long as we’re there together.
“Well, actually, I’ve thought a lot about this, Nate. So, I’ve been prepared to discuss it.”
“But this is more fun,” I grin.
“For you. For me, I feel like I’m dictating your future.”
I grab her ponytail to ensure I have her attention. “You are my future, Morgan. Dictate away.”
Her breathing picks up. I can’t tell if she’s surprised or turned on. She does love it when I manhandle her.
I especially love grabbing her hair. It makes it easier to move her mouth where I want it to go.
I kiss her and then turn back to the coffee table. “Pick,” I tell her.
Morgan hesitates, but starts turning the cards over. One by one, she puts them in the no pile. Shit. What if she doesn’t care for any of them? I guess I’ll be getting a job, instead.
There’s one card left. She flips it, smiles, and tosses on top of the yes pile. It’s the only one there. State. She picked State, which is about three hours from here. I thought for sure she’d pick something on the coast or in the deep south.
“So, State, then?” I ask.
Morgan twists her lips again. I put my hand on her knee. “Morgan?”
“Yes. State.”
“Out of curiosity, why?”
“Um, several reasons, actually.”
“Such as?”
“You got a full ride.”
Damnit. She will not worry about money. “Don’t pick because of that, Morgan.”
“Wait, it’s not the only reason.”
I close my mouth and listen.
“Several of our friends will be there. It could be fun having them near. I’ve never had such close friends like Jen and Rebecca before. It would be nice to be able to see them.”
She pauses.
“Is that it?”
“Ah, no.”
“Okay. Why else, then?” I ask.
“You would have a TA position there, which I know you said wasn’t a big deal to you, but I think you would be amazing at teaching a course or two, if given the chance. You have a way of making people see past the textbook, to finding the obscure and interesting facts that would hook an audience. You would help students, giving them something many other professors don’t know how to give. Trust me. I’m your number one student.”
Adorable. It’s seriously adorable how she’s looking at me right now. I couldn’t possibly love her more. Plus, honestly, it’s a hell of a good reason. Surprising, but good.
I never thought about the helping students angle. Which is silly because I wrote a book specifically to help high school students.
“Lastly,” she clears her throat. “State’s your top choice, isn’t it?”
Sneaky little minx. “And how would you know that?”
“Dr. Wang mentioned something about it to me. I guess he knows we’re together.”
“Please tell me that didn’t influence you.”
“Of course, it did. I want you to have what you want, Nate.”
“You’re what I want.”
“Well, then you should be happy since you have me.”
I grab her and sit her on my lap, which is my preferred way of sitting on this couch. Morgan usually acts like I shouldn’t pick her up so often, but I know she loves it.
She’s tiny compared to me, so it’s easy. Besides, I love having her ass in my hands.
“Tell me you’re sure, Morgan.”
She presses her lips to mine and brushes soft kisses from my mouth to my earlobe. “I’m sure, Nathaniel.”
Oh, now she’s gone and done it. Morgan’s verbalized the one word to guarantee I’ll get hard.
She only calls me Nathaniel when she wants sex. Which is pretty much every day. I thank the universe every day for it, too.
I decide to wait until I’m buried inside her to let her know we’ll be living together at State. She’s much more agreeable when I have her pinned beneath me.
She rocks her hips against mine, whispering how much she loves me as she peppers kisses down my neck.
I grab both sides of her head and move her so our noses are touching. I want her undivided attention.
“I love you. Nothing else on this earth is more important to me than you. Not even grad school.”
She smiles.
“Now call me Nathaniel again.”
Morgan giggles. “Nathaniel.”
Shit. Hearing her say my name like that again, after she’s put my wants and needs ahead of her own? She’s going to get the ring I bought for her sooner than I had planned.
My karma must be good if the universe is blessing me with such a perfect match. And I’m smart enough to know better than to question the universe.