Moving In With The Enemy

Chapter 64 ~ "I'm Proud Of You"

"So how was Valentine's Day?" Mom asks as I hold my phone to my ear and I press my lips together.

It's Saturday, one day before my birthday. I was going to travel home today to meet my parents for lunch and Walker was coming with me. My call to mom was just to refine some details about what time to show up, but of course in true mom fashion, she'd managed to start asking other questions.

"Not much, we just cooked dinner and exchanged some gifts." I shrug. "It was much more romantic in New York over the weekend."

"That's so nice." She whispers and I snort. "So, you two are alright to come at noon?"

"Yep, Walker said he was free all day." I shrug.

"And what about your birthday, no big plans today?"

"My birthday's tomorrow." I point out and she chuckles. "No, just lunch today with you and dad."

"Well, we'll happily be your plans." Mom says and I grin. "I'll let you go. See you in an hour!"

"Bye mom, love you." I sigh, hanging up the phone and standing up.

Valentine's Day had been so good. It was perfect, exactly what I wanted in terms of romantic but not letting Walker take it over the top. It was nice to take a break from everything, his parents, the tension with people finding out about our relationship and the growing-pains that accompanied all of that.

We were ourselves that night, everything was exactly perfect for that reason. 

Right now I'm just wrapping up some stupid Saturday tasks, laundry mostly and a quick tidy of my room. I'd been nervous about school, I was working really hard but I hadn't heard anything back about the Master's programs I'd applied for. Their decisions were due and I was way too anxious about who would choose me.

I wanted to stay here, close to my family and to Walker. Stay in our little bubble for another two or three years. There was the matter of housing next year too, I needed to start looking for a place next year again but the question kept forking itself up. Who do I try to move in with?

Dustin was going back home after this year to work in some branch of his father's company and Mark was staying for a fifth year and I knew Abby was staying one more year for her athletics scholarship too, but they were both moving in with their teammates.

It was me and Walker. The main issue was as much as I hoped to stay, I don't know if that's the reality. The other is.....am I ready to move in just Walker and I? Is that too big of a step?

It's easy to lose sight when I think about the fact that we've obviously been living together all year. But in a very different sort of way than just him and I together.

I need to stop worrying about this.

I go back out to the hallway, moving my laundry around to the dryer once I reach the laundry room. It was a really quiet Saturday, everyone was just catching up on various chores and assignments. Walker had gone to the gym, but he promised me he'd be back in time to get ready and go.

I walk back to the living room after dealing with my laundry to find Mark and Dustin on the couch, watching some highlight reel.

"Who's playing?" I ask. Not because I had tons of interest, just because I thought it was nice to ask.

"Kansas and Baltimore." Dustin answers. "It's just the highlights from last night, there's another game on Sunday."

"The Superbowl's coming up, right?" I ask, now mostly out of genuine curiosity. I didn't really know.

"Yeah, next week." Dus nods. "Good to see Walker's rubbing off on you, Annie. You finally care about football."

"No, I don't." I laugh. "But it's nice that you all bond over it."