First & Forever

Chapter 22: Eloise

MARCH

"I'm sorry I can't make it tonight. I hate that I'm going to miss your last game. I'll make it up to you." Will looks down at me with a devilish grin.

"You're doing a lot of that lately," I tease, pulling in on our hands interlocked between us. "But I told you. It's fine, Will. I'm just relieved it's almost over."

"You made it... And beautifully," he says with an adoring look in his eyes. "I don't know how you did it, Elle. But I'm extremely proud of you." I melt as his lips touch my forehead.

"Thank you. And thank you for helping me through the last four years. Milkshakes and all," I say with a knowing smile.

He slowly tucks a rogue hair behind my ear. "You would have made it with or without me. You proved that." The pride in his eyes makes his words mean that much more. I know he's proud of me. He's made it a point to tell me, in the sweetest of ways, nearly everyday since we cleared the air. Another guy might have said that resentfully, taken it as a hit to his ego not to have needed him. But not Will. And I love that about him.

I wrap my arms around his neck. "So, about this making up..."

He rumbles a low laugh and does that thing where he wets his bottom lip. I still have no idea if it's a deliberate move or not, but I'm so far beyond caring. It's delicious. He slips his hands around my waist and leans down, his lips parting and... The bell rings.

My head drops to his chest. I let out a dramatic groan and mid laugh he pulls me in closer.

He tilts my head back to kiss me in the solitude of the auxiliary gym hallway that we've claimed as our hideout from the rest of the world. "Nobody can see us back here," he says, dropping down to meet my lips.

He pulls back before people begin to fill the hallway. "You really are so good at that," I praise with a hazy smile.

"Just wait until I finally get you away from this place," he counters confidently.

I smile, running a thumb over his bottom lip. "I look forward to the day." I groan reluctantly. "I should go. Our bus leaves soon."

I'm just about to pull away when he slides his hands up in my hair.

"Will, they're all going to see," I warn, talking about the people now walking down the halls.

"Let them." He smiles, kissing me one more time. One more mind blowing time. "For luck...babes," he says with a wink and, heaven help me, my heart may explode.

I smile up at him like a love drunk middle schooler. "Text me?"

"You know it. Light it up tonight," he says with a far too handsome half smile. "Oh, hold up!" He reaches into his jean pocket, revealing a beat up penny. "I went looking for one earlier today. Now you've got double luck," he says, flipping the coin in the air before placing it in my hand. 

He went looking for a lucky penny. For me. I may cry.

All I can do is smile as he places a kiss to my forehead before we split to go our separate ways.

I look down at the penny in my hand and practically giggle at how wrong I was to have feared that the last month and a half apart might have lessened our pull, when it actually managed to do the complete opposite, causing us to both admit that it feels more intense than ever.

Since we started up this situationship thing, it's been a series of secret moments and anticipation leading up to them. Picking up right where we left off on New Year's Eve or if possible, even further along. Like the last month and a half was some kind of glitch that needed to work itself out before the picture became clear again.