The College Bully (Love Came In #2) ✔️

Chapter 32

I sigh as I close the door to my apartment, reaching home after a long shift at Joe's. I hear my phone ping and look down at it, finding unread messages from Reece.

Come to my place for dinner today.

Please?

I smile at the sight of the second message, which came a minute after the first. I quickly text back as I keep my bag on the breakfast table.

Of course. Should I pick up anything on the way?

Don't worry about all that. Just get yourself here. You have the jeep, right?

Yup. I'll be there in half an hour. See you :)

Come sooner.

I roll my eyes at his message and head to the bathroom to freshen up.

I slip back into thinking about the semester that had just ended as I take a quick shower, pushing us into the last leg of our collegiate career - I was thinking about these upcoming changes on my walk back, too. Not because I was scared of it coming to an end, but more so because of the uncertainty of whatever this was between Reece and me, as well as the sadness of college ending. Minus the bullying, it had been almost perfect.

I shake my head ironically at myself, thinking that if past Iris knew what future Iris had done she would've hit me on the head with a heavy textbook. But I knew that I wouldn't change anything regardless of the pain between us.

Somedays, I did question my mental stability - was I insane to be allowing myself to be drawn this much into someone who had made the better part of my time in college difficult? Maybe I was. It didn't change what I knew now - his feelings towards me were never just dislike or just affection. It was complex, we were complex, and I knew that no matter how this ended, I could never regret falling for Reece.

I berated myself silently for being fanciful and romantic as I put on a tank top and jeans, given it was considerably warm outside. But I couldn't bear to distance myself from him now.

Would he even let you?

I shivered at the thought, the darker, hidden part of me relishing in it.

I grabbed my bag and a box of leftover chocolate mousse from Joe's that I'd packed and gotten home, heading out the door and down the stairs after locking up. The bar's kitchen didn't make desserts often, but when they did, they were always phenomenal.

As I exited the main building gate and headed for the jeep, I felt the back of my neck prickling and looked up, finding Cullen's light on and him standing at his living room window. He had a glass of whiskey in his hand, and his posture was a bit stiff. Just as I raised my hand to wave he turned and disappeared, making me drop my hand. I felt a bit guilty - I hadn't spoken to him since that incident in his car, but I couldn't bring myself to. My gut told me that a bit more time and distance was needed, for both of us.

I frowned to myself and got into the jeep.

****

I rang the doorbell of Reece's apartment, feeling a bit nervous even though I'd been here many times in the last 2 weeks. It stemmed, I think, from just him - the way he held himself, his control, his presence overall - it still made my breath pickup.

Reece opened the door, and I only had a second to take in his low-rise jeans and white t-shirt before he pulled me in and closed the door behind us. His large hands effectively caged me in as he held my chin in his hand, searching my eyes for something before kissing me so softly on my lips that I felt, for a second, like crying. It felt almost reverent, or maybe that was just my wishful thinking.