I Blame Wattpad for My High Expectations of Men

Chapter 33 - Text every morning and call every night

~Flashback Continued~

"Ah! There they are, UCSB's hottest new couple," Kelsey greets us outside of Manzanita Village with one of the biggest smiles I've ever seen her wear, Hayden right by her side with an arm around her shoulders. But even her bright smile can't hide the dark circles underneath her eyes that give away the fact that she too hadn't slept all night.

"I see the interlocking of fingers has already begun," Hayden too smiles, nodding to our hands as Ace and I walk over to them.

It takes Kelsey and I less than five seconds to give each other a massive hug as soon as the distance allows us to.

"I love you, and I'm so fucking proud of you that it almost hurts," she whispers in my hair, tightening her grip on me. I hug her back just as tight.

"I love you, too. And thank you, for everything," I whisper back before finally letting go.

"I guess that's my cue to hug you too, then," Hayden tells Ace with open arms, wiggling his eyebrows at him.

"Nope. I'm good," Ace responds, holding his hands up to distance himself from Hayden, which still doesn't stop Hayden from hugging the shit out of his best friend.

Eventually, Ace gives in with a heartfelt laugh, hugging Hayden back with just as much brotherly affection.

"I'm proud of you, man," Hayden tells him out loud, finally letting the poor guy breathe.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Ace waves off with his hand before looking at me with a small, but meaningful, smile. "I'm proud of me, too." He winks at me.

"Well then, in that case, you should probably get dressed, girl," Kelsey tells me, redirecting my focus back to her. "Our flight leaves in three hours and we need to be at the airport at least by the next hour."

"You're right," I tell her, before turning to the guys. However, before I can even say anything, Ace informs me that he too will be joining us on the ride to the airport, since Hayden had already offered to drive Kelsey and I there a few days back.

With a smile on my face, I head inside our dorm and grab everything I need for my shower. Afterwards, I get dressed and head back to our room to do a last minute suitcase check. I then grab the letter that someone had stuffed back inside the envelope, crushing it in my hand as I haul out my suitcase and backpack outside to meet them again.

"You ready to go?" Kelsey asks with a smile, Ace already offering to carry my things to Hayden's car, which I let him do.

"Yeah," I nod before asking, "but first, anyone have a lighter on them by chance?" All three pairs of eyes before me glance down to the envelope in my hand, immediately realizing my intention.

Without saying a single thing, Hayden pulls one out of his pocket, handing it over. I take it, thanking him, before walking over to the side of the building. No one follows me, and I'm grateful for that, as this is something that I should've done alone a long time ago: burn my fear to the last ash.

It might have been an act long overdue, but just like I told my now boyfriend, I guess it's better late than never.

***

"You guys all good to go?" Ace asks Kelsey and me as we make our way back to them.

"Yeah," Kelsey responds. "Our bags went through, our tickets are with us, everything's good to go."

"So, how long 'til boarding time?" Hayden then asks.

"About forty-five minutes," I respond.