Nineteen

Chapter Seventy-Five

I don't deserve the constant mind games everyone has been playing with me.
The walk back is a little long. My mind is turning and contemplating what I just heard. Before I realize it, I'm opening the door to my room.
Collin is sitting on the edge of the bed. He's fully dressed in last nights clothes all except for his shoes.
"Where have you been?" He asks.
I hold up the biscuits. "I got breakfast."
He stands from the bed. "I have to leave so I can be at work on time."
I deflate a little, but I understand. I sort through the two breakfast packs and hand him one. "I hope you like bacon and egg."
He half grins at me. "I do, and even if I didn't, there's no way that I'd tell you."
I smile at him, mostly because I don't know if I believe that. He's very vocal.
He kisses me on the top of my head and then grabs his shoes. "I have to go back to my house to change clothes, or else I would stay a little longer."
I nod my head. He still doesn't seem like the kind of person who would need, or want, to go to college. He has such an unusual work ethic for someone so young.
I smile at him as he slips his shoes on his feet. He paces over to me again.
He kisses me once more and then leaves my room, and I'm suddenly so lonely.

I like the ways things are going so far. Dating in college is much different than dating in high school. Maybe it's just the person I'm trying to date that makes it so odd, but either way it's different.
Halfway through the day, and halfway through my third movie, I get a text from Collin to let me know that he'll be off of work later tonight, and has plans on seeing me. Of course I'm more than happy to read the words, but I also want to get out of this small room before that time comes.
I throw some clothes on and grab my car keys. I grab my phone and send Link a text, asking if he wants to meet me somewhere. I feel bad about what happening this morning. I was completely caught off guard.
He replies almost instantly, and he gives me the address to his apartment. He says his roommate is gone and he's alone for the day. I type the address into my phone and begin my walk to my car.
It's hot outside. It's at least ninety, or so it feels like it. I'm in a pair of tennis shoes, jean shorts, and a cutoff shirt. When I open my car door, I'm almost knocked to the ground by the wave of heat that rushed out. I plug my phone in for the GPS and press play on my music app. Living in Miami isn't that bad, so far.

I'm driving down a little street behind the town, where I went to the club with Clark and Mac, when I see the apartment building. It's not small, but it's smaller than any of the other buildings here. It's easy to find a parking spot, so I grab one up front. I check my texts to confirm the apartment number.
"Emory, hey," he says when he opens the door. I smile in return. "Come in."
The apartment is small, but bigger than the dorms by a long shot. I take my place  on the couch and he joins me.
"What brings you by?"
I don't want to tell him that I've been thinking about him and what he said, so I improvise. "I'm bored, and I thought we could hang out."
He smiles. "Oh, I thought for sure this was about what I told you earlier."
My checks heat up. He knows me better than I assumed.
He speaks again, "because I meant it when I said it. We could be good together."
For a second, I try to imagine a life with him. We'd live back home, a couple of kids, I'd write books and he'd go to work everyday. I try to imagine him, but he's not who I see. That's not the future I imagine.