Roommates

chapter 22 ( R )

"I'll see you." I smiled and walked out of the tattoo shop with a little pep in my step.

Today is the first day of summer break and I'm incredibly excited. 

I always take the first month of summer off to go back to Houston. I'm bringing Lee back with me this year, my parents really miss their "son."

Lee has the whole break off, Healani closes the lab in the summer and reopens it in the fall. The business-savvy woman uses the summertime for connections, research, and volunteer work. Healani's spending this summer in Canada.

I hopped into Lee's truck and kissed him, buckling my seatbelt so he'd drive away.  Lee never lets me go anywhere alone anymore, he's always chauffeuring me or assigning one of our friends to do it.  He's not playing about my safety and I appreciate it.

After Brynn tried to ambush me, she vanished.  The short maniac ditched her internship at the lab and hasn't attempted to pop up on or contact any of us.  Lee still doesn't trust anything though, he refuses to get "caught slipping" again.

I started to see Ryan again, but he hasn't taken anything farther than calling me weird nicknames, like brownie, chocolate goddess, and tootsie pop.  The names make me uncomfortable, but Lee is always there to scare him away.

"You excited, mama?" Lee whipped out of his parking spot and rested his right hand on my bare thigh, gently gripping it.

"Mhm, I can't wait to go back home." I giggled while wiggling in my seat.

Houston will always hold a special place in my heart.  It's my hometown and it was all I knew for such a long time, plus, it's where most of my family is.  I'll always make my way back there, even if it's not where I choose to settle down.

I rolled the window down and allowed the heated wind to flow over my face and freed curls.   I love driving with Lee, he doesn't speed but he drives fast enough to get a nice breeze going.

I know I'm gonna enjoy my first summer with him. 

I really  need a break.

The familiar beat to Say So boomed through Lee's speakers, I snatched Lee's phone from the cup holder before he could skip the song.

"Baby, no, please-"

"Mm, it's the remix..." I pointed to Lee for him to finish.

"Doja." He sighed, stopping the car at the light.

I grinned and perfectly sang the beginning of the song.  Lee hates it when I transition into my rapper mode, but he supports me nonetheless.

"Are you tired yet? I got tired just watching you." Lee took a sip out of my water bottle and leaned on his door.  I blew out a soft breath and shook my head.

"Not at all, just warming up.  Play that Travis Scott song you like, I've been practicing it!"

Lee sighed and tossed his phone into my lap.

Yeah, I'm gonna enjoy my summer.

I pulled away from the group hug and pouted. 

Lee and I are at the airport with all of our friends, preparing to say goodbye and go home.  Daya is going to Puerto Rico for the whole summer, while Lennox is going back to her hometown of Fresno, but she'll be back in Philadelphia early, like me.

Bentley lives in Philadelphia, but his parents are coming to spend time with him for the break.  Lee and I decided to let Bentley petsit Scampi until I'm back in Philadelphia.