Page 64 of A Wish for Us

“The museum,” I said. “When you sang, I recorded it on my phone.”

She frowned. “Last night?” I nodded. “But how did you get it on a track?”

“I stayed up all night to do it.”

She sighed. “You’ve complicated things for me, Cromwell Dean. You were never meant to complicate things.”

I laughed a single laugh. “Iamcomplicated. I’ve been told that enough times.”

Bonnie didn’t laugh though. Instead she shifted beside me and laid her head on my shoulder. I wasn’t sure if she was asleep, but when I looked at her in my rearview mirror, she was staring straight forward. I narrowed my eyes, wondering what the hell was wrong. But then she wrapped her arm around mine and held on.

I wanted her to talk. I wanted her to say something, but she didn’t. I thought on what she’d said. How I complicated things. I knew I was messed up. I knew I was a moody bastard, that I blew hot and cold. But I had a feeling that wasn’t what she meant.

An hour later, we pulled onto the campus, and I headed in the direction of her dorm. I’d barely made it a few yards when she whispered, “No.”

“What?”

Bonnie paused. “Go to your dorm.”

Confused, I looked at her in the rearview mirror. Her brown eyes were already on mine.

“Go to your dorm, Cromwell.” There was a shake to her voice. Her cheeks blazed and she held my arm tighter. “If…if you want to.”

It took me a second to catch on.

“Bonnie,” I said and felt her hold her breath. I read her face and saw the fear in her eyes. But not fear of what she was asking. Fear of me saying no.

That was never going to happen.

“You sure?” I asked.

“I want to,” she whispered. “I wantyou.”

My hands were tight on the steering wheel all the way to my parking spot outside my dorm. When I killed the engine, Bonnie didn’t move. I put my hand under her chin and forced her to look up. I cupped her cheeks. “You don’t have to do this,” I said. A small, shy smile pulled on her lips. Tears filled her eyes.

“I want it, Cromwell. I want this.” She laughed. “I never want this night to end.” She lowered her eyes. “Please don’t make me beg.”

“You don’t need to beg.” I shook my head. “I want it too. So bad.”

I got out of the car. I came around to the passenger side for Bonnie. Iheld out my hand, and, just as she always did, she held on tightly as I guided her out. We walked slowly back to the dorm. Bonnie was walking slower than normal.

“You good?” I said, checking that she was okay, that she still wanted to do this.

She smiled at me, her hand tight in mine. “More than good.”

The dorm was silent as we entered. When I closed the door of my room behind us, the air felt thick. Bonnie stood in front of me, my jumper practically to her knees. I stepped closer and took her face in my hands. Her brown eyes were huge as she looked up at me.

I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her. Bonnie sighed into my mouth, and her tense body relaxed. I kissed and kissed her, then broke away.

“Bonnie—”

“I want this,” she said again. Bonnie walked to the light switch and flicked it off. The room was plunged into darkness, all except the light from my desktop computer. Her face was shadowed, but when she turned toward me, I could see her eyes in the blue light.

I let her take the lead. She took my hand and led me to my bed. She sat on the edge then shuffled up until she lay on my pillow. I stopped and stared. The sight of her looking so small and nervous on my bed hit me like a ton of bricks. Her lips were parted, her ponytail splayed on my pillow.

Bonnie slowly held out her hand. Her fingers were shaking. I took hold of her hand and crawled over where she lay. I pushed her hair from her face. In the dark, it was hard to make her out. But her eyes were visible. That was all I needed.

I moved my head down and kissed her. Bonnie’s hand was still in mine. She didn’t let go. She just held on. I kissed her lips. I kissed her until she needed breath. Then I kissed down her throat. I kissed over her shoulder, where my jumper had slipped down her arm.