Page 57 of Damien

I give Damien one last quick kiss, grab my bag, open the back door of his SUV, and leave without saying another word.

As I walk across the lawn, I grin and think to myself that Damien and I have finally gotten on the same page.

I grab my phone and send Damien a quick text and hope his night is better than his day was.

I know my night is already off to a much better start than how my day started.

My feet lead me to the cafe for some much needed caffeine and sugar. When it is my turn at the counter, I order a red velvet cupcake and a caramel iced coffee with an extra shot of espresso.

When my order is ready, I carry it to one of the tables closest to the window to watch students rush home for the day.

I take a sip of my drink and wait for the large dose of caffeine and sugar to kick in. The red velvet cupcake is light and fluffy with the perfect cream cheese icing.

It’s a good thing I need more than sugar to live off of or else I’d eat a dozen of these every single day.

Motion out the corner of my eye has me turning to look at the action unfolding. Jake angrily stomps across the lawn while yelling at someone through his phone.

It doesn’t look good.

I’ve never seen Jake angry. Sure, he might get upset at Mara and the two of them bicker all the time, but he’s usually more gentle and calm.

I shove the rest of my cupcake in my mouth, grab my drink and bag, and throw my trash away on my way out of the cafe.

I walk faster to keep Jake in my view. He’s walking too fast for me to catch up, but I watch him hang up his phone call, shove his phone in his pocket, and walk into the Arts building.

What could he be doing in the Arts building?

Who or what got him so upset?

Should I follow him to make sure everything is alright? If I do, will it ruin the post-coital bliss that I’m feeling right now?

Deciding to stay in my good mood a little while longer, I sip on my drink and slowly walk around campus.

The sun is shining and the birds are chirping while some students linger around campus and others rush home to get ready for parties or do their homework.

I feel a renewed sense of happiness.

Things with Damien are finally back to being good.

Mara and Seth’s new blossoming romance is starting out good.

And things with school are still on a great track for graduation.

I feel like I just won the love lottery, and nothing can change my good mood.

Chapter Fourteen

EPILOGUE

Mara isn’t home by the time I get back to the dorm suite. She must still be with Seth. It’s not too surprising since I took up so much of their time earlier.

It brings a smile to my face when I think of the two of them together.

Just from the short time I was around the two of them, I can tell they like each other a lot. I think they may be even falling for one another.

I drop my bag in front of the couch and make myself comfortable until she comes back so we can gossip like the girls we are and talk about how wonderful love is.

Feeling like I am floating on cloud nine, I turn on the television and flip through the channels, not really finding something that piques my interest.