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“What I want most is you,” Eli says, brushing his lips across mine so sweetly, it makes something clutch in my chest. “Wherever I can have you. I do love it here. Love our house, love my team, even love this little town. But I’d do life wherever you are, so long as you’re my partner in it.”
“You say the sweetest things, hockey player.” If my voice is a little husky, it’s not because I’m about to cry. It’s just because … okay, fine! That’s why.
With no warning, Eli pulls back and rips into the envelope. It takes only three seconds of me holding my breath for him to scan for the right word. I know from his smile when he sees it.
“‘Congratulations,’” he reads. “‘On behalf of the faculty, staff, and?—’”
Squealing, I throw myself at Eli until we’re both laughing and even more tangled up in the sheets. My legs are trapped between his, and we’re pretty much cocooned in soft cotton. I couldn’t get up if I tried. Good thing I don’t want to try.
“I got in,” I say, unable to stop my smile.
“You got in,” Eli repeats, kissing the top of my head. “Of course you did. Because my girl is amazing.”
I lay my cheek on Eli’s bare chest, lifting my fingers to stroke his jaw. Right now, he’s clean shaven. I love the waxing and waning of his facial hair, which he likes to grow out only to surprise me by shaving. He likes to see how long it takes me to notice the change.
You’d think it would be obvious. It should be.
But sometimes it takes me a whole day to realize the beard from the day before is now smooth skin. The only time I noticed immediately was when he left a thick mustache and I laughed until I cried and then told him I wouldn’t kiss him again until he shaved it off.
They may be trendy, but mustaches arenotfor me.
“I like your face,” I tell him, stretching up to kiss his jaw.
“I like youreverything.”
I give his neck a little nibble. “Always trying to one-up me with your words.”
“I’m not trying to one-up anyone,” he says. “It’s the truth.”
“Well, I like your everything too.”
A door slams down below, and Eli drops his head back and groans as Annie calls, “Yoohoo! Lovebirds!”
“We’re busy!” Eli calls.
“You’re always busy,” Annie says, her voice getting louder as she reaches the stairs.
I don’t bother asking Eli if she’d really barge into our bedroom. She hasn’t yet, but it’sAnnie. I disentangle myself from Eli and find my clothes. My shirt may be inside out, but I’m dressed when Annie throws open the door, one hand over her eyes.
“Annie,” Eli says, tossing a pillow at her. “You can’t just barge into our bedroom.”
“I’m not looking,” she says, peeking through her fingers. “See?” Eli snorts, and Annie continues, undeterred. “I need to know if you opened the letter from UT yet.”
I exchange a look with Eli. “What letter?” I ask.
“The one that came two days ago. I assumed by now you’ve opened it, and I’ve been as patient as I can be.”
“Annie,” Eli says slowly, “did you go through our mail? You know that’s a fraud.”
“Is it? I’m not caught up on my US laws. So—did you open it? What’s the verdict?”
“Maybe I do want to move,” I mutter to Eli, who laughs and shakes his head.
“She’s like a barnacle,” he says. “We’ll never fully escape.”
“Hey! This barnacle is still right here, listening to everything. And waiting for you to tell me if you were accepted to your dream vet school.”
I consider making her wait, but I just can’t. “I got in,” I gush.
