33. Audrey

CHAPTER 33

Audrey

T wisting a strand of hair around my finger, I watched students hustling by on the sidewalk outside. It was the end of dead week, so even though we had classes, I’d already turned in or finished all of my projects and papers for this semester. Finals started on Monday, and I couldn’t wait for summer.

Except for the small, somewhat pesky problem that I had no idea what I was doing for the summer. And to make things worse, Parker and I had been dancing around the subject. I was dying to know what he wanted to do, but for some reason, I couldn’t come right out and ask.

We were together, spending as much time with each other as we could, but was he ready for more? I knew I was.

“So, what’s going on between you?” My twin asked, popping a piece of blue raspberry candy in her mouth. It was her guilty pleasure, even if it turned her tongue blue.

“I don’t know, Ells,” I sighed, running my finger over the rim of my cup.

“But you said it was all fake, right?” My sister furrowed her brow.

“It was,” I murmured, taking a sip of my iced coffee. “But I don’t know…” It wasn’t anymore. And if the note he’d left me was any indication, it had never been fake to begin with.

My eyes connected with hers, and she gave me a look of understanding.

Ella rubbed her back. “I told you everything would work out.”

“I love him,” I said, biting my lip. “I probably have for a long time. And even though I’m pretty sure he feels the same way, neither one of us has said anything. And we—” I blushed.

She gave me a devious smile. “Had sex?”

I nodded. “And it’s so good. Like, mind-blowing orgasms good .”

“So, what’s the problem?” She always knew me so well.

I frowned. What was the problem? A laugh burst out of me. The problem was I was over-thinking this. I was thinking like the Audrey I’d been months ago, before Parker had come back into my life. Before he’d shown me how good it could be together.

Maybe you don’t realize how crazy I am about you, but it’s true. It was never fake to me. All this time, I was just waiting for you.

“Oh, god. I’m being that insecure girl, aren’t I?”

“Tell him,” she insisted. It wasn’t the first time she’d said that, and I knew she was right. “I’d suggest sooner rather than later, but that doesn’t seem to be your style, does it?”

Rolling my eyes, I looked down at my cup again. “What would you think if I didn’t spend summer at home this year?”

When I met her blue eyes, they were understanding. Sure, we were identical twins, and we did everything together, but this was different. “Cam and I have already talked about what our summers will look like. I have my internship and so does he. But we’re going to make it work, doing long distance till we can move in with each other next semester. So if you want to spend it here or with him, I wouldn’t blame you, Ro.”

I wrapped my arms around her. “I love you. You’re the best twin ever, you know that?”

She chuckled, returning the hug. “I love you too.”

“I gotta go.” I winked at her, grabbing my bag and heaving it over my shoulder. “Talk to you soon!”

“Tell him how you feel!” Ella shouted after me.

I waved my hand at her, already planning the perfect way to tell the man I loved how much he meant to me.

“We did it!” I cheered, throwing my arms up as we all piled out of our final for our musical theater class.

“Another year down,” Mary said, pumping her fist up in the air.

Everyone laughed, and a bittersweet feeling settled in my bones. My finals were done, which meant the semester was officially over. I couldn’t believe that I only had one year left at Castleton. After that, we’d be out in the real world. Getting jobs. Even if that meant waitressing or working some other small job until I could land a role on Broadway.

This year had been good to me. So good.

Tonight, I was heading to a party with Ella, Sutton, and a bunch of our other friends to celebrate the end of the semester.

Parker wasn’t sure if he’d make it on account of a lacrosse meeting. I didn’t really understand why they needed to have one today, but he’d just kissed my forehead this morning at breakfast, reassuring me that everything was going to be great.

He’d finished his last final yesterday, and I was jealous. Of course, I had a class that had the last possible final exam time slot. Luckily, part of finals in musical theater class were awards, and it had mostly felt like one giant party.

Heading outside, I stared at the academic quad. April was almost over, and it was warm enough outside that I was comfortable enough in just a dress and flats. My favorite attire. I could layer like no one’s business—I had to if I wanted to wear dresses year round—but I loved the simplicity of late spring and summer even more.

Tilting my head up to the sky, I soaked in the sun’s rays.

I had an appointment later today to get the keys to my very first apartment.

Hopefully, our first apartment. It was probably crazy to do this as a surprise—one that also required me being extra sleuthy to get Parker’s information and the paperwork necessary—but I wanted to show him I was all in.

This was probably the wrong order, but when had we done anything right? Our relationship had started out fake, anyway.

This proved it was real . That we weren’t just a temporary fling. He was good to me—so good to me, taking care of me like it was his job—and it was my turn to take care of him.

The lease started immediately, and that it had even been available was kismet. Sure, it was only a one-bedroom apartment, but there was enough room for both of us. We’d have a kitchen, a washer and dryer, and, most importantly, no sorority sisters or lacrosse teammates on either side of the wall.

And the shower was beautiful.

I’d leaped at the chance to sign the lease when I’d found out the price—within my budget, considering it was less than living in the sorority house—and saw the unit in person the other day.

So who was I to say no?

I was taking the future into my own hands.

Now all I had to do was ask my best friend, my boyfriend—the love of my life—to move in with me.