Page 9 of Beauty and the Nerd

“Me too.” He slid his phone out of his pocket, showing her Megan’s text from last night.

“Baby, you have nothing to worry about with us.” His face showed the promise entirely when she peeked up at him after reading it, but she was still embarrassed and covered her face with her sleeve.

“I didn’t tell you, but I also haven’t told anyone yet. ”

“What?” She slid her arm down, confused until she saw the letter he held, and she took it with a shaky hand seeing the name Columbia on the front.

She withdrew a piece of paper, and her heart stopped at the words of acceptance for their early decision to him.

She smiled turning around to face him. “Oh my god Ben, this is incredible. I’m so proud of you. ”

“I know you only did regular acceptance deadlines for most schools and that you won’t know for sure until probably April where you’re likely to go.

I just didn’t want you worrying about us.

There is nothing to worry about, Em. Even if I go to Columbia and you go to some university in Australia, there will still be nothing to worry about, baby.

I love you. I don’t want to lose you, and I won’t do anything stupid enough to make that happen.

I know a long-distance relationship wouldn’t be easy, but we could do it. We can do anything together.”

“I love you too Ben, I just don’t know how I’d compete with the girls at Columbia. I see Crystal and the others who look at you, see just how incredible you are, and I wonder why me and not them?”

Emma’s response made him shake his head at her.

She had no idea just what he saw in her, but she would, he’d make sure of it so he wouldn’t lose her.

She wasn’t just the girl that’d starred in his fantasies before he’d really met her.

She was everything to him now and he wanted to spend his life making her smile.

And okay, loving her in every way, including some that were way too filthy to imagine right now and keep himself sane while waiting for her to be ready.

“I get that my looks are a draw but there are so many other girls you could have debates with on so many topics that I just can’t, that I know nothing about.

There are going to be infinitely brilliant girls at Columbia that will take one look at you, especially with my haircut,” she added when he pulled her over his lap, holding her tightly to him.

“I know what they’re going to want Ben because it’s what I want. ”

“You give yourself no real credit, baby. Yes, you are stunning. You’re gorgeous, beyond my wildest dreams, but that’s not why I want you, and I don’t even mean sexually, Emma.

Can we please go back and completely put the whole notion of it aside?

We didn’t have any problems before we started bringing it into our conversations.

It’s not going to matter to me what we do or don’t do, especially right now, Em.

As long as you’re beside me, I’m the happiest nerd in the world. ”

He was okay that his words put a glimmer of tears in her eyes because she laughed in addition to it, showing they were happy tears.

“Your looks physically attract me sure, but that’s just one little part of it.

I love you, not because you’re beautiful, but because of your beautifully talented and incredible mind, not to mention your heart, baby.

You are so much smarter than you show or admit even to yourself—especially to yourself.

Don’t try to ruin us because you’re scared that it won’t work out between us just because we have different interests, know about different topics.

“Sure, I enjoy debating literature with you, getting you worked up by it, but that’s because you’re so freaking amazing when you’re all riled up and passionate about something.

Having debates that are enjoyable on top of being intellectual are not why I’m drawn to you.

It’s just another piece of it. Your passion when you’re fully committed to something, be it an idea or a side of an argument, is what’s made it impossible to turn away from you.

Mix that together with your soft heart that you try so hard to keep hidden in order to protect it and your utterly breathtaking being and I was so flipping doomed.

It’d be impossible not to fall for you. I mean seriously Emma, you’re the freaking Homecoming Queen.

What nerd-boy in his right mind would let you go when you’re even remotely interested in him in return? ”

Emma laughed lowering her head to rest against his shoulder pushing away the worries.

His arms tightened around her, pulling her further into his hold and she let out a full sigh, releasing the tension inside her.

“You would be incredibly stupid to break up with me before we’re even out to the public.

I mean look at the reputation you’d be turning down by not telling everyone first.”

“Exactly,” he teased pressing a kiss to her temple. “I’m nerd-boy, but I’m okay with that because I’m your nerd-boy, and nerd-boys aren’t stupid, know how to treasure and protect what’s theirs, baby.”

“Well for my piece of mind will you please stop talking to Crystal all the damn time? I seriously want to rip her hair out of her head when she gives you that look that says, ‘take me’ and the last thing colleges want to see is a crazy girl applying to them.”

“We’re on the same academic bowl team baby, I can’t completely ignore her.

I will try to keep my distance from her even there though, okay?

” he said with a smile down at her and she nodded.

“You really are cute when you’re jealous.

You don’t have to be, and you certainly shouldn’t feel inadequate.

Start showing people who you really are Em, blow them away with not only your skills on the cheer team but also your skills with writing, with your beautiful, brilliant brain. ”

“We’ll see.” She leaned back slightly to see him better wanting to talk about anything but Crystal with him now. “How was dinner last night with your parents?”

“Good they keep asking me if they’re ever going to get to meet this girl that I’m spending all of my free time with though.

So…I wondered if you’d like to come over to my place for dinner sometime next week?

They’ll love you. My mom will probably be even more surprised that I have a girl like you than Megan was, but it won’t take them long to see what I do, and that is that you’re perfect for me and me you, baby. ”

Emma took a deep breath before nodding. She should at least try to get to know them, after all, he was amazing with her parents. She just didn’t know how his would react to her, if his mom was anything like some of her past boyfriends’ mothers, it wouldn’t be good.

“Yes? You’ll come to dinner with me?”

“Yes,” she stated, nodding again. “I want to come with you, and I want for this to come out, us being together, so that maybe part of those annoying girls will back the heck off you because they’ll know you’re mine.”

“Is that the only reason you want us to come out?” His question made her smile softly at him before she shook her head no. “What’s the other reason you want everyone to know now?”

Emma slid her arms over his shoulders lifting her lips to his with a lingering kiss before answering him, “So guys will leave me alone, won’t constantly hit on me with disgusting pickup lines, and know they have no chance because I’m in love with you.”

“Now that’s certainly a good reason for it,” he agreed cupping her cheek as it grew a little windier sending cold through them. “Right now though, I’ve got what I think is a good idea, but you tell me if you agree. How about we go somewhere a little warmer?”

“You practically read my mind.” She gladly let him help her up before gathering their things for the walk back to the car.

“So where are we going next?” she asked once they were headed back towards town, the clock showing just past ten.

“What do you want to do? I originally planned to spend longer up there but it’s just too cold still. We’ll have to come back later this year and spend the day there together.”

“That sounds incredible,” she said as her toes warmed in her fuzzy boots.

“I was going to go by the tailors at the mall to check on my dress for Court Warming. There was a huge group waiting last night so I figured I’d just do it today.

I still have time, so we don’t have to do that, but I’d like your opinion on it. ”

“You’re sure you want to be seen at the mall with me today?”

“Absolutely,” she said curling up in the sweatshirt further watching him drive.

Ben paused at the intersection, not sure if she wanted to change before heading to the mall and he glanced at her, smiling when he saw the look on her face. “What?”

“I just like watching you drive. You take such care to keep everyone safe. After riding with Carter and the accident I was a little scared to get in a car again but with you I know I’m safe.”

“Always Em,” he promised kissing her hand as he glanced around the intersection. “Do you want to go change first? You look absolutely gorgeous just as you are but if you want to stop by your place we can.”

“Who else do I have to impress? If you think I look good that’s good enough for me.”

His gaze slid over her putting a slight blush into her cheeks. “Baby, I think you look good all the time, but especially this morning with your hair a mess, no makeup on, and a little crease on your cheek from your pillow.”

She leaned over giving him a kiss before he turned the car towards the mall enjoying her just the way she was as long as she didn’t care.

He found a close spot and pulled into it, moving around to get her door not wanting to bother with his coat while in the mall.

She slid a hand up into her sweatshirt to keep her fingers warm and he was surprised when she slipped her other hand into his, tugging him towards the entrance when he stood rooted to his spot.

“Come on Benny-boy; come see my dress for the dance. I think you’ll love it,” she said turning back towards him with a grin he couldn’t resist.

“Careful there, Em or else I might decide to take another of those stolen kisses you still owe me.” He met her gaze before hurrying across the walkway and into the warmth of the building.

“Anytime you want Ben, I’m done hiding us.

I want everyone to know I love you, that I’m proud to be yours, and that you got into Columbia.

I’m telling your parents when we have dinner unless you do before then.

” Emma gave him a smile, holding onto his hand a bit tighter when his fingers began to loosen on her as they spotted a couple girls from their school across the open area watching them.

“I want that dinner to be about us, not what school I got into Emma.”

“It’ll be both, after all if you’re truly mine it won’t matter where I’m at while you’re at Columbia, right? You’ll still be my Benny-boy?”

“Always Em, I’m always yours,” he agreed, and she grinned brightly before heading towards the tailor shop to see what her dress looked like after the alterations.