Page 52 of I Would Stay Forever (Parkhurst Prep #2)

ONE YEAR LATER

Autumn in British Columbia was colder than I was used to, but I didn’t mind too much.

I just pulled on a jean jacket over my jumper—and it did still feel odd to be choosing my outfits every day instead of a uniform—and brought a coffee to keep me warm as I sat on a bench on campus and waited for my boyfriend to meet me.

It had all come together like fate. Dean and I made an agreement early on that we wouldn’t make decisions on where we would go for university based on each other.

We would both rather make a long-distance relationship work than risk resenting each other because we gave up our dreams. We knew we were applying to many of the same programs, but it wasn’t a guarantee of getting into the same place or choosing the same one.

Until it was exactly what we did.

That conversation in the guidance office had piqued my interest in going into sports medicine and I’d told Emma I wanted to apply to some Kinesiology programs. She’d somehow been even more elated at that news than when I told her I wanted to study psychology and she’d been all too happy to help.

Within months, I’d gotten acceptance letters to them all.

I did end up deciding that some distance from North Glen would do me some good, but I also kept my promise to Dean—I didn’t leave until I had something to be running to.

My future.

“You brought your own coffee?” The words were almost a whine and I laughed, especially once a takeout cup was held in front of my face, waving slightly. I snatched it from his grip before he could decide to take it back.

“I can always use more,” I said. I took a sip of the one he brought me, humming happily as I realized it was a special drink that I didn’t know how to make myself. The coffee I’d brought was just a basic one with cream. “Thank you.”

He came around to sit next to me on the bench, sliding close enough for our thighs to be pressed together, and threw an arm around me. I noted he was only wearing a University of BC hoodie with no extra layers over top and cursed him for being able to stay warm in any weather.

“I’m still waiting for my payment,” he reminded me.

I rolled my eyes but leaned in to kiss him, taking the chance to gently brush my hand through his soft hair, which had become my favorite hobby sometime in the last year.

He smiled against my lips. “Hmmm, no, I don’t think that was enough.

It was a very expensive coffee, you know. ”

I laughed and shoved him gently, but then kissed him again anyway. Who was I to complain that my boyfriend wanted me that much?

I stayed cuddled up close to him as I took another long gulp from the coffee, smiling to myself once again.

“How long until Intro to Kinesiology?” I asked, grabbing his wrist and tilting it my way so I could read the time on his smart watch.

“We’ve got time,” Dean said. He smirked and I already knew what he was going to say as he went, “Whatever shall we do to pass the time?”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Maybe,” he agreed. “But I think you like me that way.”

I could have told him that I didn’t and kept the argument going.

Normally, I probably would have since he was just so fun to tease.

But today, I was all too happy to give in to him.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his, soon grateful that this area of campus was pretty dead right now so there weren’t many people to see us heavily making out on a random bench.

A year ago, the idea of this would have made me break into hives. How could I possibly try to leave North Glen, yet bring Dean as a permanent reminder with me? How could I let myself fall into his arms, trusting him to protect me and love me forever? Was I out of my mind?

And maybe I was. But I was out of my mind with love, which was maybe the best version of it there was.