Page 38 of Skyblossom
And we did enjoy the presentation—clapped along with broad declarations about Starfall and drank in the excitement that was palpable in the room, both from new and returning students, and I felt like the happiest person in the world seeing it all alongside the person I loved, alongsidemytrue love.
After the presentation and a long celebration at the Great Hall, I helped Summer move her things into her dorm, chattering the whole way about the silliest little drama from around campus, from the galeria, from her various friends who she’d heard from in bits and pieces over the summer, and we kept moving until the moment we were crashed in her dorm, everything successfully unpacked, and I dropped onto the side of her bed first, Summer dropping down next to me taking a long drink of water before she set it down.
“So… another year,” she said.
“Mm. Are you excited?”
“I am,” she laughed, looking at me with that impossibly fond look in her eyes. “But somehow it’s… not just about the year’s activities.”
I bit my lip. “Oh, no? I’ve heard you’re an overachiever. Making new potion extensions isn’t at the top of your list?”
“It’s on my list. I’ve got a ton of ideas, just like I’m sure learning new spells for enchantments is on your list, but I doubt it’s at the top of yours, either, is it?” she teased, nuzzling her nose into my cheek, and I giggled.
“It might be! You know me. Big nerd.”
“Oh, yeah? Well, you tell me. What is the top of your list?”
I stuck out my tongue. “Guess.”
“Hmm.” She slipped her hand to my lower back. “Recon activities for the Skyblossom Artifact Force and the Chocolate Cake Crew?”
“Close, but not quite.” I moved my hand to her hip, holding her tenderly, and I pressed my forehead against hers. “Nope. I’m thinking something… much closer.”
“Could it be… Knot?”
“Not Knot.”
She laughed, and she pressed a kiss against my lips, long and sweet and perfect, taking her time, not rushing anything. “I love you, Cadence,” she breathed against my lips, and I smiled into the kiss, kissing her again before I said,
“I love you, too, Summer. Always the top of my list… always will be.”
“Mm.” She kissed me again and caressed my cheek with a whispered, “Let’s fly again. I’ll brew up another batch of the potion. I want to see campus… with you.”
“Yes please. But not too soon. First comes this,” I said, and I deepened the kiss, and the noise she made said that she agreed with it.
It was almost an hour later that we were sprawled out on the bed together, a little tired, a lot satisfied, and she slipped her hand into mine on the bed between us, looking over in the soft twilight that came from outside.
“Gonna be a good one,” she said. I grinned.
“It is.”
The End