Page 19 of The Boy Next Door

As I change for bed, the acceptance letter sits on the desk in my room. It's a few pages of paper, yet now I wonder how much they really weigh.

There's a knock on my door.

"Come in."

Dad pokes his head in. "Darn, I hoped to catch you before you put on pajamas."

"Uh, why?"

He hovers by the door, unsure if he's welcome further. "Your mother and I want what's best for you. You know that, right?"

"Dad…"

"Maybe we don't agree on what that is."

"Hold on, give me a second."

Before he came in, I was texting Hunter. Well, deciding whether to send him a fifth text.

Sam: Guess who just got accepted into Steadfast? Me! So exciting!

After sending that first message, I immediately regretted it. What if he thinks I'm bragging? Did he even apply to college? The other texts are... better not repeated.

I only wanted him to know. I don't expect much... maybe a congratulations? The first two messages were read. He probably decided to ignore the others.

Whatever. It isn't a big deal... I'm excited about the acceptance, sure, but it's understandable if he's underwhelmed... I just hope he isn't drifting away again.

Sitting on my bed, I nod at Dad to continue. I'm afraid of what he wants to discuss, but it's better than obsessing about a boy.

He sits down next to me. "I'm proud of you."

"It's only one acceptance."

"Not for that." He has the look on his face that leads to parental pride and embarrassment. "You were serious about art school and followed through."

"Really?" I haven't heard this before from either of them.

"As much as I hope you're within visiting distance," he chuckles. "I understand you're excited about art school. And it's ultimately your decision."

"What about Mom?"

"Think she just needed to get it out of her system." He considers this. "If not, I'll talk to her."

"Thanks." I give him a hug, perhaps squeezing him a tad too tightly, but he doesn't mention it. He just squeezes back.

When I move away, I stare down at my blue-striped pajama pants. "What's wrong with my pajamas?"

"Wasn't sure if you'd want Hunter seeing you this way."

"What?" My head whips around. The curtains are closed, so there's no chance of whoever's on the other side glimpsing me.

"Because you're going to sneak out and visit him," Dad explains.

"I... I am? I can't do that!"

"Well, between you and me," he confides dryly, "it's not technically sneaking if I give you permission."

~

Navigating through the garden is a floral minefield at night with the outdoor lights off. I fumble through the dark and pray I don't injure myself. I texted Hunter again before I left. Now I hover near the back door, debating whether peeking in the windows is too creepy.

Raising a hand to knock softly on the door—

"Ah!" I leap back.

"Whoa, sorry." Light from inside silhouettes Hunter, his hair appears darker like I remember it, and then he steps out and closes the door.

"You scared me!"

There's a flash of white from his teeth. "You tell me you're here and I'm not supposed to meet you?"

"I wasn't even sure if you got my messages!"

"Wasn't sure you were really outside." His voice drops a few octaves. "Wanna come in? You can stay over."

...Stay over? With him??? In his bed??? My brain breaks. While I'm scared, maybe even terrified, part of me is also excited . However...

"I can't stay long." Dad promised he'd alert the 'warden' if I'm not back in fifteen minutes.

"Hey, don't worry." He places a hand on my arm. Even the innocent touch makes it hard to think. "Somebody's college bound, huh?"

"Oh, so you know."

"Yeah? You texted me." He clears his throat. "College, it's... You know, yay you."

"Yay me?" I repeat. What the…

"Yeah, good hustle out there." He punches me on the shoulder.

"What?" I rub at where he hit, not from hurt. It's just... weird.

"I'm not sure how to act supportive," he confesses while I wish I could see his face. "I ' m happy for you, but expressing it... did I already say 'yay college'?"

Since he sounds stilted and awkward, I think he's given up altogether when he ducks back inside.

Meeting him in the dark for a stolen moment felt exciting, but was there any risk of being caught? I doubt anyone minds if he leaves the house late. I'm alone in the dark for a few seconds, feeling totally pathetic, when he's back.

"This isn't much, but it's for you." There's a faint glow from a single candle in a large cupcake with heaps of decadent frosting. "I grabbed the candle because it's dark out here, so don't blow it out."

"Thanks." I accept the dessert gently as if it's precious.

"Best I could do on short notice. Most stores here close at eight."

Something blooms, spreading across my chest, a heat not born from passion, but from tenderness. Here I worried he didn't care about my messages, but he didn’t answer because he went out and tried to find something nice for me while a few stores were still open. He bought this and made an effort.

We said we’d give this a try, but it’s really real.

He’s the first person I wanted to tell about my news, He did something sweet to celebrate, almost like a supportive boyfriend would.

I have no idea how I got here with Hunter Cruse and why I’m liking it so much, but I don’t think I want it to stop.

"Hey, why'd you blow it out?" he asks as we’re plunged into darkness.

I answer by finding his lips in the dark.