After Loving You
Page 17
Mia
“See, that wasn’t so bad, right?” I ask Mark, swaying in time with I don’t know what because it’s certainly not the music.
He laughs. “What, the heels that keep gouging my feet, or the awkward meeting with your ex where I wanted to scream ‘She picked me!’ at the top of my lungs?”
I laugh and swat playfully at his chest. “I told you we’d have fun tonight.”
“I always have fun with you.” He steps back and twirls me around. Then he smiles and pulls me back to him, which of course involves me stepping on his foot. As it turns out, he’s nowhere near a terrible dancer. Not like me.
“Sorry,” I say.
“It’s okay. We have plenty of time to practice. I’m figuring we won’t get married for at least another two years.”
“What?” I stop dancing and stare at him.
He laughs and reaches for me again. “Everyone is looking at us.” He wraps his arms around me, and we sway together again.
“That’s kind of a weird way to joke around, don’t you think?”
“Oh, it totally would be if I were joking.” He leans me back, dipping me, but instead of pulling me back up he holds me there. “My mom had us married off the day she met you, and I hate to break it to you, but she’s called every marriage in our family.”
“We’re still in college,” I say, swallowing hard.
“I graduate in May.” He lifts me back up, our faces not even inches apart. “You’ve only got a year after that. So I figure about two years until we discuss marriage.”
The initial shock of his comment wears off. I like his confidence, and it’s beyond sweet that he sees me as someone he could be with long-term. I can’t resist teasing him though. “And what makes you so sure we’ll be together in two years? We’ve only been together for a few months.”
He smiles. “You chose me, and I’m not letting you go. I’ve seen what losing you can do to a guy.” He nods in Jared’s direction. “He’s lucky he was able to move on and find someone else to love him. I’m not willing to take that chance.” He tightens his grip on me. “I’m keeping you right here with me. If you’ll have me, of course.” He kisses my jaw and pulls back to look at me.
“Oh, so I do get a say in this?”
He laughs. “That you’d have to take up with my mom. But fair warning, she’s used to getting her way.”
“I’ll remember that.” I wrap my arms around his neck, not caring that we’re in the middle of the dance floor and not moving at all. I’m sure people are watching us, and I don’t mind. I’m not embarrassed of my feelings for Mark or worried about what people will think of Jared and me finally moving on. Things are the way they should be. I’m sure of it.
“You should also know that I’m getting my own place after I graduate.”
“Really? Where?” If he takes a job, he may have to move away, and then he and I will be doing the long-distance thing until I finish school.
“Far enough to be away from drunk college students stumbling home at night, but close enough that you can drive to and from class in a matter of minutes.”
To and from class? “Are you…?”
“Asking you to move in with me next fall? Yes, that’s exactly what I’m doing. You don’t have to decide yet though. Just because I have our future planned out, doesn’t mean you have to.”
Wow. I’m not sure what to make of all this. It’s like he’s thought of everything. “When did you make all these decisions?”
“I think it pretty much happened when I walked into you that day on campus.” He takes my arms from behind his neck and holds my hands. “I told you something happened to me that day. You changed me. Maybe I was drawn to your personality, or maybe it really was love at first sight. I don’t really know. What I do know is that I love you and I don’t see a future without you. Is that okay?”
“More than okay.” I reach up on my toes and kiss him. The first of many kisses tonight and for a long time to come. Because like Mark, I know this is exactly where we are supposed to be—in each other’s arms, so completely in love.
Also by Ashelyn Drake
Campus Crush (New Adult romance)
Looking For Love (A Campus Crush companion novella)
Falling For You (Young Adult contemporary romance novella)
Perfect For You (Young Adult contemporary romance)
Our Little Secret (Young Adult contemporary romance)
Writing as Kelly Hashway
Touch of Death (Touch of Death #1)
Stalked by Death (Touch of Death #2)
Face of Death (Touch of Death #3)
The Monster Within (The Monster Within #1)
The Darkness Within (The Monster Within #2)
Into the Fire (Into the Fire #1)
Out of the Ashes (Into the Fire #2)
Up In Flames (Into the Fire #3)
Acknowledgments
First, I want to thank my editor, Beth Fred, for her hard work and great suggestions. Second, thank you to my proofreader, Patricia Bradley, for your careful attention to details. This book wouldn’t be here without you both.
Big thanks to my street team, Kelly’s Coven. You guys are amazing, and no one would know about this book without you. Thank you for all you do.
To my family, thank you for your continued support and understanding. I see so many authors who don’t have the support I have and I’m truly grateful for you.
To my readers and the many book bloggers, thank you for spreading the word about my books and for taking the time to read them.
About the Author
Ashelyn Drake is a romance author. While it’s rare for her not to have either a book in hand or her fingers flying across a laptop, she also enjoys spending time with her family. She believes you are never too old to enjoy a good swing set and there’s never a bad time for some dark chocolate. She also writes speculative fiction under the name Kelly Hashway. She is represented by Sarah Negovetich of Corvisiero Literary Agency.