Fell In Love With My Roomy Chapter 118

"We didn't have to go somewhere this nice," I mumble as Kent sends his credit card back for our tab.

He'd chosen a new steakhouse he'd heard about through a family friend. It was delicious, but quite expensive. I would have been happy doing anything with him; it didn't have to be this fancy.

"Juls, let me treat you." He sighs. "It's a special night. We've done diners and chain restaurants before. This is special, and I wanted to do something nice. I didn't want our fancy clothes to go to waste."

"Well, I really appreciate it," I mumble, and he smiles, reaching out for my hands. "You keep showing up when I miss you," I whisper, and he chews the inside of his cheek, suppressing a smile.

"That's my job," he sighs. "I'm trying to be there for you more when you need me and keep you updated."

"I'm happy about that," I shrug, feeling his thumb brushing my knuckles. Kent's card is returned to our table, and he puts it away, motioning for the two of us to leave. I put on my coat and lean into his side as we walk back down the sidewalk.

"I'll get us an Uber, hold on-"

"It's a nice night, Kent," I whisper, tugging his sleeve. "Let's make the fifteen-minute walk back."

He smiles at me, and I grab his hand as he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close.

"Where... are you planning on staying? Or for us to stay?" I ask, unsure of his plans.

"I thought I'd stay in your room if that's alright," he suggests. "Give you that experience you never had of sleeping in a dorm bed with someone else."

"Really?" I chuckle, and he nods.

"Yeah, I don't want you to sleep far away," he admits. "I've missed having you home and near me."

"I miss you too," I sigh. "Like all the time. I think about you and... think about where we left things," I mumble, and he nods quietly.

"Look, I didn't come to put pressure on you. I know you've already got way too much happening. I just wanted to."

"Kent," I cut in, and he nods. "I want our old relationship back. I called you my boyfriend for a reason tonight. I want to go back to us being together." He stops walking completely, mouth hanging open. "I did need that time; it was good for me to get my head screwed on right, but... I missed you the whole time."

"You're serious?"

"Completely serious," I answer with a nod. "I'm sorry I didn't bring it up sooner, but it felt weird to do this over a FaceTime call."

He cuts me off with a kiss, and I giggle, leaning into it. I've never been more in the moment than I am right now, on the sidewalk, with Kent.

"Julianna," he mumbles, holding my face in his hands, and I smile. "I've missed you so much."

My heart nearly melts when he says that, because he's being totally honest with me. He says it all the time, but having him here in front of me makes it feel different.

"Me too," I answer quietly.

"Let's get home; it's cold out here," he suggests, and I nod, latching onto his arm for the walk back.

I couldn't be more pleased with this surprise; he'd done a lot of nice things for me over the past few months, and I loved him for it. He'd changed completely; he'd started to like me, and more importantly, he'd started liking himself.

"This is my building," I mumble, gesturing up ahead, and he smiles.

"Looks about right."

"Where'd you leave your stuff anyway?" I ask, feeling confused.

"At the desk," he shrugs, and I furrow my eyebrows, getting my card out for the sensor on the door.

"They let you do that?"

"Yeah, they didn't seem to mind," he tells me, and I roll my eyes, hearing the door click as the sensor unlocks. Of course Kent had gotten someone to allow that; people always bent over backward for him.

He strolls right up to the desk, retrieving his bag from the blushing RA and then puts his hand out for mine.

We go up to my room, and I unlock my door, swinging it open for him to follow. He immediately drops his bag on the ground and scoops me into his arms. I scream, and he laughs, kicking the door shut.

"Wow, this place brings back memories," he sighs, kissing my cheek and tossing me on my bed. I laugh, sitting up a bit, and he takes off his suit jacket, putting it on the back of my desk chair.

"Good ones?" I ask, flicking on the string of fairy lights behind my bed.

"Hell no," he chuckles, and I reach down to undo my shoes. "Makes me think of having the flu, Mark's non-stop hook-ups, and my feet hanging off the end of my bed," he looks around at the few things I've put up to make it feel a bit more like home.

"In some ways, I'm kind of glad I never lived in residence the first year," I shrug, and he pauses on a framed picture I have on my desk.

It's one of our friend group in our apartment; he smiles a bit and picks it up, looking at it more closely.

"When was this?"

"I don't really know; it was some good grade Kyle got on something, and we threw a last-minute party in our place," I suggest, and he nods with a faint smile. "What?"

"I liked you when we took this," he mumbles, and I grin. It was before Dane, before we kissed.

"Dane, before we kissed."

"I liked you too," I admit, and he sets it back in its place. "I like you even more now if you can believe it."

His face lights up, and I grin, watching him walk over to me and sit beside me. He kisses my cheek, and I lean into his chest.

"Ditto," he whispers, running his fingers through my hair. A pleasant chill runs through me, and he reaches down, undoing his dress shoes. He then kicks them off, and the two of us recline back against the pillows.

"Did you wear that suit on the plane?"

"Sure did," he whispers. "Didn't want to miss your thing; I knew you were anxious about it."

"I'm anxious about a lot of things," I whisper, and he grins. "If you took a plane every time I did, you'd be broke."

"That's why you live right across the hall," he teases, and I smile.

"How's all that going?"

"Abby hasn't stopped hounding me for information since last night," he grumbles, and I laugh. "She's even been texting me for it; it's getting annoying."

"It's a nice change of pace from people hating us," I point out, and he shakes his head.

"They don't hate us; they don't even hate us together, baby; it's just a shock," he reminds me, and I nod. "It's still completely quiet around campus, only three people know because... well, I want to be able to do it together. I care about you, and I want to jump in at the same time, not with you here with too much on your mind."

"I appreciate that," I whisper, and he nods. "How does Mark seem about it now?"

"He's... getting better," he shrugs. "He'll probably warm up about it when you're back for real."

"I hope so."

"Kyle is fine for the most part; he asks how you are a lot," he admits, and I smile. "This is hard for them; it's harder than telling Piper, for god's sake, because she would just be mad. The two of them like both of us; the situation's the hard part."

I pull my head off his chest and smile briefly. "Very insightful."

"I'm good at reading the room and reading people; had to be with my family," he shrugs. "But I'm trying to stay friendly; I'm doing it for you, baby. Otherwise, I'd be terrible back."

"That's a lot of personal growth," I tease, and he pulls me back down to kiss him. I sigh, feeling him roll us onto our sides, and I wrap my arms around the back of his neck. I run my fingers through his hair and then bring my hands to the top of his dress shirt, undoing the first button.

I hook one of my legs over his waist, undoing the second one, and he pulls back from the kiss, forehead resting on mine.

"Come on, Kent," I whisper, and he smirks.

"Not tonight," he whispers back, and I blink.