“We?” Cara asks with knowing smirk.

“Your brother’s in my astronomy class. Can you believe that?”

“Yeah. He told me when he called.”

“He called? What for?”

Cara sits up and crosses her legs Indian style, hugging her pillow to her chest. “To see if you were home safely.”

It’s oddly comforting having him call to check on me. Maybe he’s as affected by the kiss as I am. “Does he want me to text him or something?” I have to play it cool or Cara will be all over me for details.

She smiles. “I’m sure he’d love that. But it can wait until you fill me in.”

Shit. “Okay, what do you want to know?”

“About the kiss for starters.” Shocked by her request, I spit some of my water out of my mouth wetting the floor in front of me.

“He told you!” I ask in shock. I didn’t realize he swapped stories with his sister so freely. Especially with how pissed he was catching her doing the deed.

“No, but you just did. I knew something was up when he called to check on you. Then you waltz in here like a fairy princess practically petting your freshly kissed lips.”

“Cara, I was not.” I totally was petting them.

“You were. So, as much as it pains me to ask about my brother’s skills, how was it?”

I smile at the memory of him pulling my body on top of his, unexpectedly removing me from my chair. “It was good.” It was fucking fantastic!

“That’s it? Good?” She looks at me knowingly, waiting for more.

“Are you sure this isn’t too weird for you.”

“Oh, it’s creepy as all get out but I love you both and need to know regardless.”

I dive onto my mattress and giggle. “It was freaking amazing, Cara. I’ve never been kissed so passionately in my life. Your brother has amazing lips.”

Cara flops back on her bed and quickly covers hear ears with the sides of her pillow, creating thick earmuffs surrounding her entire head. Groaning, she rolls around like she’s in pain. I, of course, can’t stop laughing at her reaction. I knew she wouldn’t be able to handle it.

Drew strolls in our room and looks back and forth between Cara and I wondering what’s going on. Cara’s oblivious to him even being in the room. “What’s her deal,” he asks.

“Ask her, I’m sure she’d love to tell you all about it.”

He sits down on the edge of Cara’s bed and sneaks his hand under the blanket. I’m pretty sure I know where he’s headed so I look the other way even though I can’t see anything. When I hear Cara’s high pitched squeal, I assumed correctly.

“Shit, Drew. I thought you were Sophie!” Drew’s dying of a laughter fit which earns him a love tap to the gut.

“Sorry, babe. When’s dinner? I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry.” She rolls her eyes and sits back up, rearranging her shorts in the process.

“Mostly for you.” He leans in and kisses her on the mouth. They’re entirely too cute and it makes me wish Kipton lived in the dorm too. “Since I can’t have you right now, let’s get pizza for dinner.”

“You can have me later. Little Italy works for me. They even have the crushed ice in the soda fountain.” Cara moans and licks her lips. The girl has an ice addiction.

“You’re an easy woman to please, you know that Cara?” Drew declares.

She smiles adoringly at him and holds his hand, interlocking their fingers as she fiddles with the ring on her thumb. “You always please me.” She looks up at him through thick lashes and I can tell she’s about to jump him from the looks of it.

“Guys, cut it out! I don’t need to hear about your sexual shenanigans.”

Cara’s quick with her comeback. “Says the girl who was sucking face with my brother all afternoon.”

Drew raises his eyebrows in surprise. “Bout time. Oh, and speaking of Kipton. I forgot to tell you he’s stopping by to talk to me tonight before his date with Sophie.”

Cara’s freak out coming in 3, 2, 1. . . .“What! Why would he do that? I’ll kick his ass.” Drew and I both crack up at her exuberant reaction.

“Calm down, killer. It was my idea. I called him and asked,” Drew assures her.

Cara huffs and crosses her arms defensively as she looks back and forth between Drew and I. “You two are making me nuts. First I hear about Kipton’s lips, now my, well whatever you are is calling him to chat.” She waves her hands back and forth between her and Drew in exasperation.

“What do you mean whatever I am?” Drew questions.

“Well, I don’t know. We never discussed anything.” Her cheeks heat and for the first time, I get a glimpse of shy Cara. I wasn’t sure she existed.

“Then let’s make it official.”

Cara’s eyes widen in surprise. “You’re sure?”

“Yes. We’re having sex aren’t we?” Drew leans in to Cara and claims her lips in a sweet, chaste kiss. It’s very PG for the two of them.

“We are, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Drew looks like she just slapped him. “It means something to me. You’re mine.”

“I didn’t mean it the way it came out, Drew. Just that it doesn’t have to mean something if you don’t want it to.”

He caresses her cheek in his hand and places a few more soft kisses on her lips. “Well, I want it to.”

“You’re sure?” Cara asks again for clarification she knowingly doesn’t need.

Drew jumps on top of her in the bed and pins her arms above her head. “Ask me again, I dare you,” he challenges. Cara starts laughing as Drew tickles her senseless. I’m worried clothes are going to start flying so I chime in before either of them forget I’m sitting here.

“Okay kids, playtime’s over. As romantic as that whole moment was, I need to get a little work done before my own hot date tonight.”

Drew climbs off Cara and huffs. “Fine. I’ll let you two ladies do your thing. I’ll be back for pizza in an hour though.”

Cara sits up, resting on her elbows while she watches him leave our room. I don’t miss the blissful look in her eyes as she realizes she has officially landed herself a boyfriend. I’m happy for her, although slightly jealous of their effortless connection. Maybe someday I’ll be able to dive head first into a relationship without carrying a bunch of heavy baggage along with me.

I take out my astronomy notebook and page through my chapter notes. Doodling in the margin, I draw a few hearts and stars haphazardly around the paper. My mind becomes lost in thoughts of Kipton simply from opening the textbook for the class. Deciding this might not be the best time to tackle my astronomy homework, I find my phone and fire off a text to Kipton.

Sophie: Thanks for checking on me.

Kipton: Always.

He replies within seconds, making me smile at the words on the screen. Always. I’ve never had an always anything. I almost don’t know what to do with the letters, but I welcome them.

“Hey, Sophie.”

“Yeah, Cara?” I turn around in my desk chair and am surprised to see Cara looking incredibly defeated.

“What’s wrong?”

“I dunno. I’m happy, but really really nervous,” she admits.

I get up from my chair knowing my work will have to wait. “About what exactly?”

“I don’t want to screw it up with Drew.”

I have no idea where she’s going with this. “Okay. Why would you screw it up?”

“I don’t have the best track record when it comes to dating guys. I’ve been looking for a guy like Drew forever. I finally found him, but what if he’s too good to be true?”

“There’s no magic eight ball that can predict the future. But you guys are adorable together. Honestly, I think he’s just as lucky to have you. Enjoy spending time with him and don’t hold yourself back because you’re scared. But if things do get more serious than they already are, you should have this conversation with him. Let him know where you stand. And maybe the other guys didn’t work out because they weren’t who you were supposed to be with.”

“I can do that. Are you going to take your own advice?” She cuddles back down under the covers of her bed.