Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
IT’S BEEN SIX DAYS SINCE I’ve seen Alex. Six days since he walked away without looking back. Six days since he called me February and broke my heart all over again.
Alex’s flight was at four PM yesterday afternoon. There was no call. No text. No declaration of love taped to my door. He just boarded his plane without any final word, and left.
A traitorous tear leaks from the corner of my eye and drops onto my pillow. Hastily, I wipe my face so that no others get any ideas. I swore I was done crying over him last night when I tracked his flight and saw it had landed safely at Atlanta International Airport.
My phone pings, and I curse my stupid heart for fluttering. It’s not going to be him. I know it’s not. But I can’t help but hold my breath when I swipe the screen.
Millie: You ready to get your Sextival on???
I release a heavy sigh. I should be ecstatic. I should have butterflies and nervous jitters. But all I feel is the crushing weight that I’m never going to see Alex again.
I text back a thumbs-up emoji.
Millie: Are you fucking kidding me??? A thumbs-up??? June Lorainne Wells, you get your ass out the door right now before I throw your iced coffee away.
A genuine smile crosses my face. Two minutes later, there’s a knock at my door, and I finally get myself out of bed.
As soon as Millie enters my apartment, my entire demeanor shifts.
She always has a way of lifting my spirits, no matter how dire.
For an entire week after Kevin dumped me, I was determined to never leave my bed again.
I was just going to grow old in my dorm room and become some legend at Barrett.
But Millie stuck a barstool in the corner and put on a one-woman show that was better than any comedy special I’d ever seen.
Millie lugs the condom dress from my closet and hoists it on the bed. “Holy shit, this is heavy. How on earth did you get it up here?”
“Alex …” I sigh, remembering the way he came back to my apartment after our road trip. How he lingered, waiting for me to invite him to stay.
“No, June, come on. We can’t go back there right now. We need to focus on Sextival.”
She’s right.
She reaches for the zipper on the garment bag, but I shake my head.
“I won’t be able to get down the stairs in that. I’ll put it on after we set up.”
Millie nods, and together, we heave it out the door and into my car.
We get to campus a little after nine. To my delight, facilities marked all the spaces for the booths with white spray paint on the grass and dropped off rectangular tables and folding chairs in every spot.
There are twenty stations in total, two rows of ten on either side of the large concrete walkway.
“This is going to be epic,” Millie says, depositing a bright tablecloth on each surface. I follow behind with the balloons and tie them to each booth.
A group of thirty or so students strides through the quad. Some are mine and some are Alex’s—who I suppose are now also mine. When I see their enthusiasm, I can’t help but smile with them.
“Professor Wells, how can we help?” A tall girl with brown hair and freckles leads the charge.
I glance at Millie, and she gives me a reassuring nod.
Okay, deep breath. Everyone worked their asses off for this event, and we are going to give them the best Sextival ever.
“Thanks for coming, everyone. I can’t tell you how much we appreciate you being here to help with this event.
Professor McCann and I are going to divide you into two groups, and we’re going to get this show on the road! ”
Millie and I split the students up and give them a list of tasks, from building canopies to setting up games. Members from student orgs begin arriving on the scene, taking their places at their booths.
Thirty minutes into setup, thanks to all the hands on deck, everything is in place. I smile proudly as I sweep my gaze across the bright colors and eye-catching signs. I elbow Millie. “Did you see the arts and crafts table?”
She gasps, covering her mouth. A three-foot cardboard cutout of a cartoon penis with googly eyes and stick arms is holding a sign that says, Decorate a Dick. A matching vulva with a cheeky grin says, Color a Cooter.
A petite student with a digital camera steps up and attempts to steady her hands as she snaps a photo of the booth.
“Are you okay?” I ask her.
She nods shyly, a blush creeping all the way to the tops of her ears. “I’m from the Barrett Beacon. I was assigned to cover the event.”
Millie and I exchange glances that say, Awww, she’s so cute.
“This is Professor June Wells, the event coordinator,” Millie says, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “Let us know if you have any questions or need a quote.”
The student nods, tucking a chunk of hair behind her ear as she continues on, assessing the other booths and taking more photos.
“We should have given her some pearls to clutch,” Millie says.
I shake my head. “I used to be her. Hopefully this event piques her curiosity rather than scars her.”
Millie laughs, then nudges my shoulder. “Come on, Condom Queen. Let’s get you dressed.”
We step behind one of the canopies and hoist the elaborate garment out of the bag. Carefully, we drape it on the grass, fanning out the layers.
“Ready?” I ask.
Millie’s brow furrows. “You’re not going to take off your jeans and tank top?”
“Hell no.” I laugh. “I’m not about to get caught with my pants down on campus.
Besides …” I shrug. “It’ll be easier to slip it off without having to hide in the bushes somewhere.
Or god forbid trying to do it in a bathroom stall.
” I lift my leg and almost lose my balance as I attempt to step into the center.
“Here, give me your hand,” Millie says, holding me steady as I try again. Once I’ve got both feet in the massive skirt, I squat down and slip my arms through the straps.
“You need to help me lift the sleeves, otherwise I’ll get stuck,” I tell her, praying she doesn’t decide to pull a prank on me at the last second.
“Got it.” She walks behind me, tugging on the first strap. It doesn’t budge. She tries again, mumbling, “Oomph,” under her breath, but it barely moves an inch. “It’s really stuck,” she says. “Give me a sec.”
A few moments later, she slides her fingers under the thick band, brushing my skin as she easily lifts it over my shoulder. A chill runs through me at the contact, making me shiver.
Holy shit. That felt … intimate.
She moves to the other side, repeating the same motion. A slow slide of her fingers skating over my skin, her breath caressing my neck as she adjusts the strap into place then smooths her warm hands over my shoulders and down my back.
I shiver again as a familiar tingle rushes through me. One I haven’t felt since Thursday, when I last saw Alex.
Oh my god … am I hot for Millie?
She grasps my waist, turning me to face her, but I close my eyes. I can’t look at her. Not after that.
“Millie,” I gasp, my eyes squeezed tight. “What the fuck are you doing?”
But when I finally squint one eye open, it’s not Millie at all.
“Alex?”
Did the dress cut off my circulation? Am I hallucinating?
A swallow works down his throat. “Hey.”
I frantically search his eyes. “What are you doing here?”
He shrugs. “Come on, April, I couldn’t let you down.”
Before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around his neck. An all-consuming warmth envelops me, embedding itself all the way to the marrow of my bones. There’s only one way to describe the feeling.
Home.
He leans down, burying his face in the crook of my neck, deeply inhaling. Do I feel like home to him, too?
“God, I missed you,” he says into my hair. My legs tremble, and his grip tightens around my waist.
“Alex?” Someone says in disbelief, and it breaks the spell between us. I pull back, and our department chair steps forward. “What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Atlanta.”
Without taking his eyes off mine, Alex says. “I’m heading out tonight.”
My heart shrivels, and I take another step back. He’s not staying. He’s still leaving. He’s only here for the event.
Dr. Padilla purses her lips. “Isn’t your orientation tomorrow morning?”
He nods without missing a beat. “Eight AM sharp.”
“What time does your flight get in?” I hate how pathetic my voice sounds.
His mouth lifts in a halfhearted smile. “A little before one.”
“One? In the morning?” I shake my head. “Alex.”
“Trust me, it’s worth it.” He cups my cheek and gives me a long, slow kiss. Right in front of Dr. Padilla. To my absolute shock, she doesn’t say a word. In fact, she looks pleased.
He tilts back, leaving me a little dazed. A goofy grin takes over my face. And his. Then he grasps my hand, leading me away. “Show me the rest of the booths.”