Chapter 54

He kissed me good-bye at my dorm, and I hugged him so hard I could feel the button on his brand-spanking-new khakis.

“I’m glad we made up.” We’d basically just stopped talking. “Call me after.” We were even in separate groups for orientation that first evening. “We’ll get together, okay? No matter how late.”

It was around ten by the time we did. We took a walk outdoors. He carried a book with him he held close to his chest most of the time, and he was awfully quiet.

“You okay?” I asked.

“Mm-hmm. You?”

“No.”

“Me neither. Hey.” We stopped walking. “You know what we can do here?”

“What?”

“This.” He took my hand. “We don’t have to let go when someone walks by, like in the field. And we can do this.” He kissed me, a gentle peck, and then one that left the taste of him in my mouth. “See? No one cares.”

“I think Mama and Dad are going to like us as a couple.”

“I think so too. I really don’t think you have anything to worry about there, as far as coming out goes.”