Chapter 31

Emilia comes rushing into my room and closes the door behind her. I sit up at my desk, startled. Her cheeks are flushed and she’s panting, as though she ran all the way here. She looks stunning, and I’ve missed her like crazy. The last few months have been tough.

I’ve had to put my all into school and football, and on top of that Kate has been keeping a good eye on the two of us. Forget pranks or kisses, I’ve barely been able to have a single full conversation with my Minx.

“I heard you got scouted,” she says, her chest rising and falling. I look away and nod. Word travels fast, I see. I was going to tell her myself, but it looks like someone beat me to it.

“Sort of, but not exactly. Coach got in touch with the Coach at USC to come and watch me play. God, Minx. I’ve never been more nervous, but it was so worth it. They offered me a partial athletic scholarship. Can you believe that? They said the award letter would likely arrive today or tomorrow. If everything goes to plan and my grades don’t slip, I’ll get a partial academic scholarship too, and between them, most if not all of my college fees will be covered. I’m so relieved, Minx. You have no idea. Football scholarships are usually renewed every year, though. If I get injured or don’t perform well enough, I might be at risk of not graduating, but I’m trying not to worry about that for now.”

Emilia nods and walks up to me. I wrap my arms around her waist. Just holding her sets my heart at ease.

“Carter, I’m so proud of you,” she says. “You have no idea. I’ve seen firsthand how hard you’ve worked for this, and I’m so happy it all worked out.”

I blush and pull her closer to hide my embarrassment.

“You’re honestly so impressive,” she continues. “I don’t know anyone that’s got football offers and might also get an academic scholarship. Carter, you’re the best.”

I grin and bury my head in her chest, and she laughs. “It’s only one football offer, Minx. It’d be much more impressive if I could get a full scholarship for either, but I’m very happy with this.”

“Where are you touching?” she whispers. I press a kiss to her chest and she giggles. A shrill sound interrupts us, followed by the sound of someone rushing up the stairs. Emilia and I pull away from each other seconds before my mother storms into my room, her face flushed.

“It came,” she says, her eyes wide. My heart drops. Mom doesn’t even have to tell me what it is. I know exactly what she’s talking about. The letter offer letter from USC is here. I follow her down the stairs. I didn’t think I’d be so nervous, but I am.

My parents, Kate and Emilia are all seated around the dining table as I stare at the letter from USC. It’s my dad’s alma mater, and the school both Kate and I have always wanted to get into, but if I didn’t get the academic scholarship, I won’t be able to attend. What if I open it and it says I’ve been awarded the athletic scholarship, but not the academic one? Emilia smiles at me and nods.

“Open it,” she whispers. I pick it up with trembling hands. My dad hands me the letter opener and I slice through the envelope. It takes me ages to read it. I stare at it in disbelief. I don’t know how much time has gone by, but everyone’s expression falls one by one. My parents and Kate look at each other, worried, but Emilia grins and takes the letter from my hands.

“Congratulations,” she reads out. My dad exhales in relief and claps me on the back.

“Had me worried there, kiddo,” he says. My mother squeals and Kate looks at me like I just hung the moon and the stars. Emilia smiles at me as though she never had any doubt I’d make it. She hands me back the letter and I put it away carefully. My family hugs me one by one, and finally Emilia is in my arms. She hugs me tightly and presses her lips against my throat.

“I’m so proud of you,” she whispers. I tighten my grip on her and smile widely. I hold her much longer than I held anyone else and don’t pull away until my dad clears his throat. Emilia blushes and I smile. Staying away from her in the last few months has been tough as fuck. It doesn’t help that she keeps looking at me like she’s thinking about the things she wants to do to me. I’ll take every second that I can get with my Minx.

Mom grabs a bottle of champagne while dad hands each of us a glass. “This is a special occasion and definitely a reason to celebrate so you can all have a few sips,” Mom says, filling up our glasses. I’ve waited for this day for what seems like forever. We all toast and celebrate. Everyone is just as happy as I am. If anything, my parents might actually be even happier. Even mom’s strict no drinking rule is out the window.

Emilia slips onto the patio with her champagne glass in hand, and I follow her. The warm breeze blows through her hair and ruffles her satin skirt. She looks stunning, and she looks hurt. I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her from behind. She stiffens and turns in my arms, startled. She was so lost in thought she didn’t even notice me.

“Carter,” she says, her voice tinged with longing. I smile down at her and wrap my hands around her waist. She places her palms on my chest and steps closer to me. “Congratulations,” she murmurs.

I grin and dip my head. “Hmm… shouldn’t you reward me for my accomplishment?” I whisper. My eyes fall to her lips and Emilia looks at me with blazing eyes. The need between us is palpable.

“We shouldn’t,” she says. My lips brush against hers and she gasps softly.

“Make an exception for me, baby. It’s been so long.”

Emilia rises to her tiptoes and kisses me. Her arms wrap around my neck and she pushes her breasts against me. I groan and tangle my hand in her hair, pulling her as close as I can get her. I kiss her deeply, our tongues tangling together. The way she moves her body against mine drives me crazy. She giggles when my hard on presses against her stomach.

Emilia’s lips are on mine when the door opens behind us. We spring apart before my mom walks out. We’re both acting awkwardly, but thankfully mom ignores our behavior. I’m sure she knows something is going on or she wouldn’t have asked us if we were dating, but I’m grateful she isn’t on us the way Kate is. Mom hands me her phone with a wide smile.

“Grandma wants to speak to you,” she says. I smile and take the phone from her while Emilia blushes and disappears back inside. My heart is still hammering when I walk back into the house. Emilia is sitting next to Kate and looks up when I walk in.

“I’m proud of you, son,” my dad says. “I knew you’d get in. You’ve worked really hard and it’s paid off, kiddo.”

My mom nods and throws her arm around my shoulder. “My little boy is all grown up now,” she says. I shake my head and blush — so embarrassing. Kate and Emilia giggle and I glare at them. I’m glad to see Emilia smiling. Lately, her mood seems to drop whenever anyone mentions me going away to college. It takes a couple of days to drive home from USC so it won’t be easy for me to come back often, and it’ll be two years before Emilia and Kate join me, if they end up getting into USC at all. Things will change soon. We won’t be able to play pranks on each other, and I won’t have any more stolen moments with her. I won’t see her every day anymore. A lot can change in the two years that we’ll be mostly separated. I’m not sure what things are going to be like between us. Would we text and call? Would we stay in touch at all? I can’t imagine my life without Emilia, but I have no idea what our future holds.