Chapter 34: Comfort of Home

As I finished my class, I gathered my belongings and prepared to head out. Charlotte stopped me, her bright smile lighting up her face. She’d recently dyed her hair green. And not just the tips or the roots, but her whole freaking head.

I had to admit that the style suited her.

“Do you want to hang out with the robotics crowd after this?” she asked. “Both Adam and Joshua told me they want you to spend more time with us!”

I returned her smile, grateful for her invitation, but already knowing my plans for the evening.

“Thanks, Charlotte, but I’ve actually got plans with James already,” I replied. Just thinking about it made my heart beat like crazy.

Charlotte gave me a knowing smile. She twirled a piece of hair around her finger.

“Ah, I see. Well, have fun then!” she said, her tone teasing.

I appreciated her understanding. She was such a drama-free, easy-going person.

“Thanks, I will,” I replied, before bidding her goodbye and heading off to meet James.

I stepped out of the classroom and there he was. James was waiting patiently for me, as he always did. A smile spread across my face as I rushed towards him. My heart fluttered. We greeted each other with a warm hug.

“Hey there,” James murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead before we linked arms and began walking towards his car.

As we settled into the familiar comfort of the car, I shared the details of my day with him.

“Charlotte dyed her hair green,” I told him as we neared the car. “I think she was trying to look like Crosshairs, although it’s not Halloween.”

James laughed at that.

“She really is obsessed with transformers,” James added.

“You can say that again. She wants me to hang out with her and our mutual friends more often. And I’d like you to join us,” I said.

James opened my car door and helped me inside.

“You should. And I’ll join— but I don’t have much to add to conversations revolving around robotics.”

He closed the door and walked around. Once in his seat I said, “No? We’ll talk about football then.”

“Really?” His eyebrows shot to his hairline.

“Nope. No one in my friend-group knows anything about football,” I said.

This made James laugh. We began driving.

“We should speak about Les Misérables then,” he winked at me. He took a turn here and there.

“And tell them how much you enjoyed watching it?”

We both laughed.

“But enough about me… what have you been up to?” I placed my hands in my lap.

“Lately, I've been volunteering at an animal shelter,” he told me, a hint of excitement in his voice. “It's been incredibly fulfilling, Keily. Helping out with all those animals, seeing their tails wag with gratitude—it's been a real eye-opener for me.”

Good. That was really good to hear. For so long, I had worried about James, watching him struggle to find his place at MIT. I’d watched him suffer because of his parents’ expectations, his own expectations, and mine. But now, seeing him so happy and relaxed, it was like that weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

Dropping out had been the right decision for him. His mental health had drastically improved since. And that made my heart feel lighter.

“That's amazing, James,” I replied, while squeezing his thigh. “I'm so glad you've found something that brings you joy.”

He seemed so much happier now. His smile was bigger, warmer. His eyes didn’t have dark circles under them anymore.

James smiled warmly, his eyes reflecting the contentment I felt radiating within me.

“I am, Keily. I really am. And I’m going to keep trying new things until I figure out what I want to do.”

That made me nod.

Back home, the atmosphere was cozy and familiar. The kitchen was clean, but the living room things were out of place. There was a pillow on the floor. The blanket wasn’t folded. One of us had accidentally kicked the plant over—spilling dirt on the carpet.

It was these little things that made it feel like home.

We kicked off our shoes and settled onto the couch. The soft glow of the TV cast gentle shadows across the room.

“I’m hungry,” I stated.

There used to be a time when I refused to be the first one to bring up food. It made me uncomfortable. It made me feel self-conscious. But now I was confident—both in my own skin and with James.

“Why don’t we order takeout from our usual burger spot?” James suggested. He pulled their website up on his phone while I scrolled through Netflix for something to watch.

“Sounds good.”

He chose a cheeseburger, fries, and soda before handing me the phone. My stomach grumbled. Everything on the menu was good! I usually ate the Hawaiian burger but maybe I should try the cheese this time. Or maybe I should try something else entirely. Pizza was always good. And I couldn’t go wrong with ribs.

As I perused the menu, James teased me about my indecisiveness.

“Come on, Keily, you’ve been staring at this menu for half an hour. How about you just get the usual?” he quipped.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t suppress a giggle.

“Alright, alright.” Hawaiian burger it was. “But only because I’m starving,” I replied, and placed our order.

With dinner on its way, we settled in to watch ~A Simple Favor~. Before long, I found myself lying on James’s chest. He ran his hand up and down my back. It was so gentle, so loving. I felt the goosebumps appear. But then his hand came to a stop on my armpit. I shot him a warning glance, knowing exactly what he was thinking.

“Don’t you dare,” I warned playfully.

James grinned mischievously, flexing his fingers teasingly.

“I’ll eat your burger if you tickle me. I swear,” I threatened, trying to sound serious but failing miserably.

His fingers dug in, and before I could protest, laughter erupted from my lips as I squirmed helplessly beneath his touch.

“I’ll eat your food for the rest of the year,” I managed to warn between fits of laughter.

But James was relentless, his tickling fingers driving me to the brink of madness. Within moments, he was on top of me, pinning my wrists down with one hand while tickling me mercilessly with the other. I writhed beneath him, unable to escape his playful assault.

And then, just as I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, he stopped, his expression suddenly serious as he looked into my eyes.

“I love you, Keily,” he said. He looked so serious. He really meant that.

My heart swelled with warmth at his words, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

“I love you too, James,” I replied. “But if you don’t get off me right now, I am going to have to kill you.”

Before James could respond, the doorbell rang, saving me from further tickle-induced torture. With a laugh, James got up to answer the door and retrieve our much-awaited burgers, leaving me to catch my breath and revel in the sheer absurdity—and love—of our playful moment together.

It wasn’t long before James and I got ready for bed, cuddling close, feeling safe and secure in our relationship. I looked forward to the rest of my college life, knowing that James would figure out what he wanted to do, too.

I had no idea what life would throw at us next.

But…

We could overcome it together.