Brandon

"It's outside, let's eat some dessert, baby." I'm sure glad that our waiter delivered them to the door because I am starving, I could eat a horse right now. And I do want my energy for later, only I am guessing that Lizzie is kind of sore right now and that we ought to wait until tomorrow or at least until the morning.

She looks radiant is the best way to describe her right now, her face is glowing, and her smile is enigmatic, she lights up the room.

"Brilliant, I'm so hungry. What did you order for dessert?" She asks as she takes a seat on the two-seater sofa in the living space, wearing just my football jersey that comes to mid-thigh. Lizzie looks damn sexy in it.

"Strawberry cream cake with dark chocolate drizzle. You?" I bring the dessert bag in and place it on the marble island in the kitchen area and open the bag careful not to ruin our desserts.

"Chocolate mocha cake."

"Your favorite, I should have guessed." I open the cutlery draw and take out two dessert forks and admire my father and mother for having everything here that we have at home.

As I walk toward Lizzie, I can't help thinking how damn lucky I am. I don't think I'll ever get over how lucky I am. And to think that if we hadn't gone to prom together as besties dates, we may never have ended up here as a couple. A couple. It sounds so grown up already. I'm so excited to see how our lives together will unfold.

I know for sure we're strong and will get through college, we're only going to be a couple of hours distance apart and even though I know we're going to have buckets of studying to do, Lizzie and I will get through it. A lot of couples do so if they can, I know we can.

"What you smiling at?" She asks me.

"Oh, nothing. Well, okay. I was thinking how tight we are and that even though we're going to different colleges, that we're going to make it. I'm looking forward to spending forever with you, baby."

I can see her smile broaden and her eyes shining with tears in them.

"Brandon, I can't wait either. We're going to be amazing, and I can't wait to tell everyone and my new girlfriends to be when I get to Austin who I'm dating. They're going to be so jealous." She giggles as I hand her the dessert and take a seat right next to her.

"They aren't going to know who I am, silly. It's a different state entirely. Maybe here in Cali from High School but not all the way off in Texas." I take a forkful of my dessert and it literally melts in my mouth. Damn our chef is good.

"Er, have you even seen your Instagram page, how many like you get and from people all over the US?" I shake my head. Of course not.

"I never really look at it, most of those pics I just upload, I don't stalk my own account and check for how many hearts I get or the comments."

"Jeez, Brandon. You are kidding me, right? You should be responding to people's comments." Her eyes are wide, and she looks like I've created some cardinal sin.

"I don't have time, baby. You know that. What with practice, pool and the gym not to mention all the schoolwork. I haven't got time to respond to all those people. Besides, most of them are just girls who want to be with a jock, nothing more."

"Maybe, but still, you could reply to the odd one or two that don't seem stalkerish. What if there's some kids who idolize you and want to be like you. Afterall, you've already been selected for NFL."

"Okay, I'll try. Or better idea why don't you manage my page? I can give you the log in and you can handle it all. If you have time that is." She cocks her head to the side.

"I could, I suppose but really it ought to be you."

"Please, baby." She leans over and kisses me then uses her fork to dollop some of her dessert on my nose.

"Hey," I say and do the same back.

"Shall we watch a movie after? I fancy something soppy and romantic." Lizzie finishes her dessert and gets up to take our plates into the kitchen area.

"Sure, we can do. What have you got in mind?"

"How about Your Place or Mine with Witherspoon and Kutcher. I love them both." I chuckle, how did I guess she was going to choose something with one of them in it? I swear my baby has seen literally every movie with those two actors in.

"Go for it. I'm just going to get my mobile from the bedroom and see what we can do tomorrow. You need anything from the room, baby?"

"Nah, I'm good thanks. Oh, wait one. Yes, I need my mobile please. I have to message my folks let them know all is okay. You know how it is." I sure do, her folks love her to pieces and always like her to check in with them. Mine are a lot more relaxed, maybe it's because I'm a guy. I don't blame them though, if we have a girl I can tell you now, she's not going out with any guys.

We snuggle up on the sofa, Lizzie in between my legs with her legs draped over the end. I place both my arms around her and cuddle her tighter into me. She feels warm and cosy. Even though we've snuggled up to a dillion movie as besties, this is different. So different.

She's mine now, we're dating, my heart flutters wildly. I bet she can feel it against her back. I lower my head to kiss the top of her head.

"I love you so much, baby," I tell her. She makes a cute mm sound and squishes my hands closer to her chest.

"I love you so much too, gorgeous." Her words are like a dream to my ears. The movie starts and that's my que to be silent so she can watch and enjoy it. I lean my head back and close my eyes for a bit, then will look for something for us to do tomorrow.

In the meantime, just being this close to my baby is the best feeling in the world.