Remember when you taught me fate
Said it'd all be worth the wait
Like that night in the back of the cab
— Strawberries and Cigarettes by Troye Sivan

It was thirty minutes past five in the afternoon, and I was standing by the entrance of the dormitory building. Gray suggested that I wore something warm tonight, and after trying fifteen outfit combinations, I settled with an off-shoulder brown knitted sweater, fitting tattered jeans, and a pair of white sneakers. I tied my hair into a low bun with a few strands framing my face. I figured it would look perfect with the outfit.

Hearing a vehicle approach, I raised my head from the ground and to its direction. An elegant, white-colored sedan stopped before me, and Gray stepped out.

I gaped at him shamelessly. He looked straight out from a Hugo Boss perfume advertisement with his white dress shirt and black trousers. His curly hair was gelled back and styled to perfection, and he wore that signature hundred-watt charming smile of his as he approached me.

It had to be illegal to look that good.

"Hey," he greeted. "How was your day?"

I blinked myself out of my stupor and flashed a smile. "The usual uneventful stuff. I painted, had lunch, then napped. How was work today?"

"I had to sit through five long meetings." He brushed his thumb over my bottom lip before kissing me on the lips. "I missed you."

If seeing him didn't already cause my heart to leap in absolute joy, this one certainly did.

"Me too," I admitted, feeling my cheeks burn.

Gray and I barely got any sleep last night, staying up until five in the morning. He fulfilled my request to guide me on how to give him a blowjob. It was awkward at first, and there was a hell lot of laughing. Like, a lot. But after we got over that phase, what followed was beyond extraordinary.

Gray opened the passenger's door for me, and I slipped inside, immediately securing my seatbelt as I watched him walk over to the driver's side.

We fell into silence as he drove out of campus. I exhaled slowly and gazed out the window, watching the lines on the road and the trees on the sidewalk blur. The sun was setting, the orange hues blending and scattering across the blue canvas perfectly. A calming warmth began to spread in my chest until this familiar, pleasant feeling of peace and content filled me.

"I've been meaning to ask," said Gray, keeping his eyes on the road. "You mentioned you're from New York. Did you grow up there?" he asked.

"Not exactly." I pulled on the sleeves of my sweater until they covered my hands. "I was born in South Korea. I stayed there until I was nine, then we moved to New York. What about you? Liam said you moved a lot when you were younger."

"We went back and forth from Boston, New York, and London. My father preferred keeping me beside him," he replied, and I nodded. "Why is your name Summer?"

"I was born before autumn. Actually, I was born a month earlier, and my name was supposed to be Octavia." I cringed at the thought.

"Octavia doesn't sound bad," he considered quietly, and then a smile reached his face. "But I must say, the name Summer suits you perfectly."

"I know." I stared through the windshield at the setting sun, listening to the quiet purr of the car as Gray sped down the highway. "During the first day of class, why did you stare at me?"

"Because you looked beautiful when you smiled."

I snorted. "Oh, please! I know how I look."

His mood shifted suddenly; his eyes turned brooding as his clutch on the steering wheel tightened. "Then you don't see yourself the same way as half of those arseholes in Mr. Whitehall's class see you. I sit at the back where all the other arseholes sit, and I can't help but overhear the conversations they have about you."

It seemed like there was more to just them complimenting my apparent good looks. I rolled my eyes to brush off the unpleasant thoughts.

"The only thing that matters to me is what the people I care for think about me," I remarked in a firm voice. "Everyone else can go fuck themselves."

He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I like seeing you get jealous," I teased, poking him on his bicep.

A smirk tugged at his lips. "This isn't jealousy, Shortcake. I'm simply being protective of my girl."

"Your girl?" I echoed, the nickname rolling off my lips smoothly. "I like the sound of that."

The smirk on his lips widened and turned into a genuine smile. Gray was exceptionally charming, and I doubt I would ever get used to it. He was one hell of a smooth talker, and I knew I was already far too gone to be saved from his cool, calm, and debonair persona.

The silence between us lengthened and deepened, the soft humming of music drifting through the air. I peered over at Gray with my lips pursed as I fiddled anxiously with my fingers.

"Are you free next Saturday?" I finally asked after much contemplation. "There's somewhere I want to go with you."

"You're asking me out on a date on our first date?" he asked back.

"No, no. That wasn't my — wait a damn minute!" I exclaimed as the information sank in. "This is a date?!" I questioned him.

"What did you think?"

"Not a date, obviously. You kept calling this thing plans" — I made air quotes with my fingers — "in our text messages."

He rubbed the back of his neck and shrugged. "I didn't know what you would think."

"Do you even know how long it took for me to choose this outfit?" I closed my eyes and pressed my fingers to my temples, trying to push the annoyance out of my head. Not to mention that we have already reached second base.

"I've never been on a real date before."

"Really?" I questioned in disbelief, dropping my hands.

"I did mention I was a total jerk back in high school." He glanced down at me and placed a hand above mine, intertwining our fingers. "And when I said real, I meant a date with someone I truly want to take on a date."

I inhaled deeply. "You mean it?"

"Of course," he said, brushing his thumb against my skin. "I've been wanting to take you out on a date for a while now."

"And I've been waiting for you to ask."

He lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles, the gesture sending my heart beating against the walls of my rib cage and butterflies to flutter in my stomach.

"You look beautiful tonight, Summer Hale." His voice was barely above a whisper, and the way he said my name sent a delicate shiver down my spine.

"You don't look too bad yourself, Gray Stanford."

The silence that followed caressed my skin like a cool breeze, smoothing my soul and taking away all the jagged edges. Gray drove one-handed, holding my hand on the seat, his thumb brushing my skin. Sometimes he gazed at the setting sun ahead. Sometimes he glanced at me with a smile.

Everything about Gray was too familiar, and everything with him was too natural. It made me feel at ease, but at the same time, somehow, it made me anxious.

●      ●      ●

I peered through the window of the car. Gray took a turn down a dirt road surrounded by a never-ending stretch of tall trees. The headlights were set on high-beam, and he leaned close to the steering wheel as he navigated through the darkness.

"Do you plan on killing me and leaving my body here?" I joked, trying to mask the fact that deep down inside, I was fucking terrified.

He laughed. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"That laugh was very reassuring," I hissed, debating whether I should jump out of the car and make a run for it like an action star or remain in my spot and wait for my possible demise. But I knew I'd only be wailing in pain once I hit the ground. That was on my non-athletic ass, but it was still worth the try.

"Don't even try what you're thinking," he threatened, guessing my plan.

I dropped my hand that clutched the door handle and groaned in annoyance.

"Did you know what five fingers said to the face?" I grumbled. He shook his head, and I slapped him lightly on the cheek, catching him completely off-guard. "That's what it said."

"Calm down, Shortcake."

"I'm so calm right now that I might actually hurl in your pristine leather seat."

"Go ahead," he said lightly. "As long as you pay for the cleaning fees."

"Jerk."

"You like me, though."

"Unfortunately," I grumbled.

He chuckled. "Patience, Shortcake. We're almost there."

I let out a long breath and waited in silence, staring at Gray's face the entire time, utterly entertained by how his jaw ticked as he focused on navigating through the road. It took my mind away from the creeping fear of the dark.

When the car came to a halt, I peered outside the window. I assumed we were in a parking area, seeing the number of vehicles parked.

A fraction of a chill moved through me as soon as I stepped out into the crisp night air, slinging my bag on my shoulder as Gray walked over to me with a smile. He took my hand in his, and I glanced down, loving the way his large hand felt against my small ones.

It made me feel safe.

We strolled through a narrow path between the trees, my eyes twinkling as I glanced around. Fairy lights were wrapped securely around the trunks, with more hanging on the branches, illuminating the trail in the most romantic way possible. The sound of music and chatter was louder with each step we took, stirring excitement all over my body.

Gray led me to a dense clump of vines with a sign above that said Welcome to Jardin. Then he glanced down at me and said, "You'll love this."

He pushed the vines away, and my eyes widened in shock as we walked through. It was like stepping into a whole different world altogether. There were food stalls on each side of the area, and I inhaled the delicious scent wafting through the air. Teepees and big square pillows were scattered at the center with people sitting on them, each a significant distance apart. The place wasn't as public as I assumed it would be, seeing only a number of people. What caught my full attention, however, was the large white screen across the field.

"They play movies every night," Gray said as he guided me further inside, and I nodded. "What would you prefer watching in this place?" he asked.

"Horror or thriller," I replied, smiling at the thought. "It's the perfect genre to play in this kind of place; secluded, far from the city — what could go wrong, right?"

"I'm now, officially, worried about you."

"Don't judge me, doofus."

"I like how you're literate when it comes to offensive nicknames."

"And you're not," I retorted, meeting his gaze. "I mean, I'd rather you call me goddess divine instead of Shortcake."

"How absurd you are!" he exclaimed, pressing a hand to his chest as he stared at me dead in the eye, feigning shock. "I would never address you as what you suggested. It's a far cry from the truth."

"Sometimes, I wonder if I'm not stuck in a fantasy world with a childish, hundred-year-old, immortal dude."

"Good riddance!" he exclaimed. "Clearly, I'm not a cold-blooded pervert."

"Hey, don't mock my fantasy baes." I laughed, playfully glaring at him.

Smiling, he wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him. My arm instinctively circled his waist as I raised my chin to look at him. He was gazing down at me with admiration, then he lowered his head and kissed me on the forehead.

"I would never do that to your baes," he teased, brushing his nose against mine.

"You really shouldn't."

I pecked him on the cheek, earning myself a wide grin from him. His eyes were ablaze, and it set my nerves alight. He was wrong about this passion being a match that could die out in a snap. Because this thing between us was a fucking bonfire, and it could burn us if we weren't too careful.

We found an empty teepee at the center that was a perfect distance from the screen. He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me rather ardently before stepping out to buy food. I waited inside, replying and laughing at Victoria's messages. She was more ecstatic about the date than I was, typing in all capital letters with an extensive amount of emojis and exclamation points. I was ecstatic, but not as overjoyed as Victoria, who sent me an emoji of a peach and an eggplant with a winky face.

My whole face burned at the memory of last night, and I pressed my hands to my cheeks. Gray's tongue licking me to oblivion, and the way his dick felt inside my mouth. His groans and dirty words that had me soaked. The way he ate me again after he came in my mouth. He made me orgasm twice using his mouth. Oh my god.

Gray returned with the food minutes later, and we leaned against the pillows as we watched the movie. They played the same film we watched a few days back, and I groaned inwardly at their choice. They could've picked a different slasher film.

An hour into the movie, Gray shuffled behind me and cleared his throat. I turned my head halfway to look up at him. I was sitting between his legs, and his arms were tightly wrapped around me.

"Do you want to get out of here?" he asked.

"Where do you have in mind?"

His lips lifted into the most dazzling smile. "You'll know when we get there."

●      ●      ●

The beach was a twenty-minute drive from Jardin, and there was a perfect, quaint cafe that smelled of beeswax and antique furniture. The view from the patio overlooked the darkness ahead with the moonlight reflecting onto the sea, the ocean breeze playing with my hair. I had untied it on the way, loving how it fell in messy waves. Gray absentmindedly threaded his fingers through my hair as we gazed far into the distance with a cup of hot chocolate in our hands, the spontaneous gesture leaving me smitten.

"Mhmm," I moaned softly, setting the cup down on the table. "That was the best hot chocolate I've ever had."

He placed his cup down and brushed my hair back over my shoulders, smiling his perfect crooked smile. "Do you want to take a stroll with me?" he offered.

"I would love that."

He placed a kiss on my wrist before dragging me back to his car. I laughed, slipping out of my shoes as he popped open the trunk. We placed our shoes inside and rushed down to the beach.

"C'mon, Shortcake." He released my hand and jogged backward, urging me to chase him.

I stuck my tongue out to him and began sprinting in the other direction as fast as I could. He called after me, causing a giggle to bubble out of my lips. His strong hands wrapped around my wrist and yanked me to his chest, making me shriek. I squirmed and giggled, managing to turn around in his arms to face him.

"Hi," I squeaked out.

"Caught you," he chuckled, pressing his forehead against mine as we swayed lazily from left to right.

I stood on my toes and leaned in for a kiss when I lost my balance, my eyes widening in pure horror as I fell backward, pulling him along with me. His hand went behind my head as we landed on the sand, defeated by my clumsiness. I felt the ripples of his laughter, and I groaned. He was crushing my fucking airway. Noticing my discomfort, he lifted his chest off mine, using his elbows to hold the weight of his upper body.

"You okay, Shortcake?" he asked, dragging his thumb across my forehead.

"All good. You?"

He dipped his head and brushed his lips against mine, causing a shudder to run down my spine. I was a damn puddle for him.

"Never better." He kissed the tip of my nose before sitting up. "I'd love to stay for a bit longer, but I have other plans that involve our clothes on the floor."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

●      ●      ●

Gray pinned me against the wall as soon as we entered my dorm, seeking my mouth eagerly. I ducked away from him before he could kiss away my remaining resolve for the night, laughing at the light frown that slipped on his face. Not yet, I thought. I had something to give him first.

I bounded over to the kitchen to grab the neatly wrapped present on the counter. Gray was already standing beside me when I raised my head to look at him.

"You've already seen it," I said, smiling shyly. "But I still wanted to wrap it. Makes it more special and exciting."

"Thank you," he muttered, taking the present from my hand and undoing the giant, golden ribbon at the center.

I watched him tear the paper, controlling the squeal that threatened to come out of my mouth. When he had finally ripped off the whole wrapper, a wide grin spread across his face. It was the painting of a burning rose. I had already handed everyone their gifts before they left for the long vacation.

"I wanted to give yours once we were alone, and since this is our first date, I figured it would be a perfect time," I admitted quietly. "Do you like it?"

"Like it?" He placed the painting down, then wrapped his strong arms around me. "I fucking love it. It's beautiful, Shortcake. Thank you."

My arms circled his neck, and his eyes dropped to my lips. He brushed his lips against mine, and I was about to lean in when a disrupting sound blasted through the room.

"Fucking hell," he cursed, pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking the caller.

He looked at me apologetically, and I nodded before slipping out of his grasp and turning away to grab a glass of water.

"Seriously?" he snapped as soon as he answered the call. "What the fuck do you want with me right now?"

He rubbed his forehead, sighing heavily before saying, "Liam, just wear whatever you want."

I couldn't help but laugh as I filled the glass with water. Liam's timing was perfect and hilarious. Gray threw me a pointed glare, and I shrugged teasingly before gulping down the water. He was so grumpy — I liked it.

"Yeah, I'm with her right now," he said, keeping his eyes trained on me. "You're a fucking moron. Piss off, man."

Gray dropped his hand, sliding his phone across the island.

"What did Liam want?" I asked.

"He's attending a charity event tomorrow evening, and he wanted to know whether he should go for a dark blue tuxedo or a simple black and white."

"Doesn't he have a girlfriend to help him with those things?" I snorted, shaking my head. "I should talk to him. He just killed our moment."

"Nah," he said, striding over to me. His hands instantly snaked around my waist. "Let me show you how truly grateful I am for the painting."

Dedicated to Myst3ry007, my one, and only boss bish. Go and check out her book Always The Bad Girl. It's one of my favorite reads. You guys won't regret it, I promise. The feels of the story and the different POVs are immaculate. It hits different.! *aggressive selling* GO READ ITTT.