Deep Surrendering: Episode Six by Chelsea M. Cameron Page A

Things were … really intense there.”
    He nodded, his hair flopping around. “Yes, I think I’m going to be okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
    “Okay. And congratulations. Again. I’m really happy for you.”
    “Thanks, Marisol. Goodbye.”
    “Bye,” I said, and this time when the video closed, I knew I was going to see him again. He wasn’t going to leave me this time.

“S o what do you think? Marisol?” My eyes snapped to attention. Someone was asking my opinion on something.
    “Oh, um, perfect. Good,” I said, rubbing my eyes. I stayed up late thinking after I talked to Fin, and I wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment. I was meeting with my group for our project, and they were actually coming up with some good ideas. I’d been blessed to not get stuck with a bunch of slackers.
    “You okay?” Beth, one of my group mates was looking at me strangely.
    “Yeah, just tired.” I tore my brain away from thinking about Fin and put it back to the task at hand. Our group talked for a bit longer, and we made a list of tasks and decided to check in with each other in two days via email for updates. I had a lot of work ahead of me that was going to require lots of searching, both in the library and on the internet, and it was just what I needed.
    After getting my list together, I went to check out a few of the volumes I was going to need. I could sit here in the library, but I wanted to go somewhere I felt more comfortable.
    It wasn’t fun carrying a huge stack of books to Fin’s. I thought for a second about calling Carl to come be my knight in shining armor but decided against it. I wasn’t helpless. I was an independent woman. I could carry some damn books.
    I dropped said books when I went to unlock Fin’s door. I cursed and then had to gather them up again before taking them to the den, plunking them down on a table, and flopping onto the couch.
    It was Sunday night, and I should have been doing something exciting. Instead, I was going to spend my time with my nose buried in books, drinking too much coffee. The life of a student.
    I sighed and went to the kitchen where I found a vase of lilacs on the counter. They were so fresh they still had dew on them. I didn’t need three guesses to know who they were from. I leaned forward and inhaled. There was almost nothing better than the scent of lilacs. I grabbed the vase and brought it into the den, setting it next to the books.
    I pulled out my phone and sent Fin a thank you text before going back to the kitchen and putting something together for dinner.
     

     
    My ringing phone woke me.
    “Hey, are you all right? You didn’t answer the video chat and I was worried,” Fin said. I blinked and looked around, realizing I’d fallen asleep on his couch with a book on my chest. It was late, so it had to be nearly morning where he was.
    “Yeah, I’m fine. Just doing a project and I fell asleep.” I sat up and set the book down. “How are you? Why are you calling me so late?”
    “I was working and then I couldn’t sleep. I should have called earlier, I’m sorry.”
    I stifled a yawn. “No big deal. I’m up now.” My back cracked as I shifted and got into a more comfortable position. We talked about our days and I told him a little bit about my project. He seemed to find the minutia of my life interesting.
    “So, have you worn any lederhosen? Because I would pay money for a picture of that.”
    He chuckled. “No, I don’t think that’s a German tradition I’d like to try. But I have been on a brewery tour and I’m taking a client to a beer festival, so I’m partaking in that.” Not too heavily, I hoped, but I didn’t say anything. Fin getting drunk worried me.
    “Sounds like fun,” I said, and I couldn’t hide another yawn.
    “Damn, it’s late. You should go to bed.” I really should. I had class tomorrow. I thought about going home, but I didn’t feel like it.
    “Do you mind if I crash here? I’m at your