I shake my head. “Truth?”
“Definitely.”
“As I said, I’m into this relationship. But I thought we had a year and a half left. Now I hear you’re probably leaving in a couple of months. Training for the NFL draft starts early, right?”
“The scouting combine isn’t far offifI go that way. Nothing’s decided.”
“Still, better if I don’t get carried away.” I lean my elbow against the top of the couch. “The other night you said something I keep thinking about. After hearing me sing, you asked me what I’m doing in college. Remember?”
He nods.
“Most dancers have short careers and don’t earn a big salary. But I’m dancing at the highest level. And sometimes if you’re a decent businessperson, you can parlay unique skills into something bigger than people expect.” I lick my lips and incline my head. “I can’t make NFL money, but I’ve modeled athletic wear for pretty good money. I might be able to stitch some revenue streams together. Enough to create a path for me to perform professionally. It’s risky, but I’m thinking about it.”
“That’s not risky. If it doesn’t work out, you’ll just do something else.”
“My parents are dead set against it, so no safety net.”
“So what?”
“Easy for you to say.”
“Indeed.”
“You’ve been living without a safety net for a long time, but I haven’t. Life is expensive.”
“Especially for a girl who likes Louis Vuitton luggage.”
“Exactly,” I say with a laugh. “You can take baths in river water or whatever, like some insane Viking redneck. But I need hot showers and reliable Wifi.” Rubbing the side of my neck, I shrug. “You think I should try?”
“I think if anyone should, it’s you. So, yeah.”
I swallow and tap the coffee table with my toes. “Put the laptop down, and carry me to bed. I want to do the cliché thing of having sex with a guy as a reward for his saying something nice.”
He sets the laptop on the coffee table. “Didn’t say it to be nice. Said it because it’s true.”
“I know,” I say, standing. “That’s why I listen to you.”
He turns away and waves for me to climb on his back. I lean forward and push up off his shoulders to rise. His arms slide back to hook my legs, and I loop my arms around his neck, so he can carry me to our favorite spot.
33
ARYA
The next day, classes are tedious, practice goes smoothly, and my mood is better than it’s been in a long time.
The Viking and I don’t cross paths all day, but he’s on my mind. I send a second picture of him to my nanna. In this one, he’s clean-shaven, and she thinks it’s a different guy.
Nanna: What happened to the other one? The outdoorsman?
I laugh out loud. I told her Erik likes hiking and camping, and she asked if he was an Eagle Scout because they make good husbands. Apparently, my grandpa was one.
Arya: Same boy as the last picture, Nanna. He trimmed his hair and shaved. which do you like better?
Nanna: Who cares? Which do YOU like better?
Arya: i don’t know. the beard matches his personality but his face is handsome so it’s nice to see it. gotta go to class ??
Nanna: Go on. I’ll finish this round.
