Nix snickers and starts teasing him. “You are going to be so obviously small town. That place is going to eat you alive.”
“No, it won’t,” Jed defends him. “My man can handle anything. He and New York will be besties by the end of the summer.”
“When do you head out?” I ask, using my toast to mop up the last of my egg yolk.
“We’ll leave just after graduation,” Tobin responds. “I want to stick around to support some of my friends who are graduating, and then we’ll hit the road.”
My eyebrows rise. “You’re driving?”
“Yes.” Tobin beams. “Jed doesn’t want to leave his car behind. He loves his baby, so we’ll road-trip!” He sings the last two words and Jed laughs, squeezing the back of his neck and pulling him in for a kiss.
I glance at Dani, who’s nibbling a piece of bacon. She flashes me a smile, but it’s sad. She’s really going to miss these guys.
Shit, I don’t want to leave her.
I don’t want to drive down to Dallas after graduation, knowing she’ll be here all by herself.
She’ll have Nix.
“We’re leaving a couple of days after graduation,” Nix murmurs. “I’m gonna hang with Ricky’s family for the summer, and then when we get back…” She looks to Dani, her expression edged with concern or guilt or… something. “I’m going to be moving in with him.”
“So, it’s official.” Dani nods like she knew this was coming, her smile tight and unbelievable. “That’s cool. I’m happy for you guys.” She tries really hard to make her smile brighter, and I tuck my hand around her hip, pulling her a little closer against me.
Nix bobs her head, obviously trying to play it cool but failing miserably. She is so excited about the idea of spending moretime with her man. I check his expression, expecting the same thing, but…
Damn, he’s wearing the same smile Dani is.
I glance at Jed and Tobin, who seem oblivious, then check Dani’s expression, but she’s back to staring at her plate.
When I look at Ricky and Nix again, she’s gazing up at him with a dreamy smile, and he’s planting a kiss on her forehead, cupping the back of her hair like she’s precious. Maybe I just imagined it.
Turning my focus back to Dani, I try to catch her eye, but she’s refusing to look at me, lost in her own little bubble of sadness. I’m guessing when she moved in here at the beginning of the year, no one was planning to go anywhere, and now her world is being turned upside-down. All of her people are leaving and…
The thought is killing me.
“Don’t worry, Dani Girl. We’ll find excuses to see each other again.” Jed’s voice is soft, sweet with understanding. “You can come visit us in New York.”
“Yes!” Tobin claps his hands. “We’ll definitely find reasons to hang out together again. Maybe we can pop back for a weekend or something. We’re going to make this work.” Abandoning what’s left of his breakfast, he rushes around the counter and pulls Dani into a hug. “We love you, and we’re going to miss you so much.”
Dani lets out a soft laugh of appreciation.
Tobin pulls back, holding her shoulders. “And no matter what, we’ll always be here for you. We’re only ever a video chat away, okay?”
Dani nods. “I know, and I’m really excited for you guys. You’re all going to have the best summer.”
“And what are you going to do?” Nix gives her a pointed look. “If you tell me you’re going to be moping around Nolan, I will have to slap some sense into you.”
“I have to.” She laughs. “I can’t afford to just flit off somewhere. I’ll keep working at Offside. There’ll be summer school students to hydrate and look after. It’ll be fine.”
“But where are you going to live?” Jed asks, obviously concerned.
“I’m not sure yet, but I have two weeks to find a place.” She glances around at everyone, and I have to fight the urge to blurt, “Come to Texas with me!”
I doubt she wants me asking her that in front of everyone, so I swallow the words down and let her finish.
“The lease doesn’t run out on this place for another two weeks, right? Worst-case scenario, I’ll move into a motel until I find something.”
Jed frowns and shakes his head.
