She scoffed before grabbing it out of my hand. “It’s most definitely not a fluke. I’ve seen you in class. I bet you’re head chef in less than two years.”
“Yeah, sure.” I picked at the label on the bottle before lifting it to my lips for a long pull.
“So why so down in the dumps? You’ll graduate with your dream job lined up.” She snickered. “Ah, your goals aren’t so concrete anymore, are they?”
“What? Of course, they are. Get a decent job, find a new apartment for Victoria and me. That’s all I care about.”
She sighed, tapping an impatient finger on the bar as she awaited me to spill.
“Are you sure that’s all you care about. Or who . . .”
Lisa had become a good friend during the time we were roommates. She cared and worried about me and saw how full of shit I was from a mile away.
I shook my head as I stared off into space. “I never should’ve let it get this far.”
“Why are you saying that? Have you talked about what’s going to happen after graduation?”
“No,” I whispered as I topped off the bottle. My drinks didn’t last very long as of late, especially when I was trying to suppress the ache-of-the-bone sadness that consumed me every time I’d think of Drew and me going our separate ways. May was coming a hell of a lot faster than I wanted it to.
She lifted an eyebrow and folded her arms. “You haven’t talked about it at all? School is over in less than two months! You’re this sick about it but haven’t even discussed what your plans are?”
“Nope.” My lips made a pop sound at thePbefore my shoulders jerked with a sad laugh. “Pathetic, isn’t it?” Any time we became close to discussing an us after school ended, I either teared up or closed off. This wasn’t me. I’d never shied away from anything, but of course, I’d never been this afraid to lose someone. “I can’t ask him to move to the city, and I can’t relocate here and take Victoria away from her father.”
“How do you know Drew wants to live up here? He even has family already in Queens, right?” She leaned forward and squeezed my wrist. “I see the way he looks at you. I bet he’d pretty much follow you anywhere.”
I rolled my eyes, trying to summon bitchy Sara and ward away the burning in my nose and thickening in my throat. I needed her. Whiny Sara was getting on my damn nerves.
“You love him, right?”
“I only started letting myself have feelings recently.” The side of my mouth lifted in a smirk despite my heavy heart. “Please don’t make me talk about them.”
“Oh, come on. It’s me. The girl who had to text you during class to bring me a tampon the other day. I don’t think there are many boundaries between us.” We shared a laugh before she leaned closer. “It’s okay to love him, Sara.”
“Is it?” I laughed. “What happens when school stops and real life kicks in?” I exhaled a gust of frustrated air.
She dropped a hand on my forearm. “I think you guys need to talk and figure that out. Pick up the big girl pants.”
I nodded without meeting her gaze. I thought not knowing was the easy way out, but the uncertainty only compounded the dread.
“Hey, ladies.” Brian greeted us before ordering a drink. “Congrats on the offer, Sara! Glad some of us know what they’re doing after graduation.”
“You’ll have a master’s degree after graduation.” Lisa shook her head before taking a sip of beer. “I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
“Right,” he huffed. “Too bad we can’t all be like Drew with a company gunning for us for a year. Asshole doesn’t even have to interview.”
My blood ran cold as my entire body went rigid on the stool. Drew didn’t mention any solid plans or prospects after graduation. I assumed he was applying for different positions and he’d been spending a lot of time on their final project, but he hadn’t uttered a peep about any company pursuing him.
“Gunning for him?” I repeated Brian’s words, a sting of betrayal piercing my gut. Why didn’t he mention this? All he ever said was ‘trust me,’ and I was so deep in denial about what kind of a future we could have—if any—I never pressed.
“That tech company in Seattle. We talk about owning our own company, but we know that’s as likely as hitting the lottery at the same time you get struck by lightning. They’re actually the reason why Drew wanted his master’s in the first place. He applied there before he even started graduate school. He’s had an offer for a year, they’re just waiting for him to finish his master’s.” His face fell as he studied my reaction, most likely realizing I had no clue what he was talking about.
My cheeks were cold, and I was sure I was pale as a ghost.Seattle?Upstate was far enough. He had a job offer across the country—an offer he’d had for a year? I sucked in a quick breath through my nostrils in an effort to not lose my shit in front of anyone. Lisa’s sympathetic gaze only made it that much worse.
“Listen, I’m sure he’s got a good reason for not bringing it up. I mean, maybe he’s not taking it. It’s a six-figure starting salary but . . . um . . . maybe he changed his mind.”
“Stop talking, Brian.” My voice was low and dry. The quick breaths I was taking to relax only accelerated the anger washing over me in a red haze.
“Funny seeing you here,” a familiar husky whisper fanned against my neck as an arm snaked around my waist. Instead of leaning into him, I stiffened even more. My finger scratched the rest of the beer bottle label off, my insides too tense and pissed off to turn to Drew’s voice.
