Chapter 19
The drive to Maryland was mostly uneventful. Alex noticed that the town was made up of more red brick buildings than their hometown. She’d never been to College Park, but she was finding it to be a beautiful city. She was nervous to be back in Reagan’s presence, but she was trying not to let it get to her. Reagan was a nice person that apparently already liked her, so she knew she should just let go of her insecurities. Besides, now that Grant had told her he loved her, she had nothing to worry about. Her goal was to be friendlier with Hudson and try to bring him out of whatever shell he hid in when Grant was around. She’d also found out through Grant that Reagan invited two of her friends. Alex felt nervous flutters in her stomach at the thought of meeting yet more people, but Grant assured her that they were both very nice and nothing to worry about. She would look at it as a way to move deeper into Grant’s life.
They pulled down a tree-lined street that had an apartment complex on one side and a small shopping center on the other. Grant turned into the complex’s parking lot and Alex looked up at the buildings. It was a nice complex; a step up from where she lived, that was for sure. Hudson came from money, she knew, but he didn’t take anything from his parents since he didn’t get along with them.
They parked and began the climb up the stairs. Check-in at their hotel wasn’t for a few more hours, so they were going to spend a few hours at Reagan and Hudson’s and then go settle in. Alex didn’t know where they were staying; Grant wanted it to be a surprise. Alex was grateful for everything he’d been doing for her lately. He was more thoughtful than she’d realized at first. He really looked out for her.
They knocked on the door and waited while they listened to footsteps and voices on the other side. A tall, skinny redheaded woman that Alex wanted to hate just for her figure opened the door. But then she smiled and Alex knew she couldn’t be so shallow.
“Hi, guys! Come on in. Reagan is in the kitchen.” She stepped back and Grant and Alex went inside.
“Hi, Grant.”
Alex turned to see the other guest, a man with thick dark hair and a beard. He was about the same height as the redhead and wore a bright smile.
“Hey. Alex, this is Davis, and that’s Luna. They go to the university with Reagan.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Alex shook hands with Davis and then looked at Luna in consternation. Handshake or hug?
Luna solved the problem by holding her hand out as well. “Hi, Alex. It’s good to meet you, finally. Reagan has been sharing good things about you.”
Alex immediately felt at ease. No wonder Reagan was friends with this woman. “Thanks, that’s nice of you to say.”
“Only telling the truth, hon.”
Alex and Grant moved into the living room with Davis and Luna. The kitchen was open to them and they could see Reagan stirring something in a pot.
“Reagan,” Grant said. He headed into the kitchen and she turned to give him a hug. They spoke quietly enough that Alex couldn’t hear them.
She sat on the white sofa and glanced around the room. Though the walls and furniture were white, there were several accent pieces in bright colors. She settled back into the cushions and found Luna watching her.
“Are the two of you . . .” Alex trailed off as she pointed between Davis and Luna.
Luna grinned. “No, but we get that all the time.”
Davis groaned. “All the time,” he repeated. “We’re very good friends.”
“Okay. What year are you in?” She thought they looked older than Reagan, but she couldn’t be sure.
“We’re seniors,” Luna answered. “We’ll graduate in a few months.”
“And off to the trenches we’ll go.”
Alex frowned at Davis. “Why, you don’t have any good job prospects?”
Davis exchanged a look with Luna, and she was the one to answer. “I’m getting my teaching certificate, and I already have an offer from the school where I’ve been working as an assistant.”
“Oh, that’s amazing! What grade are you teaching?” Alex asked.
“It looks like I’ll be teaching a sixth grade science class.” Luna beamed.
“I teach algebra at the high school level.”
“It’s a great profession,” Luna said. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher, since I was little. It’s a little surreal that it’s right around the corner.”
Alex turned to Davis. “What will you be doing?”
“I’m going to graduate with a bachelor’s in art appreciation,” was the only thing he answered.
