I’d never packed so fast in my life. Once I said yes to road-tripping with Noah and Daphne this summer, time seemed to move quicker.
Noah would never admit to what Daphne revealed in thirty seconds: that he had been putting off the start of their trip so that we could reconcile. My heart had warmedfor a minute before guilt cooled it off. They had been dreaming of this trip for a year, and it was my fault they were losing time.
So we agreed to leave today. It wasn’t like I had a job to show up to tomorrow or anything.
I had begun to finally feel confident in myself and in my decisions. Sure, it often felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but now I understood that feeling was normal. It didn’t matter if you were in your twenties, thirties, forties, or beyond—it was okay to take your life day by day. I would much rather live life not sure what was going to happen tomorrow than face a planned day that would make me miserable.
It didn’t hurt thatMacey’s Milesfit perfectly for a road trip series. It’d be my first series in my blog, but I was excited to featureusinstead of justme.
Another thing I realized recently? It was okay if we all felt a little lost. I could be inspired by the friends and family who had it all together just as much as the ones who didn’t.
As I shoved a pile of clothes into my suitcase, the door to my room creaked open. Kira leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed, wearing a half-smile. “Is it crazy to leave on a three-month road trip with a guy you just started dating?”
I paused, holding up my long-sleeved Chicago Bears shirt. “Well, technically speaking”—I tied the shirt around my waist—“we’ve been fake dating for months.”
Kira chuckled, but her smile faltered, revealing a hint of sadness. “I’m just trying to find an excuse to get you to stay.”
Her words made my heart ache. I crossed the room in two quick steps and pulled her into a tight hug. “I’ll be back before you even know I’m gone,” I promised, my voice muffled against her shoulder. “Plus, I left extra money to cover my share of the rent, so no worries.”
Kira squeezed me a little tighter before letting go, her eyes a bit glassy as she took a seat on the edge of my bed. “I don’t careabout the rent.” She gave a small laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear. “Who else am I going to complain about work to every night? Or share a pint of ice cream with?”
I smiled as I returned to my suitcase to tuck the last of my clothes in. “You can FaceTime me whenever, and I’ll make Noah pull over for ice cream.”
“Deal.” Kira grinned, but I could still see the sadness there. The clock on my nightstand caught my eye. Noah would be here in a few minutes.
After zipping up the suitcase, I tugged it off the bed, and Kira helped me drag it into the living room. She stood there for a moment, hands on her hips, eyes glistening.
“I’m proud of you, you know.” Her voice cracked a little, and I had to blink back the tears forming in my own eyes. “I’m glad you’re following your heart.”
Damn it. I didn’t expect to cry today. “Me too.”
She sniffled and then cleared her throat. “Where’s your first stop?”
“We’re going to spend the night at my parents’ place. Then we’re heading to Detroit.”
Kira’s eyebrows shot up. “Aw, a family gathering. I can’t wait to hear how they react when you introduce Noah as your real boyfriend.”
I chuckled, shaking my head. “There’s a lot to explain to them.”
Noah was heading back to school in the fall, but he planned to study all summer to refresh his knowledge. I had offered to help, even if my role would mostly involve reading flashcards and teasing him with sexy rewards along the way.
Just then, a car beeped outside. “Your ride is here.”
I sighed, the weight of the moment settling in. We hugged one last time by the door, and I held on a little longer than Imeant to. “Don’t do anything crazy without me,” I teased, pulling back.
“All I do is go to work and read books,” Kira said, smirking as she opened the door for me. “Trust me, you won’t miss anything.”
That made me feel like I was going to miss a lot.
But while leaving meant missing out on some things, it also provided the chance to have new experiences of my own.
I laughed, but as I stepped out into the hallway, a wave of emotion hit me. The adventure ahead excited me, but leaving Kira, my partner-in-crime, even for just a few months, left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. With a final wave, I headed outside, suitcase rolling behind me. Noah stood by the car, waiting with a smile that immediately brightened my mood.
I dragged my luggage down the stairs to where an SUV was parked. The beeps got more intense.Hopefully the neighbors aren’t home.
The back seat window rolled down and Daphne popped her head out. “Get in loser! We’re road-tripping.”
“Okay, Regina George.” I high-fived her through the window as I walked toward the trunk to pop my luggage inside.
