I hadn’t laughed because the idea sat uncomfortably in my mind, refusing to leave.
But dwelling on conspiracy theories wasn’t going to help anyone. The case was going well. Families might actually keep their homes. That felt worth celebrating instead of questioning.
By Friday afternoon, I was back in Professor Diane’s office, listening to her explain a new assignment that made my already overloaded schedule look laughable.
“Millbrook,” she said, sliding a folder across her desk. “An hour north. A community organization there documented displacement patterns from five years ago that mirror what Devlin Holdings is doing now.”
I opened the folder and scanned the contents—interviews, timelines, legal filings that had gone nowhere.
“You want me to interview them?” I asked.
“I want you to get their records and speak with the organizers. Their documentation could strengthen our case.” Diane leaned back in her chair, her sharp eyes assessing me. “The organization’s leader is only available this weekend.”
“This weekend as in tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow. Saturday evening.” She smiled without apology. “I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t important. They’re having a community meeting at six, and you can speak with everyone there.”
I thought about my to-do list, the studying I needed to do, and the brunch plans I’d made with Archie for Sunday—plans I’d been looking forward to all week.
“I’ll do it,” I said.
I left her office already dreading the cancellation call I had to make. Texting felt cowardly for something like this, so I found a quiet corner of the library and called Archie before I could talk myself out of it.
He answered on the second ring. “Gianna. This is a nice surprise.”
His voice was warm, pleased, and I felt guilty immediately. “Hey. So… I have bad news about Sunday.”
“You’re canceling on me.” He didn’t sound angry, just resigned. “What came up?”
“Professor assigned me interviews in Millbrook tomorrow evening. It’s an hour north, and I probably won’t be back until late.” I twisted my ring, a nervous habit I couldn’t break. “I’m really sorry. I was looking forward to it.”
There was a pause. Then his voice came back different, lighter. “Let me drive you.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Let me drive you to Millbrook. It’s only an hour each way. We can have an early dinner before your meeting, I’ll wait while you do the interviews, then we drive back. Make an evening of it.”
“Archie, that’s your entire Saturday night.”
“I know. I’m offering anyway.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “I’d rather spend the evening with you than spend it alone doing nothing. Besides, road trips are underrated.”
My chest felt warm. “You want to spend your Saturday driving me to interviews?”
“I want to spend my Saturday with you. The interviews are just the destination.” He paused. “Unless you’d prefer to drive yourself. I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing. I just don’t want you to feel obligated.”
“Gianna, I’m not doing this because I feel obligated. I’m doing it because I want to.” His voice dropped lower, more intimate. “What time should I pick you up?”
I pressed my phone closer to my ear, suddenly very aware of my heartbeat. “Four thirty? That gives us time to get there before the meeting.”
“Perfect. I’ll bring coffee for the drive.”
“Thank you, Archie. Really.”
“Stop thanking me. I’m being completely selfish here.” His voice carried warmth that made my pulse stumble. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gianna.”
We hung up and I sat in the library holding my phone, smiling at nothing like an idiot.
