“I’m ready,” I say with a nod that doesn’t feel forced at all.
His smile lights up when our eyes meet, and he leans in and kisses me. “Alright. Let’s go.”
AlexandIpartways at the corner of San Carlos Street and South Market Street. He’s heading to the train station, which is about a mile to the west. From there, he’ll catch whatever the next train is going north to Palo Alto, and he’ll meet up with that professor he’s always talking about so they can geek out over stars and black holes and dark energy or whatever for the next few hours.
Me, I turn the opposite direction, shoving my hands into my pockets and keeping my head down as I follow the light Saturday-morning crowd crossing South Market Street.
I’m alone now.
Alone in a new city, surrounded by strangers.
And I’m about to go meet another stranger and try to convince her to pay me much more money than I ever expected I’d really be worth.
I lift my chin as I push away that thought and all the anxiety that wants to come with it. I can do this. Ihave todo this. For myself. And for Alex.
For us.
I step up onto the sidewalk on the other side of the street and keep walking. One block over, then cross First and turn right, and there it is. Urban Arts.
I stop, staring at the two-story building, its high glass windows decorated with bright geometric designs and random bursts of color. It looks loud and energetic, especially in the early morning light, but at the same time, it’s inviting, pulling me in its direction.
My heart’s racing, too, with some mix of eager anticipation and nervousness. It’s a different nervousness, though. Maybe just anormalnervousness. A normal I’m-about-to-meet-my-future-employer nervousness.
I can almost feel Alex laughing at me for that thought, and I shake my head at myself, then reach into my pocket and pull out my phone to check the time and make sure I’m not too early.
Eight twenty-five. Perfectly on time. And I’m ready.
I take a slow breath, and I’m just about to put my phone back into my pocket when it vibrates and a notification pops up on my screen. It’s a text from Alex.
A simple three words.
I love you.
My heart stutters, and I feel the most comfortable warmth surrounding me. Like he’s here, whispering the words in my ear as he hugs me.
With a deep breath, I silence my phone, slip it back into my pocket, and then get my feet to move, bringing me one step closer to our future together.
Chapter Forty-Two
Alex
Mom (1:44 p.m.):Sounds like such an amazing opportunity! I’m so proud of you! <3
Mom (1:45 p.m.):Are you back in San Jose now?
Alex (1:45 p.m.):just got here
Mom (1:45 p.m.):And Nico?
Alex (1:46 p.m.):havent heard from him yet
Alex (1:46 p.m.):ill let u know as soon as i can
The train slows to a stop at Diridon Station, just a little over a mile from our hotel, and I frown down at my phone and then step off onto the platform as the doors open. My mind’s still reeling from the day, all of my excitement and enthusiasm mixing with worry. It’s almost two, which is much later than I planned to be back, and I still haven’t heard anything from Nico.
That’s probably a good thing. At least, that’s what Ikeep telling myself as I grip my phone and start the walk back to the hotel.
Everything about my own experience today was fantastic—my chat with Dr. Ellis, the tour he gave me of his lab on the second floor of the Physics and Astrophysics Building near the main quad on campus, the presentation by one of his postdocs for the entire department. Afterward, Dr. Ellis introduced me to several other faculty members in the department and to Dr. Millan, the visiting professor I spoke with earlier in the summer. Before I left campus, he gave me a formal offer to join his lab as an undergraduate researcher in the fall.
