Emma held an unopened envelope from the University of Georgia in her hands. It was thick. Really thick. She’d never done this before, but she remembered her friends in high school saying that a thick envelope was good news.
Good news.Her stomach cramped, and her heart raced. Suddenly, she wasn’t sure what she wanted the letter to say.
Attending the University of Georgia had been her dream for so long. When she’d first graduated high school, she’d have given anything,anythingfor the chance to go to college. To truly learn her trade. Oh, how she wanted a diploma to frame on her wall, something that said she’d made it.
But did she still need that diploma? Was it worth the mountain of debt that would come with it in student loans and leaving behind all her friends—and Ryan—in Haven?
She smacked herself on the forehead. What in the world was the matter with her? This was her dream!
She ripped the envelope open, sliding the papers inside onto her palm.
Congratulations. We’re extremely pleased to extend an invitation to the University of Georgia’s Landscape Architecture Program…
She’d done it. She’d gotten in.
Despite the fact she’d been having mixed feelings a moment ago, she realized she was smiling. Actually, she felt like jumping up and down. She must have made a sound because Smokey gave her a disgusted look and headed in the direction of the closet.
Emma pulled out her phone and dialed Ryan. His phone rang until voice mail picked up, which meant he was probably either with a client at Off-the-Grid or on his bike. She hung up, knowing he’d call when he saw that he’d missed her.
Needing to share her news with someone, she snapped a picture of the acceptance line at the top of the letter and texted it to Gabby. Moments later, her phone rang.
“Oh my God!” Gabby said. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m so proud of you. For the record, I never had any doubt that you would get in.”
Emma laughed softly. “Well, for the record, I had plenty of doubt, but I’m glad I got in. I’m relieved. I’m really excited.”
“I bet you are. Did you tell Ryan yet?”
“I called, but he didn’t answer.”
“He’s going to be so proud of you, too. We should get everyone together and go out tonight to celebrate.”
Emma felt herself grinning like a fool. “Actually, that sounds really fun.”
“Great. You tell Ryan. I’ll rally everyone else. See you tonight.”
Emma hung up and stared at the letter in her hands. Gabby was right. Ryan would be proud of her. Would any part of him want her to stay? Or would he just feel relieved that their relationship had a clear end in sight without a messy breakup?
The little tug she felt in her chest was definitely all about him. It was her poor heart cracking at the thought of leaving him behind. But she wouldn’t let it break. Nothing was going to ruin this for her, and no man was going to derail her dreams.
Chin up, she brought her laptop into the bedroom and curled up in bed to browse apartments in Georgia. A half hour later, she heard the sound of a motorcycle approaching. Not necessarily Ryan, but…
She hurried to the front door, where indeed his Harley came into view at the bottom of the hill, winding its way up to her driveway. He pulled in and killed the engine, giving her a wicked smile. “Lookin’ for me?”
She nodded, motioning for him to follow her inside. She handed him the letter from the University of Georgia, watching as his expression went from guarded to ecstatic. He grabbed her and spun her around, a huge smile on his face. “Holy shit. You did it!”
She nodded, wrapping her arms around him.
“I am so fucking proud of you, babe.”
“Thank you. I can’t quite believe it.”
“If anyone understands how much this means to you, it’s me,” he said, his expression earnest. “Kids like Trent…they get college pushed on them so that it feels almost like an obligation. For you and me? It was the impossible dream. And now you’re living it.”
“I am.” She pressed her face against his neck.
