"Of course." I rolled my eyes. "And you don't miss that?"
"Miss what?"
"A different girl every night? Going out and hooking up with a stranger? No strings, just fun?"
"It was getting old," he said. "And I'm having fun with you."
"Really?" I smiled.
He took my hand, and his face turned serious. "Jocelyn, I've been doing some thinking."
"Uh, oh!" I giggled.
"Have I ever mentioned how adorable you are?"
"Not tonight."
"Hmm, well, tonight, you're sexy, and I'm going to show you how much I want to take this dress off later." He slowly kissed me. "But, right now, I need to tell you what I've been thinking about."
"Okay," I whispered.
"I'm going back to Yale to do the internship in a few weeks."
"I know." I frowned. "Don't remind me."
"But I've decided to come home after that."
"What about medical school?"
"I can think about that later," he said. "The doctor I've been shadowing at the hospital just got a grant to complete a major project, and he needs a research assistant.
He starts in January, and he's offered me the job."
"You'd be working here?" I said, trying to hold back an excited scream.
"Yes." He smiled. "I'd be working with him for at least a year. My dad thinks it's a great opportunity, and when I'm done, I can look for a job using my Master’s, or I can go to medical school."
"Are you sure?" I was jumping up and down inside my head, but I wanted to make sure this was want he wanted. He'd been going back and forth about school, and if he had concerns, I wanted to be here for him to talk about them.
"Yes, I'm sure." He nodded. "It's time for me to come home, Jocelyn, especially now that I have someone to come home to."
I couldn't stop the grin.
"But I know you're young, and you've just graduated. There are so many things you still have to experience, and I do have to leave for four months, so I don't want you to feel obligated to wait for me."
"Do you want me to wait?" I knew what I wanted, but I didn't want to assume anything for him.
"I don't want to be selfish," he said as he looked down. "But I want this, us, to work."
"I do too," I whispered.
He looked into my eyes, and I saw the relief in his gaze. How can he not think I'dwant him? "I know things progressed really fast between us, but it’s working. I only wish I didn't have to leave."
"I want you to go," I said. "I'll miss you like crazy, but this is something you have to do. I want it for you."
"If the situation were reversed, I don't know if I could be so selfless," he said. "I'd want to keep you with me."
"I don't believe that." I smiled. "You always do what's right for me."
