“You won’t. She knows how much you care, and she’s always your priority.”
“But am I hers?” I murmur, admitting something I’ve been terrified to confront.
“She’s nuts about you, Gar. It’s just a rough patch. You’ll bounce back. Every couple goes through highs and lows. You two will last the distance. Just like Ellen and me.”
“I want to believe that, but sometimes, I think she remembers how uncomplicated her life was before she met me. There were no annoying groupies, crazy exes, or bitchy mothers to deal with.”
Air whooshes out of my mouth as I lean back against his headboard. “Stevie is so focused on her goals, and I’m really not sure where I land on her priority list.” I angle my head to look at my buddy. “We had a fight on Monday because I brought up next year. She’ll have built up enough credits to graduate in May. I asked her to consider holding off, to come back for senior year with me, and she accused me of being selfish.”
“What did you say?”
“That Iwasselfish because I didn’t want to be separated from her and I didn’t want to lose her. She contended I wouldn’t even if we have to do the long-distance thing. That it wouldn’t be for long, and we could still see one another on weekends.”
“That doesn’t sound unreasonable.”
“It’s not.” I cross my feet at the ankles. “But I don’t want to be without her. It’s more than just a wish. It’s a physical need. I physically cannot be away from her for any length of time. She clearly doesn’t feel the same way, and this relationship is starting to feel more and more one-sided.”
“Have you told her that?”
“Yeah. She was hurt. Told me I was being unfair. That it would be hard for her to be away from me too, but we needed to maintain our independence within the relationship.”
“And you haven’t seen her since then?” Will arches a brow.
“Nope. We’ve been texting, but between exams and work, we haven’t found time to meet up all week.”
“It seems to me that Stevie needs more independence than most girls but the same level of reassurance. Just give her that, and trust things to work out. You two are meant to be, and it’ll all be fine.”
I wish I shared his optimism.
* * *
“Hey, you.” Stevie hops up when I arrive at our table in Bumble Bees, flinging her arms around me and squeezing me tight. “Missed you.”
“I missed you too.” Wrapping my arms around her, I lift her off her feet and kiss her lips.
“I ordered you a black coffee and a chocolate chip muffin,” she says when I put her down, smiling as Marie approaches with a tray.
“Thanks, babe.” I kiss her cheek before she reclaims her seat, and I drop into mine.
Marie leaves our coffee and muffins and wanders off to attend to other patrons. “Can we clear the air?” Stevie asks, sipping her caramel macchiato and moaning as it tickles her taste buds.
My dick stirs at the sound and the look of abject pleasure on her face. “What else is left to say?” I shrug, taking a drink of my coffee. “We have a difference of opinion, and it’s not like I’m going to force you into staying if you don’t want to.”
“It isn’t about not wanting to stay, Garrick.” Her hand slides across the table, and her fingers hook around mine. “If I had a choice, of course, I’d stay with you. But I set out on this path before I knew you. It makes no sense to hang around UO for another year when I can easily graduate in May. And this isn’t just about me. Another college year means more money for food and accommodations, and it’s one more year Mom will continue working her weekend job. I can’t ask that of her. She has already given me so much.”
When she puts it like that, I feel like a selfish prick. That thought hadn’t crossed my mind. “I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand.”
“It’s not even a full year, and we’ll see each other on weekends and during the holidays.”
“Maybe you could get a full-time job in Oregon?” I suggest, lifting her hand and kissing the tips of her fingers.
Her face twists into a grimace. “That’s not an option.”
“Why?”
“I have set ideas for my future career. I don’t want to open a floral shop. I want to provide a professional service to corporate clients and provide a themed service for weddings. I won’t be catering to the public or spending my days making bouquets.”
My eyes pop wide in surprise. Of course, we’ve talked about our futures. I know her ambition is to run her own business after she has worked for others for a few years, to build up experience, but I didn’t realize she had such set ideas. “What about your nana’s place? Won’t you be expected to take over?”
