After Nathan brought me home, Angel offered to give me the lower bunk, where she’d been sleeping. She’s already switched our bedding, so I’m free to drop onto my mattress. The bunk even has curtains I can pull closed, like it’s a pillow fort.
I make myself comfortable in the dim light and dial Wyatt’s number. I’ve probably talked to him more today than any other day I’ve been here.
He answers after the first ring. “Everything okay?”
My throat clogs with emotion. I’m not yet able to answer without crying, so I swallow again and again. I don’t want Wyatt to assume I’m faking tears to make him feel sorry for me rather than for himself in this situation.
“Claire?”
“I ...” There. I got one word out. I can do this.
“What?”
Well, now I have to repeat my first word, and that makes everything harder. I’ll just go for it. “I didn’t get transferred.” My voice somehow remained even.
“I was afraid of this.”
I’m still trying to be positive. To make this work. “A couple of my roommates got transferred, so it does happen.”
“They were transferred to San Francisco, and you weren’t?”
“They were transferred to JFK. Nobody got SFO this month.”
He harrumphs. “And there’s no way to know which bases they’ll open next month?”
He just wants me home. That’s all. And that’s what I want too. “I wish.” Though if they aren’t going to open it, do I really want to know? If I foundout I wouldn’t be transferred next month, would I stay indefinitely or would I quit? I want to quit. In fact, I wish I were on a plane right now so I could blow an escape slide and make a grand exit.
“When can you make your request to be transferred for next month?” Wyatt asks.
“Right now.” I put him on speaker and log back in to enter my bid. Wyatt is quiet for so long that after I make my request, I check to be sure it’s really on speakerphone. It is, so I switch back and hold the phone to my ear. “Done.”
“You could be done with the job if you want. Just come live with me. I can take care of you.”
“Wyatt ...”
“What?” He sounds defensive. “Can you understand my concerns? I received a call from my girlfriend earlier and heard the voice of the guy I’d asked her not to spend time with.”
Okay. That’s not a good look. But still. “I didn’t have anyone else here to call.” If only Nathan had a significant other, then Wyatt wouldn’t worry as much.
Hey, wait. I’d been thinking about setting him up with Angel.
“I don’t know how long I can do this.” Wyatt’s words jolt me like a defibrillator.
What’s he saying? That I’m going to have to choose between him and my career? That’s what I’d been afraid of. And while I’ve considered leaving the job, I want to believe I’m worth the effort of the long-distance relationship.
Only last week Wyatt had suggested we move in together. Now his offer feels conditional. Yet I’m scared to lose him. I’m scared to hear him say the words. I just have to change his mind so he’s not even thinking them.
I blurt. “Would it help if you knew Nathan was dating my roommate?”
Silence. “Do you mean to tell me that you’re not the one he’s interested in?”
Nathan cares for me, but I absolutely don’t think he’s interested.Angel’s more his type, and they’d make a gorgeous couple. They’re two of my favorite people, and if I love them both, it only makes sense that they’d love each other. “I told her about her boyfriend tonight, so that’s over, and she’s going to go on a date with Nathan.”
Now I have to set them up.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Nathan
