“You were staring at it like it was going to disappear.”
“That was also part of the plan.”
Keaton let out a breath through his nose, then perched on the edge of my desk and folded his arms over his chest. “So tell me. What did they say?”
I shrugged, trying but failing to make it seem like leaving would be easy. “You know, enlistment stuff. Jobs. How it all works after graduation.”
He dragged a palm over his thigh. “What did your dad say?”
“That it’s smart to get moving now if I want better options.”
“That sounds like him.” His gaze dropped back to the folder. “So, what happens now?”
“More paperwork, tests, and meetings. If everything goes the way it’s supposed to, I can get into the delayed entry program and leave right after graduation.”
He paused for a beat. “Right after graduation?”
I nodded.
The room went quiet.
A few weeks ago, I probably would’ve cracked a joke to break the silence, but today it didn’t feel like something I could joke about.
He pushed off the desk and turned away, pacing toward the window. “That’s not that far away.”
“It’s like nine months away.”
“That will be here before we know it.”
“I know.”
He turned toward me. “Do you?”
I frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you’ve planned on this forever, Rowan.” His voice stayed even, but I could sense the tension beneath it. “So maybe nine months doesn’t feel the same to you.”
I stood up. “You think it doesn’t feel real to me?”
“I think maybe you’ve had a lot more time to get used to it.”
I stepped around the chair. “Maybe I have.”
He stayed there, waiting.
“But that doesn’t mean I’m all right with every part of it.”
His stare tightened. “Every part?”
“You really want me to spell it out?”
“Yeah,” he responded. “I do.”
I glanced away for a second. “I’m not worried about the Air Force part.”
“What part are you worried about, then?”
“You.” The word was out before I could pull it back, and once it was there between us, I couldn’t pretend I hadn’t meant it.
