“Me?”
“Yeah.”
He leaned against the wall by the window. “What about me?”
I dropped my gaze for a second, then lifted it again. “Everything.”
He didn’t say anything.
So I kept going. “You’ve been part of my life for so long that I can’t look at that folder and pretend leaving is only about me.”
His throat moved as he swallowed. “Rowan.”
“I mean it.”
He was quiet for a long second. “I didn’t know you were thinking about us like that.”
I gave him a look. “Like what?”
He met my stare. “Like I was part of your future.”
I crossed the room and stopped right in front of him. “You didn’t?”
He hesitated, then answered, “I knewIwanted more. I just wasn’t sureyoudid too.”
“I do,” I whispered. My heart was pounding in my chest. We’d known each other since we were kids, but confessing I wanted him to be part of my life going forward made me nervous. What if he only wanted to keep experimenting? What if that had been his plan all along? To use me to learn things so when I left he could do them with other guys?
He let out a soft laugh. “This is a lot.”
I frowned. “Why?”
“Because I came over here ready to hang out and maybe steal a kiss, and now you’re standing in front of me talking about leaving.”
“That’s a pretty solid plan.” I grinned, trying to lighten the mood.
“It’s a better plan than this.”
“This being honesty?”
“This being you making me feel things in the middle of the afternoon.”
He laughed, and that finally made me grin.
“Made you laugh,” I teased.
“Don’t get cocky.”
“Too late.”
He rolled his eyes then put his focus back on me. “So what are you actually saying?”
I should’ve played it safer. I knew that. I should’ve backed up and kept it light about the summer and kisses and not asking for anything bigger than I had a right to ask for. Instead, I went with the truth. “I’m saying I want you in my life after I leave.” He went still again, and for half a second, I almost took it back. Almost laughed it off. Almost told him I didn’t mean it like that. But I didn’t stop. “I don’t know where I’ll end up yet. Dad already said it doesn’t work like that, that I won’t find out my first station for a while. But wherever it is, I want you there.”
Keaton stared at me like I’d lost my mind. “Rowan.”
“I know.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
