“I got it approved. Hey, so I’ve already made my niece two crocheted blankets and I think three is a little much. Can I make you a scarf? We could go through patterns tonight. And I bought so much yarn when we went shopping last that you’ll have tons of colors to choose from.”
“Um...” I pause. “Yeah, that would be cool, if you don’t mind. Do you have Christmas patterns?”
“I could get them online.”
“Awesome!” Sage unlocks our dorm door and I drop my bag onto my desk. “So what time is your flight?”
Sage doesn’t answer. Instead she pulls a huge bag from under her bed. “Why don’t you look through the yarn first? Then we can choose a pattern once I know the yarn weight.”
My eyes narrow. “What’s going on?”
“Trying to stay busy. Dr. Reese gave me five more articles to read before our lab meeting next Friday so I want a new project while I read.”
“I mean about the trip. When are you flying out?” I say the last sentence slowly.
“Eight a.m.”
“Oh.” Relief floods through me. “Your flight’s actually before ours. Maybe you can wait at the Marco Polo Airport for—”
“Friday.”
I blink. “Friday?”
Everyone else is flying out Wednesday morning. The flight and travel into Venice will take the majority of the day, which leaves us Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in Venice before we have to fly back Sunday. But if Sage isn’t even leaving until Friday morning...
“You’ll miss everything! And you’ll be alone on Thanksgiving!”
“I won’t be alone. I talked to Dr. Reese and we decided that I should really be at the university during break. Another professor from Stanford is giving a talk Thursday and—”
“But... but you’ll miss everything.” My heart sinks. Nothing will be the same without her. Plus, I’ve been secretly working on a whole itinerary so we don’t miss any of the sights—Doge’s Palace, the Galleria dell’Accademia, Ca’ d’Oro. I’d scheduled Thursday chock-full of historic sites and museums for Dev and Sage.
“Is it really so important for you to be at this talk? I know you want to get into med school eventually, but I can’t see how missing one speaker is going to matter.”
“This isn’t about padding my résumé for college or med school applications—I’m staying because Iwantto be there. I love being a part of something larger than myself, something that could affect the future of medicine... even if my part is minuscule right now.” Sage shoves the yarn back under the bed with a sigh. “It won’t even be a big deal for me to come late. Venice isn’t that large and I read it’s easy to get around. This way I can still have a fun weekend, but I don’t miss anything academically.”
I open my mouth to argue, but there’s no point. The way her arms are folded across her chest tells me that. “Have you told Dev?” I blurt.
Sage bristles. “So I can get his permission?”
“No. No, that’s not what I’m saying. I just think he’ll be disappointed.”
She snorts and turns on her laptop. “And I think you don’t know Dev half as well as you think you do.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Ellie...” She cocks her head in pity. “You’re being purposely naive. If you spent a little less time looking at Will, then you’dnotice how much someone else has been looking at you.”
My only response is a sarcastic grunt. Inside, though, tension crawls up my spine as I think back to our dinner at the pub. But that was different. Dev was upset we’d included Will in our plans. He wasn’tlookingat me. His only looks are exaggerated eye rolls and grimaces when we’re studying. Plus, he likes Sage. Maybe she’s being purposely naive.
Chapter
29
“Let’s go!” Dev stands in the doorway of my room, tappinghis foot impatiently. “Ellie, if we miss the van to Northampton then we’re going to miss our train, which means we’re going to miss our flight.”
“I know, I know!”
I grab my passport and water bottle, throw my carry-on over my shoulder, and snatch the handle of my suitcase.
