That was a blow. He couldn’t afford rent on a barista’s paycheck. “Could he share an apartment? Has he considered a second job?”
“He’s already played with the numbers, and he can’t make them work out.” She released a shuddering sigh. “I told him that we should ask Mom or my grandparents if they could help him find a job.”
I suppressed a groan. Mason had too much pride to accept help from her family. “I’ll bet he refused that.”
“Yeah. He got upset that I even suggested it.”
“What’s his plan, then?”
She blinked wet eyes and tried to focus on her tablet. “I don’t know. I couldn’t pay attention after he said he’d be gone by Labor Day.”
I hugged her awkwardly, not sure what else to do. I’d never been particularly good at messy emotions, but if I’d learned anything from the past year, it was that a weeping friend shouldn’t be rejected.
Kimberley brushed at the tears spilling down her cheeks. “He’s known for a while that he might return to Wyoming. Why didn’t he tell me sooner?”
“He could’ve tried, and you just don’t remember.”
“I wouldn’t have forgotten something that huge.”
“Maybe you ignored the clues because you didn’t want them to be true. We all do that.”
Her face crumpled. “I don’t want you to be right. But you probably are.”
“Kimberley, don’t worry. We’re going to fix this.” I gently pushed her iPad away. No sense in harping on how we’d gotten to this point. “When did you have the fight?”
“Yesterday. Outside The Java Corner.”
“Have you called him since?”
She shook her head rapidly.
“Has he contacted you?”
She glanced at her phone. “He texted last night and again this morning.”
“Did you respond?”
“No.” She looked up at me. “I should have. Shouldn’t I?”
“Yeah.” Why hadn’t Mason just come over here? If he’d shown up at the door, she would’ve let him in.
He might be giving her space to calm down. Or maybe he just couldn’t deal with the stress of two hearts breaking. “You have to see him, Kimberley. You don’t need to waste another moment. Maybe you can help him brainstorm alternatives that he hasn’t thought of yet.”
“I think he’s made up his mind.”
“If he has, what will you do about it?”
“I don’t know.”
Okay, time for a harsh truth. “Have you offered to follow him?”
“I can’t. It’s hard enough for me to survive as it is. I don’t think he could absorb everything that I’d lose. I know this is terrible to say, but if a guy wants me, he has to adapt tomylife. I can’t adapt to his. Mason has to choose me and North Carolina and my parents.” Her face set into lines of resignation. “Nobody can take care of me on their own. He’ll need the kind of help that only my family is willing to give.”
“He thinks you’re worth it.”
She stood and walked over to the window, staring blindly at the back yard. “I’m scared. What if it’s just an excuse?” She spoke in a rough whisper.
“An excuse for what?”
