Lacey frowns now. “Seriously, though. Why are you working with him? I thought youhatedhim. Weren’t you guys at camp together?”
I force my face into a neutral expression. “I don’thatehim.”
Lacey gives me a look.
I sigh.
“Fine. Istronglydislike him. But I needed a partner, and he was… there.”
And also, terrifyingly competent. But mostly, just there when I was running out of time.
I still think he cheated to win on the last day of camp and I haven’t forgiven him for it, but that’s a grudge for another time.
“And you think you can work with him without, like… committing murder?” Lacey asks, only half-joking.
“Highly doubtful.” I sip my drink. “But the grant is more important than my feelings, so I’ll make it work.”
Chloe, who’s been carefully blowing on her freshly painted nails, finally looks up. “Okay but like… whatisthe competition, actually?”
“We have to design a sustainable infrastructure project.”
“Like… a green building?”
“Sure.”
Brianna tilts her head. “And if you win, you get… money?”
“Ten grand.”
That gets a little reaction. Even Chloe looks mildly impressed.
Chloe shrugs. “Still, would rather go party. Last year of being hot, unhinged college students before we’re all married and baking sourdough and wiping tiny asses.”
That mental image makes my stomach clench.
Is that Chloe’s idea of adult life?
God, I hope that's not what awaits me. I've never seen myself on that path—married young, babies, domestic bliss in the suburbs. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but my future looks different in my head.
I see blueprints and construction sites. Travel opportunities to study sustainable architecture around the world. Maybe a small apartment in a city where I can build a reputation, prove myself. Adventure and independence and creating something that lasts.
I don't think too far ahead—that feels dangerous, like tempting fate—but whenever I do let myself imagine the future, it's always full of work I'm proud of and new places.
I drop my head into my hands.
“You guys are so helpful.”
“Hey, we support you,” Lacey says, grinning. “Just… from afar. With minimal brain usage.”
“Very minimal,” Chloe echoes, reaching for her phone.
“So minimal I’ve already forgotten what we were talking about,” Brianna adds. “Where are we going tonight?”
I groan.
This is my support system.
This is what I have to work with.
