Page 11 of The Longest Wait

“We’re so proud of you.” Her mother hugged her tightly. “Are yousure you don’t want to defer a year and come with us?”

Her father nodded. “It’s all the rage. You can travel Europewith us.”

No way.

Not that the idea of traveling didn’t sound fun to her, but with herparents? They would be all lovey-dovey, enjoying their time in foreigncountries as if it was a second honeymoon and she didn’t want to bepart of that. Besides, she has college to look forward to. No historicalbuilding was talking her out of it.

“You two will have more fun without me, I promise,” sheassured them.

They gave her another round of hugs before leaving. As an onlychild, Sofia didn’t mind being alone. She flipped on the radio and“Best of You” by the Foo Fighters was playing. She turned up the musicto jam while she unpacked. For the first time in her life, she was goingto have to share a room. She hoped it wasn’t as dreadful as it sounded.

She looked around the room, and was unsure of where to start forunpacking. Was it first come, first serve? Did she pick the top bunkor the bottom bunk? Did it matter which desk she chose? Would herroommate care which closet she had?

This was the crap that should’ve been in all the books her parentsbought her about living in the dorms and excelling in college. She couldrattle on and on about time management and sitting in the front ofthe classroom, but how to be a good roommate wasn’t listed anywhere.

She was about to pick the top bunk because she never slept in abunk bed before and figured the top would be fun. She was throwingher pillows on her chosen bed when people stood outside her room.Then all the noise immediately followed.

“Mom, if you make me go on one more tour, I’m changing myname and never speaking to you again,” a girl sounded exasperated.“We have been here for five hours, and this is the first time I’m gettingto my dorm room.”

“You will be thanking me later when you have class and you knowwhere you’re going. I want you to know where every building is,” themom responded with sweetness.

“She does. And now her whole family knows too,” an annoyedmale voice added. “I can unload all of her boxes, but then I have toleave. My train back to New York leaves soon.”

“Mom and Dad, you better not embarrass me,” the girl warned.

Another male voice spoke, but this one was older, “We would neverembarrass you.”

Just listening to them was entertainment. She was about to peekthrough the blinds to see who was outside when the door swung open.

“Lucy Copeland,” a brunette introduced herself as soon as shestepped inside. She came with an exuberant amount of energy. “Seriously ignore my parents, and this is my oldest brother Tony.”

“Hi, I’m Sofia Winton.”

“Nice to meet you.” Tony responded and dropped a box. “Alright,kiddo, I’m out of here.”

He gave Lucy a big bear hug and whispered something in her earthat made her laugh. For a brief moment, it made her wish she hadan older brother to send her off to college. He turned to Sofia. “Makesure she doesn’t get into any trouble.”

Sofia nodded and reached out to shake his hand. He laughed andpulled her in for a hug.

Lucy’s parents went to get the rest of the boxes and she sat down,facing Sofia. “Okay, my family can be crazy. My mom loves to have usover and promised to send us food. She swears the cafeteria won’t beenough. On the plus side, she makes the best lasagna and her dessertsare so on point. My dad, even though we’re a few hours away, plansto come up for every parent activity, on top of all sports functions. Ifyou don’t go with us, he will be offended. Tony lives in New York, sohe will probably only harass us through email.”

“Us?” Sofia was a bit overwhelmed.

Her mom stepped back into their dorm room. “Lucy and you, ofcourse. You’re part of the family now. Speaking of family, Lucy, whereis your other brother?”

There was another one? Geez, this family grew like weeds.

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Last I saw him was when we were ending ourfourth tour, and the tour guide asked him to grab a drink with her.”

Her dad laughed like it was normal for her brother to take off witha woman he barely knew. “No surprise with Alex.”

“I told him today was about Lucy!” the mom exclaimed.

Another person lazily walked into the room.

“Relax, Mom, I’m here. No way was I missing moving Lucy inand meeting her new roommate.”

The voice mesmerized Sofia, but she couldn’t get a good view ofhis face because his family surrounded him. Who the heck made herheart race by only hearing his voice?