18
~
June
“I think this is the best idea you’ve had in a long time, Price.”
Mads sunk back into her chair, closing her eyes in pure bliss. I’d come up with the idea for us to have a spa day, and after all the studying we’d both been doing, she’d only been too happy to agree.
We were getting pedicures side by side, and I hadn’t seen Mads this happy since we won the derby. I laughed. “I figured we deserved the break.”
“Oh we definitely did. Especially me because, as we both know, I’m the one with the strongest dedication to my academics,” she said airily. I shook my head, just happy to be able to spend this time unwinding with my best friend. “On a serious note though, how are things going on that front?”
I took a breath, the excitement I felt a few days ago when Ronan broke the news coming back in a rush. “I actually meant to tell you. I scored an interview with Muller & Co.”
“What?” Mads almost kicked her feet out of the pedicure bowl. She gave a feverish apology to the pedicurist, who simply waved her off good-naturedly before turning to me again. “An actual interview with one of the biggest urban developers in the country? And your dream company, to boot?”
“Yes,” I said, hardly able to fully believe it myself.
It felt like a dream. I thought back to the very start of the semester. I’d been so determined to ensure I got a chance like this, to the point that I focused every aspect of my life onto achieving it. I thought it would’ve only come after I sacrificed everything else to get there. And yet here I was, having more fun and taking more risks than I thought I was capable of and still managing to get that interview.
“I’m so proud of you, June,” Mads said, grabbing my hand and squeezing. Her face was beaming with genuine joy, and my heart clenched. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving.”
I've been hearing a lot of that lately. The only thing that could subdue the impostor syndrome settling in was the determination to make that comment ring true by the end of the year.
“See what happens when you play your cards right? Did I or did I not tell you how important networking was? You’re so lucky to have me as your friend,” she said. It was clear she was only joking, but she was also absolutely right.
“Thanks, Mads. I appreciate that. Thank you for always being so supportive of me,” I said, the weight of the words sinking in as I said them. It’s not like I spent too much time leaning into the sentimental parts of our friendship. But I would always cherish the role it played in my life more than I think she knew.
Her face softened just a bit before she rolled her eyes. “Stop being soppy. You’re ruining my vibe.”
I snorted. “Oh, my bad. Well, answer for an answer, then? You know where I’m standing on my future plans, what about yours?”
“Well…” she trailed off. I raised an eyebrow at her, the way she would’ve done to me if the roles were reversed. “Fine. I’mplanning on speaking with my parents in two weeks about me taking a year off to travel.”
I felt my eyes pop in surprise. I gave a low whistle. “Wow, Mads. That’s brave.”
“You know, a little mutual support would be great,” she complained.
“You know that you have that,” I said. “How are you feeling about telling them?”
She paused, seeming to think about it for a minute. “I don’t know. Relieved, mostly I guess? But also scared. More scared than I’d care to admit.”
Now it was my turn to squeeze her hand. “That’s understandable. But honestly, I think you’re underestimating how much they love you. And how much they respect the things you’ve been able to do on your own as well. And at the very worst, they’ll probably just reply with short answers for about a month before they get over it.”
Her mouth pressed into a tight line. “Hopefully.”
“Aren’t you typically the optimist?” I asked.
“Yeah. When it comes to other people,” she pointed out. “It’s always a little different when it’s your own gamble.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be. Everything’s going to be just fine,” I reassured her. “There’s no reward without risk, right?”
She gave me a sidelong look. “Who are you and what have you done with my friend June?”
“She’s still here. Just invigorated,” I answered.
“Hmm,” she hummed suspiciously. “You got laid, didn’t you?”
