It’s your own fault, a betraying voice whispers in the recesses of my brain.
“I couldn’t think of any better options,” I say lamely.
“Were you able to transfer all of your credits?” Juliet asks with a hopeful raise of both dark eyebrows.
I let out a breath before shaking my head. “Most of them, but not all of them.” A sad sound escapes her lips, but I shrug it off. “It’s a little bitof a setback, but nothing that I can’t handle.”
She squints at me, as if she can tell that I don’t feel as confident as Isound. “You’re living in Monterey?”
“Yep. Very nice place.”
“But you said your apartment is a piece of shit?”
I cringe. Probably shouldn’t have blurted that bit out. “It’s… not the worst place I could’ve rented.”
“How are you paying for all of this?”
I let loose another sigh. “I’m still trying to figure that out. My mother has been kind enough to offer to help me while I’m getting settled, but I don’t want to rely on her long-term. This was my mistake, and I should be the one paying for it. Literally and figuratively.”
Juliet bites her bottom lip before straightening her shoulders and beaming at me. “The bakery has really been picking up lately. I know it may not align with your master’s degree, but I can pay you. And I never get yelled at by rude customers here. And we can listen to music or gossip while we frost cupcakes in the mornings.”
A grateful smile tugs at my lips. “I don’t really know how to bake,” I say sheepishly.
“Were you good at chemistry in high school?”
“Uhh, ten years ago? Yeah.”
She waves her hand as if it’s nothing. “Perfect. That’s all baking is. Well, that and being able to follow directions, can you do that?”
I nod. “I think I can manage.”
“See?” She grins. “Perfect, like I said.”
“I could probably get the hang of frosting designs?” I offer.
“Awesome!” She jumps up and down while clapping her hands. “I get exhausted doing them all by myself.” Her joy makes me want to start jumping with her. “Do you want to start Monday?”
“That sounds great,” I say with a smile, though I don’t think it quite reaches my eyes.
Working with Juliet won’t be anything like seeing Asher every day, but maybe being around her will make it feel like I still have a piece of him.
Three Months Later
Having to retakea full semester of grad school was never part ofmy plan, and, frankly, it sucks. Having to wait until summer to retake any of those classes also sucks. By the time I filled out the transfer application, got accepted, completed the remaining paperwork, and broke my lease, I couldn’t sign up for spring classes.
So, I spend a lot of my time with Juliet. I come to work, we bake, and chat about the locals—Juliet’s friend Diem is a tattoo artist and loves to gossip. Diem was the friend who had painted the mural in Juliet’s shop. I didn’t have any tattoos, but Diem is covered in them and is constantly badgering Juliet and me to swing by the shop and get some of our own.
Is it nice to know that there’s no way I will accidentally run into Asher out on the street? Yes. I don’t think my heart could handle it. But do I miss him more and more each day? Also yes.
At least this little seaside town is starting to grow on me, along with the friends I’ve been making. I spend most of my time in Carmel-By-The-Sea since I don’t have to attend classes until summer.
The Monterey Bay Institute of Psychology was one of the few programs willing to take me and transfer most of my credits, so I’m only out a small fortune. I consider myself extremely lucky that my mother still wants to help me, even though I could tell she wasn’t a fan of my decision.
Despite our disagreements, I can tell how much my mother loves me.
Our relationship has gotten better since I moved away as well.She came to visit and helped me pick out furniture for my apartment. Sheeven stayed with me and didn’t complain once about Milo.
She also didn’t try to set me up with anyone while she was here, and she hasn’t mentioned any men during our weekly Sunday phone calls.
