I almost laugh at that. “You’re an incredible dad. You did everything you could, and you did it well. Not everything I do is a reflection on you or your parenting; it’s just the way I was born.” He nods slowly. “I’m okay, Dad.”
He sniffles. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Just focus on B&Co. Focus on making it even better and doing something that you love. I’ll figure out whatever this means for me when I get to it.”
“Okay,” he whispers, and then his voice regains its strength. “Okay. I’m glad. I wouldn’t want you to spend your entire life doing something just to make me happy.”
I smile. “I know, Dad.” I wrap my arms around him tight, and he hugs me back until I feel like I can’t breathe. Just the way I like it. I pat him on the back before pulling apart. “Wanna walk it off?”
He smiles. “Yeah, let’s go.”
When I’m driving back to my house near campus, something still feels off. I don’t know what it is or why it feels like someone has their fist around my stomach, but I need it to stop. I told my dad what I wanted and I know I’m going to follow through with it. I just wish it wasn’t still so fucking terrifying.
The only thing that calms me is listening to a voicemail Scarlett left me a couple hours ago. The sound of her voice travels through the car and it’s like she’s in the passenger seat right next to me as she tells me about how she spoke to her parents earlier today about doing her own thing without them.
When it ends, I hit the call button, and she answers immediately.
“I just listened to your voicemail,” I say, smiling. “You couldn’t wait for me to call you back to tell me the good news?”
She snorts. “I got impatient.” I laugh, shaking my head as if she can see me. “But this is good news, right? All things considered; I think this is the best-case scenario.”
“I agree. I’m proud of you, angel.”
“Thanks.” She giggles, and I want to drown in the sound. “How was the run with your dad?”
“Good,” I say, hesitating before I add, “I told him I don’t want to work for B&Co after graduation.”
“You did WHAT?!” I turn down the volume on the speakers, wincing at how loud she’s being.
“I’ve been thinking about it since I found out I got the SEI. I never wanted to work there. I’ve always wanted to stay in academia, find more things I’m passionate about and see what paths I could take. I think I stayed close to B&Co because it was the easy option. The safe option. I talked to Miles about it and he even said it was a good idea. Which is surprising because he doesn’t exactly have the best track record with good ideas and—”
Scarlett’s soft laugh is the only thing that snaps me out of the spiral I was slipping into. “Hey, slow down. Take a deep breath,” she says, and I do, tightening my grip on the steering wheel.
I check my ETA and ask, “Can you meet me at my place?”
“Already on the way.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: SCARLETT / EVAN
SCARLETT
I get to Evan’s house just as he’s turning off his car and opening his door.
I shut off my engine, making my way into the cold to catch up to him. He spins around when he sees me hot on his heels as he walks up the steps to his front door. He’s wearing a tight-fitting shirt and sweatpants, his hair a damp, sweaty mess. He looks so perfect that I just want to mess him up a little.
He grins, tilting his head to the side. “Did you race me here?”
“No,” I say, trying to make sure my breathing doesn’t sound as erratic as it feels. “Maybe.”
“And you still lost.”
I blow a raspberry. “Not everything is a competition.”
“Uh huh,” he murmurs, wrapping a hand around my waist and spinning me around so my back is against the door. His lips descend on mine, and I feel like I’m home again. Soft, wet lips move against mine in a practiced rhythm and I sigh against his lips when he pulls apart. “Missed you.”
I turn my face, so he kisses my cheek instead. “It’s been two days.”
“Still.” He kisses my nose and a tiny part of me melts inside.
