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“How did you get that done so fast?” I asked finally. “What happened to the paperwork?”

He pumped his eyebrows at me. “I told you I knew you were lying before. I filled it out and submitted it. Your application for a work-study has already been accepted. We were just waiting for you to tell us about the placement.”

I exhaled a long breath, nodded, and stood up, pretending that I didn’t feel anything at all, but the truth was that this felt better than it probably should have. It felt right, even. “There’s someplace I need to be tomorrow and maybe the day after, but I’ll see you on Thursday?”

“Make it Monday,” he said, winking when he looked up at me. “I’m going to make your life difficult, so you might as well enjoy this last week of freedom.”

“You’ve been doing that since I was twelve,” I said. “Trust me, I know how to handle you.”

The door opened and his assistant brought in the coffee, so I stayed until it was done, taking the time to drill him on details of my new post. After, I’d barely even turned over the engine in my car when my phone rang, Alex’s name appearing on the screen in my console.

I hit the button on the steering wheel to answer. “What’s up, Alex? I’m just leaving the office, so if I lose you, it’s because I died of shock about the fact that I went there voluntarily.”

A brief pause followed and he laughed. “I think I almost just died of shock. What happened? Did Colin summon you for another ambush?”

“You heard about that, huh?”

“Yeah, but I still don’t think it was an ambush.” He sighed. “Anyway, is everything okay over there?”

“Apart from the fact that Colin is going to be having way too much fun with me as of next week, it’s all good.”

Alex paused again, clearly surprised by all of this. “You’re doing the work-study there after all?”

“I am.”

“Pity, I was hoping you’d ask to do it with me at W&S, but I guess we can’t have it all.”

I chuckled. “I wasn’t aware W&S was even on the table. Maybe next time?”

“Sure thing,” he said. “Hey, I actually called because I need a favor. Don’t hang up on me, but I need you to come to the bank with me at some point this week.”

I frowned. “Why?”

“There’s some final paperwork for the trust before they’ll be able to formally transfer it all into your name. It’s just a few signatures, man.”

“I thought that was already done.”

“Most of it is, but there are a couple of documents that require your signature in person.” He sighed. “Look, I’m sorry. I know it’s a hassle, but⁠—”

“Okay,” I said. “Yeah. It’s no problem. Of course, I’ll be there. Can we make it Thursday?”

There was yet another pause. “You’re agreeing?”

“Yes.”

“Just like that?” he asked. “It was almost too easy.”

“What can I say? I’m maturing.”

“You have my sincere condolences,” he joked. “The descent into maturity is never easy, but I’m proud of you.”

“You would be.”

He laughed. “I’ll see you on Thursday, Holden. Don’t forget, okay?”

“I won’t,” I promised, then hung up and clicked into my message thread with Alicia.

Inhaling a deep breath, I decided to keep the message short and simple. I wanted to tell her what I was doing and where I was going, but since it might not end well, I didn’t want to get her hopes up.