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I shook my head. “Not yet.”

“Is it really that difficult? They’re all good schools, right?”

“They’re all great schools. That’s the problem. Purdue has the prestige and big funding. Louisville has AMIST, which is an advanced 3D printing and research hub. And U of I has world-class metal printing technology.”

“U of I? That’s the University of Illinois, right?”

“Yeah. It’s in Champaign-Urbana.”

Angela frowned. I couldn’t see her eyes behind her big, dark sunglasses, but I could feel her staring hard at me. “That’s not very close.”

I nodded, knowing what she was thinking. “It would probably take over two hours to drive there and visit. About the same for Purdue.”

“And Louisville?”

“That’s a much longer drive. Almost five hours.”

“Then, you should cross that one off the list.”

I gave Angela a small smile. “You know, lots of people move away from their hometown for college or jobs. It’s not like I’m going to be on the other side of the world.”

“Still… I don’t like it. We’ve never been that far apart before.”

I reached over and covered her hand with mine, squeezing her fingers. “Yeah, I know. But we’ll always have that twin connection. Been there since you followed me out into the world, and it’ll endure any distance.”

“You always have to bring up the fact that you’re older, don’t you?”

She stuck her tongue out like a child, and I laughed again. I had to admit to myself that I would miss Angela like crazy while I was going to school, but I was also excited about the idea of moving away from Chicago for the first time in my life. It was going to be an adventure, and as scary as it could be to step outside of my comfort zone, it was also a chance to experience something new and grow as a person.

“Just ignore me,” Angela said with a sigh. “I’m only whining because I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Maybe we should order some drinks before we get too sappy.” I waved at one of the resort employees walking around, taking drink orders, and he started to head our way. I wanted a coconut full of something that had more sugar than alcohol and one of those cute little umbrellas. “This emotional stuff is a little too heavy for our poolside cabana.”

“Point taken. I just… I want you to know that I think you’re really brave for deciding to go back to school, even if it does take you all the way to Kentucky.”

“I told you. I haven’t decided yet.”

But there was a lot of appeal to the University of Louisville. I wasn’t going to let the distance from my home keep me from choosing it.

The resort employee reached us, and we both ordered a drink. As he walked away, Angela straightened in her seat and watched him go.

“You’re drooling,” I teased.

“Oh, shut up. He’s cute. Actually, this place is crawling with hot guys. Maybe that’s what you need to really relax and get your mind off work this week.”

“A man?”

Damn it. I was thinking about Greyson again.

“Why not?”

But I shook my head, both in response to her and as a way to clear it of all thoughts of the football coach that I was so attracted to. “I don’t think so. I don’t need a man to have fun in the sun this week.”

I just hoped that was true.

Chapter Four: Heather

Inever would have agreed to movie night if I’d known that we were going to watch something scary. I liked to think of myself as a strong, courageous woman. After all, I was on the cusp of changing my whole life.