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“None. She doesn’t even know she’s not flying home. I’m going to drive her there myself. I figure I’d get the most out of the time I have left until she wants nothing to do with me.”
“Don’t say that. She loves you.”
“She loves me right now.” I correct. “There’s a good chance that will change when I have her locked up against her will.”
He looks as if he wants to argue, but he knows there is nothing he can say that will help ease my fear. The truth of the matter is that she almost left me for telling Dawson about her eating disorder. The chances of her never wanting to speak to me again after this are massive.
FINAL EXAMS ARE A mess, and to be honest, I don’t know if I’ll pass. I may lose my perfect GPA from my lack of being able to study but I can’t find it in me to care. The only thing I can think of is the fact that I have a little over 24 hours left with my girlfriend.
My room is already packed up and the things I’m leaving here have already been moved into Jesse’s room. I should be excited. As of tomorrow, I’m officially the President of Kappa Delta Phi. Instead, I’m moping around when I don’t have to put on an act for Kayleigh’s benefit.
“You alright, bro?” Jesse questions as he finishes up loading his stuff into the back of his truck.
“No, but I will be.” I hope.
He fakes a pout and pinches my cheek. “Don’t worry, H. You two will be fine. What’s a little distance over the summer, right?”
If only he knew.
I’M LEANING AGAINST THE wall outside of Kayleigh’s last class. While I’m in the middle of sending a text message to John, the door opens and my girlfriend walks out. She seems like she’s on a mission and she doesn’t even notice me standing there.
“All done?”
She jumps, caught off guard by my presence. “What are you doing here?”
“Just thought I’d surprise you.” I lean down
and give her a soft kiss.
“I’m glad you did.” She lies. It’s clear being with me right now wasn’t her plan.
We walk out to my car, hand in hand, and I hold the passenger door open for her. She eyes me suspiciously but doesn’t ask questions as she climbs inside. I drive us to the diner near campus, though with my nerves as high as they are, I’m not even hungry. Discreetly, I watch the way Kayleigh messes with her fries, only eating maybe a handful of them and destroying the rest.
“I have a surprise for you.”
She furrows her eyebrows. “Oh?”
I nod, hoping she isn’t going to think I’m being overbearing. “I’m coming home with you before I go back to Jersey.”
“Seriously?!” Her whole demeanor changes and she looks genuinely excited about the idea.
“Seriously. I cancelled your flight. You drive back with me tomorrow.”
Shit. I hope she doesn’t ask how I managed to cancel a ticket that wasn’t in my name. Thankfully, she doesn’t catch on. She leans over the table and kisses me happily.
“When are you going home?”
“Haven’t decided yet.” I answer with a shrug. It depends on how much you hate me after you find out where you’re going.
To be honest, if she wanted me to stay the whole summer, I would. She’ll be in inpatient treatment for eight weeks and then she’ll have to complete a few weeks of outpatient therapy. It seems like such a long time to be away from her but she needs the help.
KAYLEIGH CRIES AS SHE hugs Dawson goodbye. She had both him and Brianna meet us at the frat house just before we head out. It’s awkward seeing my ex again. All the history between us and the fact that I broke up with her for her roommate makes for a tense situation. However, we make the best of it and she smiles, silently telling me she doesn’t want to rip my head off as much as I may have assumed.
“Good luck today.” Dawson whispers in my ear as Kayleigh is hugging Bree. “Text me and let me know how it goes.”
“I will.” I promise, feeling like I’m going to vomit when I think of what might happen tonight.
THE DRIVE TO RHODE Island is lengthy, but nowhere near long enough. I make sure I’ve constantly got one hand on her. Even on the off chance she doesn’t hate me for this, I know the next eight weeks will be spent with far less touches than acceptable. When my silent GPS tells me we’re close, I tighten my grip on her hand.
