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“Guests first,” Lily insisted.
“How about you both stop avoiding and spit it out? I’ve got an article to get back to,” Zoey said, throwing her hands out at them both.
Lily and Joe mumbled their apologies and there was a moment of silence.
“Should I toss a coin?” I asked.
“No!” they both shouted.
“I got in,” Joe finally said.
“In?” Zoey asked.
“Into the Navy. I passed all the checks and interviews, and I have to report for boot camp in Illinois in two weeks.”
“Oh, my god, you made it?” Lily gasped.
“I made it, baby girl.” Joe allowed himself a smile.
Lily leapt out of her seat and threw herself into Joe’s giant arms. She showered him with kisses whilst murmuring, “I’m so proud of you!”
“Congratulations,” I gushed.
Zoey didn’t appear to share their enthusiasm. “Chicago?”
“Yeah, Chicago.”
“Then where will you go?”
Joe shrugged. “Wherever they need me to go.”
Zoey twisted her hands together on the tabletop.
Joe reached over and grasped them tight. “Hey. You can always visit if I’m Stateside. Plus, you and Lily will have each other when I’m not around.”
Lily slid off Joe’s lap with a pained expression on her face. “About that. My news is that, um . . . I’ve been accepted for an incredible job. It’s a massive career advancement that I applied for quite a while ago, and I kind of want to take it.”
“What job?” I asked.
“It’s on the old battlefields . . ..”
“The Civil War battlefields? If they’re the ones in PA, that means we could take road trips to see one another,” Joe suggested.
“No. Not the Civil War battlefields. I’m talking about the battlefields of World War One and Two. In France. The job is in France, and the tenure would be for three years.”
“Oh, my god, that’s incredible!” I gushed. “France, I can’t believe it! You never told us about it.”
Lily shrugged. “I didn’t think I’d be picked. There are many more people better qualified for the job than I am.”
“Clearly, the employer doesn’t think so. You have to take it!” I exclaimed.
“Ordinarily I would have. But now . . .” Lily’s gaze travelled between her two lovers.
Zoey shot up from her chair. “You both want to leave me? Fine. Do what you like. I’ve got an article to write.”
“Zoey!” Lily called.
Zoey paused. Her body shook with anger and hurt as she turned back to her girlfriend and boyfriend. She tried to appear as cool as possible; however, I could see tears welling in her eyes. “No, it’s fine. I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of your dreams. Because what kind of girlfriend would I be? Go to Chicago and go to France, and I’ll stick to what I love to do in the city I love.”
