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And I’ll be happy in New York, too. It’s going to suck to go back to being secretive about our relationship, but I know the guys care about me, and we’ll be out in the open when it’s safe. Besides, they won’t be my teachers forever.
“What’s with the goofy smile on your face, kid?”
I jump at the voice. My new friend Cara is standing over me.
“Just thinking about a fun panel I attended,” I respond. It’s not entirely a lie, after all. I had been thinking about the Scarlet Letter panel.
Cara doesn’t buy it, though. “That’s a smile that can only be attributed to a boy,” she counters. “Why won’t you tell me if you’re dating someone?”
“Because it’s complicated. I told you that.”
“Isn’t it always?” she sighs. I just laugh. I’ve only known Cara for a few days, but I can already tell she’s a super dramatic person. It makes sense for her to be, though. After all, she’s getting her PhD in Theater with a focus on dramatic writing from Columbia University.
“I guess. What are you up to today? Done with sessions already?”
Cara nods. “I only went to one this morning. My flight leaves in four hours, so I need to get ready and get to the airport.”
“Oh, man. I was hoping you were on my flight!”
She laughs. “Not all of us could afford to fly out late at night. Besides, I have a class to teach tomorrow.”
“No!”
“Yep.”
“But tomorrow is Saturday.”
“I know, and it sucks. Doctoral candidates always get stuck with the shittiest teaching schedules.”
“I’m sorry. Lots of coffee will help.”
“Definitely. I’m sad to leave, though. It’s been fun hanging out. I’m glad I made a friend or this conference would’ve been way more boring.”
I laugh. I met Cara in my first solo panel. We both looked nervous and out of place, so we became fast friends. Over this past week, when I wasn’t with the guys, I was with Cara. They met her a few times, too. I think they like having her around. She’s hilarious and knows a lot about literature – it’s the perfect combination.
“Hey, I was wondering,” Cara says. “That guy from NYU you traveled with – Mark. Is he single?”
My throat constricts. I wasn’t prepared for this question. I can’t tell Cara the truth. She lives in NYC, too, and I don’t know if I can trust her with something so big.
I go with part of the truth. “Sorry, Cara. He has a girlfriend back home.”
“Damn. They always do. Oh, well. I guess I’ll download Tinder again when I get home.”
“I’ll help you search for men when we get together in New York.”
“Perfect! I’m so glad I met you, Mari. I hate to run off, but I do need to pack before my flight. I’ll see you when you get home, alright?”
“Absolutely. I’ll text you!”
Cara hugs me tightly and then heads off to her hotel room. She’s staying here at the hotel where the conference is located, so at least she doesn’t have to travel far.
I miss her already. We clicked instantly on the second day of the conference. At least she lives in New York, so we can keep our friendship going. It’s a little weird since she’s much older than me, but neither of us care. Since I started dating John and Mark, age differences don’t bother me as much anymore.
Suddenly, my phone flashes with a text. Speaking of the guys, John just sent a message to our group asking where I am. I message that I’m in the cafeteria and wait for them to arrive.
My heart sinks. I know what this means: it’s time to go back to the hotel.
“Hey, Mari,” Mark says when he finds me. “Why the long face?”
“Just thinking about leaving.”
He puts a hand on my arm. “I know, I’m sad too. Not much will change in New York, though. It’ll be just like it was before the conference.”
“That’s what makes me sad. I’ve enjoyed being out in the open here.”
“Me, too. We won’t have to be secretive for long, though. We just have to make it to next semester. John won’t be your Professor then, and I won’t be his TA, so we’ll be free to do whatever we want.”
“That’s the hope I’m holding onto.”
“Why did I walk into a depression fest?” John asks with a grin when he arrives. “Come on, we’re together. Let’s be happy.”
His smile is contagious, so I return it with one of my own. The guys are right. It’s going to be fine. I’m with two guys I like very much. Nothing else matters.
“Attention everyone,” a voice announces over the loudspeaker. “Thank you for making this conference a success. The floor is now closed. We look forward to seeing everyone next year!”
“Well, that’s it then,” I sigh.
“Yep. Time to head to the hotel. Why don’t we stop for lunch first? We have plenty of time to kill.”
