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Juliana shifted from foot to foot and looked down. “Two days.”
The words were a punch in the chest. “Whoa. Soon.”
“Yeah.” She wiped her hands down her jeans.
“You excited?” I asked hesitantly. She sure as hell didn’t seem like it.
One corner of her mouth lifted. “I’ve always wanted to go.”
Like I didn’t know that. I’d planned to take her as soon as we graduated from college and got married. Except now the experience wouldn’t be new for her.
“I’m happy for you, Jules.” The words fell flat, betraying my disappointment.
“Mitch…” She reached out to me. I took her fingers in mine and pulled her against me. She wrinkled her nose. “You’re all sweaty.”
“This is nothing compared to how I am after football practice.”
“Thank goodness.” She shoved half-heartedly at me.
“This is my last season. Then football will be over forever.”
“Unless you go pro.”
I slid an arm around her back. “Nah, I’m not good enough. It’s vet school and then back to the ranch. Texas all the way.”
“This is where you want to be anyway.”
I nodded once. “Can your grandmother make the trip? Or is it just your parents and your brother?”
Just like that, the awkwardness returned. She tensed. “My family isn’t going.”
Then who the hell was? “They aren’t?”
She shook her head, and that warning bell in my head got louder.
“How long you gonna be gone? We’re supposed to move in the apartment this weekend. School starts week after next.”
She stared at my chest. I tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “All semester.”
My arms fell to my sides. I took a step back. “What do you mean all semester?”
The back of my neck prickled as the dots connected.
“Remember that study abroad program I mentioned a while back?”
Of course I remembered. I didn’t forget her joys and disappointments. She’d smiled the whole time she filled out the application. “You didn’t get picked in the lottery.”
“Someone backed out at the last minute. I got the spot.” She looked down at the floor. “I’ll never have another chance like this.” She reached for me again, but I shrugged her off.
“This didn’t just come about today.” Disbelief clawed its way to the surface. Jules had kept something important from me, something I never saw coming.
“No. I found out a couple of days ago.” She just kept landing blows. I figured I’d have been the first person she told about an opportunity like this.
“You didn’t think this was something we ought to talk about? Especially since we’re moving in together?” I clamped my lips shut to keep from spewing my disappointment.
“I—I wanted to have this. Before we come back to Burdett for good. I’d appreciate your support.”
I staggered back a step. “What do you expect me to say when you tell me you’re going to Paris for a whole semester in two days? Excuse the hell out of me for feeling like I’ve been caught with my ass hanging out.”
