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“How is that weird?” First my father and now him.
Carson shrugged. “I don’t know. It just is. You’re the only girl I know who’sthatclose to a guy she’s not interested in dating.”
His eyes drifted to mine, then away again.
“I suppose you got a free ride to some amazing school,” I said, changing the subject.
“Swimming is my ticket.”
“Your ticket?” I asked.
“Out of Lakeview. Maybe to the Olympics,” he added. “One can dream. You and Ethan have the grades. I have swimming.”
“The next Michael Phelps.”
Carson scoffed. “If only . . .”
It really wasn’t far off. I could totally see a load of gold medals decorating his neck one day. Of course, I didn’t say that. No need to inflate his ego to mega proportions.
I sauntered over to the chair at his desk and took a seat. “When did you get an offer?” I asked.
“Offers,” he clarified. “Last year. It’s official now though.”
“Where to? Please tell me it’s in another country.” I needed to calculate the distance from Durham to wherever he’d be. If he said it was on the West Coast, I would cry tears of joy.
“Duke.”
The blood drained from my face.
No, he was kidding. He heard my conversation with Ethan, and he was teasing me. Surely . . .
I blinked at him for a moment, waiting for him to crack a smile, to laugh—something. But he didn’t. He was serious. As I looked closer, I noted the hint of excitement in his eyes, the anticipation, the pride.
Oh my gosh . . .
“What about you? Where are you going?” he asked, and I wanted to sob.
Wherever will accept me, I wanted to say, but I stopped myself. I sighed and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m not sure yet. I applied for early admission to a handful of places but haven’t heard back. I should know something soon.”
“Okay, so where’s your number one, then?”
I gathered the cuffs of my hoodie in the palms of my hands, squirming. Should I lie? Knowing Carson, he would say I wanted Duke because of him, if for no other reason than to irritate me.
“Uh, Duke, actually,” I muttered.
Carson sat up. “For real?”
I barked out a laugh. “I kid you not.”
He stared at me a moment before a smile snaked over his features. “I knew you’d miss me next year. Couldn’t stay away, Shorty?”
I scoffed. “You wish. In fact, now that I know that’s where you’re going, I’m reevaluating all my life choices. I’m thinking Lakeview Community College sounds pretty good right about now.”
“Right. Like you’re not secretly filled with joy at the thought.” He leaned back on his elbows, his shirt tightening over his chest.
“More like dread.”
Carson chuckled. “I’m surprised. I took you as a lifer like Ethan.”
