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I burst out laughing. “You sound a bit breathless.”
“I wasn’t… I was bringing in grocery bags.”
“You were? Why weren’t your guys handling that for you?”
“Maybe because I’m still a strong independent woman.” She laughs. “What’s up? It’s getting late where you are, isn’t it?”
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“What’s on your mind?” she asks in a tone of hers that I recognize all too well.
She’s concerned but not trying to be obvious about it so that I can either ignore and pretend not to realize what she’s hinting at or else I can cave and spill the gossip.
So not spilling the gossip.
“I’ve decided where I’m going to college,” I say instead.
“You picked finally? Where?”
“Juniper College.”
“Hmm. Kyle doesn’t go there, does he?”
“Nope. One of the most alluring parts of going there.”
Erika laughs. “I see. Want to be free and spread your wings… and your legs… without any judgment, huh?”
“Says the girl with how many lovers?”
Erika grows quiet. “I know you’re just teasing, and that’s fine. You can tease me all you like, but, Katie, I hope you find love like this. Not necessarily with four guys, but… Love is so powerful. It’s life changing, and I want you to be happy.”
“You can be happy without being in love.”
“Oh, for sure, but love… There’s nothing like it.”
“And I couldn’t be happier for you that you have it times four,” I say with a grin. I lean on the balcony. The hotel is on the outskirts of the city. Toward the suburbs, it’s all dark and quiet except for the twinkling of the stars above, but back toward the city, there are so many twinkling lights, just not in the sky but from all of the buildings that still have lights on.
Erika sighs heavily.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, alarmed. Maybe there’s some trouble in paradise already. I sure hope not, but that sigh ate away at my soul.
“A part of me hoped you would come out here to Ravenwood University,” she admits.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, but… If I had been single, be honest, would you have come here?”
I hesitate. “Maybe.”
Most likely. She knows it. I know it.
“I wouldn’t have made it awkward, but it’s fine,” she assures me. “You do you.”
“We’ll be sure to visit.”
“Definitely! I can come to you, and you can come out here. I’m sure you’ll find a guy soon enough.”
I burst out laughing. “I’m not worried about finding a guy so we can double date. Not double date. Quintuplet date? What would the term be?”
