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I mumble a ‘goodnight’ and head for the stairs.
She calls out one last time. “And Mason?”
“Yeah?” I glance at her over my shoulder.
“Sorry again about the black eye. I really didn’t—I—I’m sorry…”
My heart twinges. “Hey, it was self-defense.” I shrug. It’s not like I’m holding a grudge against the woman for protecting herself. “I’d want my sisters to do the exact same thing in that situation. I’m just the unlucky chump who ended up on the receiving end of your flying fist.”
Karli drops her head and shakes it ruefully as she laughs softly. “I know…but still…I’m sorry.”
“Thank you,” I say.
I can’t help but smile to myself as I climb up the stairs and head to my room for the night.
This won’t be so bad.
Right…?
Maybe…?
We’ll see.
10
KARLI
“Icouldswitch majors. Should I switch majors? What’s a good major?” I ask Layla, tossing a grape into my mouth as we stop at the pedestrian crossing on Moon Trail Road.
My best friend is busy picking the baby’s pacifier up off the sidewalk. She brushes it down the front of her shirt, pops it into her mouth and then gives it back to Sky.
Stella’s eyes bulge. She squeals in horror. “Ew, Aunt Layla! Gross!” Giggling, my niece grabs my wrist and hops around a puddle.
“What?” Layla asks, her shoulder jerking up in an innocent shrug.
I chortle, shaking my head. “I don’t want to sound like a dusty medical journal but your own saliva probably has more bacteria than the dirt that pacifier fell into.”
Layla gives me a skeptical side-eye. “Okay, I’m gonna have to do my own research on that.”
My bestie invited me out to join her and the baby for a stroll in town today, and I jumped at the chance to get out of the house. My five-year-old niece is tagging along with us since Nolan was in need of a sitter for Stella this morning. Baby Sky is in between naps, so we all take advantage of the nice day, walking around and talking as we window shop the different local vendors.
The topic of the day?Me, and the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing with my life.
Telling Mason about my failure to get into med school the other day was so utterly embarrassing. I still keep reliving it in my head. The look of pity on his face was painful to watch.
I should have kept my damn mouth shut when he asked about my academic journals. After all, he’s a stranger—I’m under no obligation to share my secrets with him.
But a part of me wanted to bare my soul to him. I didn’t want to hide or lie or skirt around the truth. What’s up with that? What’s this effect Dr. Pretty Boy has on me? I don’t know.
There was just something in his eyes when he asked the question—something curious but kind. Something genuine.
Plus, there’s the fact that he’s already touched my boobs. I mean, a person isn’treallya stranger once you’ve let them touch your boobs, are they?
In any case, I need to keep my distance from Mason. No more telling him my business, no more spilling my guts out, no more seeking his validation from here on out.
“Youcouldswitch,” Layla replies, wiggling the stroller out of a pothole. “But only if you’re switching to something you want to do. Don’t switch just because you feel you have to.”
“You’re right,” I mull her words over, feeling even more confused. Geez. It’s like I’m seventeen all over again, instead of a twenty-four year old who should have her shit together by now. “If all else fails, I could just move to Canada and become a goat farmer.”
