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He presses a gentle kiss on my jaw and my eyelids flutter open. “I’ll leave you with Pop.”
“Why don’t you stay?” His breath is hot against my mouth.
“I can’t. Jack’s at the library. I have to get back.”
* * *
“Have you seen Oliver?” Zoe, my best friend, exits the Grill next to me into the brisk, sunny early October day.
I quickly whirl around, checking that no one is close by to overhear our conversation.
“Relax. We’re alone.” She chuckles. “I wouldn't have asked otherwise.”
“Sorry. Keeping us a secret has me on edge. I don't like it.”
“I hate it for you, but at least you’re together.”
I snort and roll my eyes. “Are we? I haven’t seen him in days.”
Zoe and my family, Pop and Percy, are the only ones to know Oliver and I are together, even if in secret.
She raises an eyebrow. “Days? Why and have you talked to him?”
The brisk autumn wind sweeps across our path, prickling at my exposed skin and causing my eyes to water.
“It’s been tricky to find the time. Yes, we’ve talked and texted.”
“Is he staying at Eddie’s?”
“Yes, and he hasn’t talked to Dot since her big announcement. Although she’s still going around town telling everyone they’re expecting and that the wedding is still on.” I sigh at the futility of it all, ignoring the sharp pang in my chest.
“That pisses me off.” She tucks a curly strand of hair behind her ear. “Tell me you’re pissed off.”
“I'm trying not to be, but it’s hard. I have to keep reminding myself about the endgame. We will be together.” I hate the sound of my voice as if I’m trying to convince myself of our inevitability as much as I am Zoe.
It’s difficult to stay optimistic when we’re apart.
“Sorry, I’m not helping. You’re right. You love him.” She pauses to study my face, and I’m not sure what she sees, but frown lines now pleat her forehead. “You do love him, right?”
“Of course. Yes.” I laugh but it's hollow, lifeless. “If this is what we have to do to be together, I’ll suck it up for a couple of weeks.”
“Weeks? Didn’t you say it could be months.”
I groan and shake my head in frustration. “You’re not helping.”
“Sorry. God, I’m the worst. Let’s talk about something else. How's it going with the program? Have you heard from the city council? The mayor?”
I let slip another groan and hang my head. “I’m still waiting, and to make things worse, the mayor canceled my meeting. His office said they’d call to reschedule but haven’t.” That familiar anxiety deep in my gut stirs, gnawing at me.
I got the call from the mayor’s office the day after Dot’s public news, and I worried the two were connected. What if she’d told her father about Oliver and me? Or worse, followed through on her threat?
“Listen.” Zoe grabs my wrist and yanks me out of my anxiety-inducing thoughts. “Everything’s going to work out. This is a great program, and even if you don’t get city funding or approval, you’ve already helped the kids immeasurably.”
“Helping them with their college applications is all well and good, but I can’t sit back while I could be doing more. I need the funding and the legitimacy that the seal of approval from the city council will give the program. I worry that the sponsoring families aren’t going to back this without it.”
“Okay, but there are other ways to do this. You could go private.”
“True. It will take longer. It won’t happen this year. Jack, Bray, and Court won’t benefit from the program.”
