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She puffed out a breath and swiped at the stray tears escaping from her eyes. “Yeah, you want me so bad, you’re willing to blow out of town and dive into college life without me. That doesn’t sound like love to me, Jackson.”
“What does it sound like then?” He’d been happy after leaving the guidance office. His parents were so proud of him. Uncle Patrick had been beaming, telling him what an opportunity this was. Jackson couldn’t wait to tell Isabel the good news.
Why didn’t she think it was good news?
“It sounds like you haven’t given any thought to us.” She poked him in the chest with her index finger. “It sounds like you’re only thinking of you.”
“That’s not true, Isabel. If I go to college sooner, that’s good for both of us. I can get a great job sooner which will lead to us having a better life together. I honestly think this will be a productive step for both of us.”
“But we’ll have to be apart for over two years, Jackson. We see each other every day. I’m supposed to be okay with not seeing you at all?”
He didn’t like that idea. It had occurred to him while in the guidance office and his mother had taken note. She’d reached out a hand and had rested it atop his on the armrest of the chair he’d been sitting in.
“Think Big Picture,” she’d advised him, giving his hand a little squeeze. “Think of the future you want to have.” His mom had left off the words with Isabel, but her compassionate eyes had told him she knew his heart was rebelling at skipping ahead to college. His mind wasn’t, but his heart... oh, his heart...
“We’ll see each other. We’ll have weekends and vacations,” Jackson said.
Isabel shook her head. “Maybe in the beginning. Then you’ll have too much studying to do. Or our work schedules won’t sync. Or... or we’ll meet other people. We’ll grow apart, Jackson. I know it.”
“You can’t know it, Isabel. We’re talking about you and me.” He took her hands in his, encouraged when she didn’t rip free of him. “We can make this work.”
She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. “What we’re doing now works, Jackson. Why can’t we keep things as they are?” She wrapped her arms around him, her head nestled under his chin, and he almost caved.
Almost.
“You know I have goals,” he said quietly. “Goals to do something big in archaeology. Right now I feel as if I’m merely hanging around, waiting to start on that path.” He pushed back a bit so he could see her face. More tears fell and his chest ached, but he had to seize this opportunity or he’d regret it. He knew he would. “This is a chance to get things going and I want to take it.”
Isabel’s arms dropped from around his waist. “I understand.”
For a moment, relief coursed through him. She got it. She was willing to accept this situation and work with it.
When she turned and walked away from him, that relief shattered.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“You’re going to start your life without me,” she said, sadness in every syllable. “I’m going to start mine without you.”
He’d watched her walk across the grass, down to the sidewalk, and across the street toward her house. He could have run after her, talked to her more, convinced her to at least try for them.
But he didn’t.
