“You sure you don’t want to stay at my place tonight?” My voice is barely above a whisper. “I hate the thought of not seeing you before I leave.”
She hesitates, then glances back at her friends. “I should probably go back to my dorm. I’m in the same early class as Chris.”
“So? You could leave from mine.” I force some semblance of charm into my voice because I don’t want to sound as desperate as I feel. “I’ll even make you breakfast.”
A faint smile flickers across her lips. “Tempting, but I really should go back and do some work for my internship.”
The internship that made her upset earlier.
“Raincheck?” she adds, hopefully.
The word guts me, but I nod along as though it didn’t. “Of course.”
Before I can offer to drive her home, Chris steps in.
“Hey, Honey, do you want me to take you to your dorm?” he asks casually. “I’m heading that way anyway, and it would save Zach the trip since he’s got an early flight.”
It’s reasonable and practical, but it feels like a sucker punch no less. It’s not even because of the offer. It’s because of how quickly her face lights up at the prospect.
“Oh, that would be great,” she says, relief softening her voice. “Thanks, Chris.”
“Anytime.” He shoots me a look that might be apologetic. Or smug. Hard to tell.
I keep a smile on my face regardless. “Appreciate it, man.”
She rises on her tiptoes to kiss me, her lips soft against mine. “I'll see you when you get back. Call me when you land?”
“Always,” I promise.
I watch as she walks back to Jenni and Chris, saying something that makes them both laugh. The three of them look like they belong together—easy, uncomplicated.
And I’m just… standing here.
Not part of it. Not invited in.
She didn’t even mention or act like she had a rough day to me.
But she told Jenni, so why didn’t she want to tell me? And why does watching her climb into another guy’s car make my chest feel like it’s collapsing?
I climb into my truck, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I watch them drive away. The knot in my stomachhas transformed into a dull ache, a persistent reminder that something isn't right.
But what can I do? I can't force Honey to spend time with me. I can't demand she stay away from her friends. I can't control who she becomes or what she wants.
All I can do is love her and hope it's enough to bring her back to me.
As I start the engine and pull out of the parking lot, I make a decision. When I return from Michigan, we're going to have a real conversation—about us, about the future, about whatever is going on between us. No more dancing around the issue, no more pretending everything is fine when it clearly isn't.
Because the truth is, I'm scared. Scared of losing the one person who's always seen me for who I really am. Scared that while I've been focused on my career, on securing our future, I've somehow let our present slip through my fingers. Most of all, I'm scared that by the time I figure out how to fix things, it might already be too late.
Coffee number three is stone cold at the edge of my desk, abandoned like the first two. The stack of case briefs in front of me looks less like paper and more like a slow form of death—highlighted margins, scribbled notes, and words that have lost their meaning somewhere around page forty-seven.
I drag a hand through my hair, exhaling a long breath. This is my Sunday. No brunch. No sleeping in. Nothing except me and a mountain of legal precedents that keep multiplying every time I blink.
Yesterday was supposed to buy me freedom. I knocked outmost of my class assignments, convinced I’d be coasting today. I thought I might even be able to squeeze in that short story draft I promised myself I’d finally attempt for creative writing.
It was a cute idea. But it’s not happening.
After everything that happened on Thursday, I don’t even know why I’m bothering to make a good impression. No one thinks I deserve to be there, and they’re probably right. My father called me on Friday and tried to smooth everything over. He said he really sees potential in me and that I’m worth more than my DNA to him. As pathetic as it feels to admit, it was the biggest compliment he’s ever given me. I agreed to stay, but only for Tiff and Ella. They’re supposed to be here this week, and I’m not letting my father or Jonathan stop that from happening.