Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 59489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59489 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 297(@200wpm)___ 238(@250wpm)___ 198(@300wpm)
"We are getting together tomorrow night," I said. "I'll tell him then."
The next day I spent all morning and afternoon feeling stressed and anxious about seeing Camden. I couldn't put off talking to him about the offer. The job would start in just a couple of weeks, and there was a lot of preparation that would need to be done in order to make it happen if I did decide to take it. I just couldn't figure out how I was going to broach the subject with him.
Like I'd told Brianne, our relationship felt so good. It had only been a couple of months, but it felt like something real was happening, that we'd found something incredible, and I didn't want to ruin it. But it wasn't just the thought of leaving Camden behind that was making me hesitate when I thought about accepting the position. There was a lot of technology available, as well as cars and planes and all forms of transportation. We could make being apart work if we really wanted to.
It was the position itself that I wasn't totally sold on. Brianne was right when she said I'd been working hard for the job and had been really excited when I was asked to interview, but now that it was real, I'd been really thinking about what the position would entail. I was no longer sure it was really what I wanted it to be.
Camden had planned an amazing night for us, and I did my best to really sink into it and enjoy every minute rather than letting myself only think about the conversation we needed to have. But by the time we got back to my place, it was obvious he'd noticed my distraction.
"Are you all right?" he asked as I let us into the house.
"Yes, of course," I said. "This has been an amazing night. Thank you so much for planning it."
He took my hands and pulled me toward him in the middle of the living room. Pressing our hands to the center of his chest, he leaned in for a soft kiss.
"There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. That's why I planned all this," he said.
"There's something I need to talk to you about, too," I said.
His face fell slightly as if anticipating bad news. "Okay. What is it?"
I walked over to the couch and sat down. He came with me, his eyes searching my face as I tried to piece together the words I needed to say.
"I was offered a new position," I finally blurted out.
"That's great," Camden said. "Slater's lucky to have you. Seems like they've figured that out."
I shook my head. "No. Not at Slater. At Van Hope University. It's a real professorship at a full university and comes with a lot of amazing perks and benefits."
"Oh," he said. "Wow. A real university. That's even better."
I was a bit surprised by the response. "It is?"
"Of course," he said. "Since the first time we talked about your career, you've told me you wanted to be a full professor and work somewhere bigger and with more opportunities."
"That's true, but I'm not sure I want to take it. The school is very fancy, and the students there …"
"You need to take it," Camden said quickly. "This is what you've been hoping for, Kristen. It's what you've put all your hard work and dedication into for so long. You're just having jitters because it's something different."
"It's more than a five-hour drive," I said.
He took my hands again, this time resting them in my lap like he was distancing himself from me in the conversation.
"You deserve this. You've worked hard, and now you're being recognized and rewarded for it. It's time for you to fulfill your dreams." He leaned in and kissed me softly again. "Come on. It's late. Let's go to bed."
I nodded, and he stood up, heading toward the bedroom. My heart ached, and tears were stinging in my eyes. Camden had been nothing but supportive and encouraging, but that was the problem. He hadn't hesitated in telling me to go. There wasn't a single hint that he didn't like the idea of me being far away or that it bothered him to think of us not being able to see each other.
Sadness and disappointment pulled my stomach down as I followed him to bed. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe this was just fun for him, and Camden didn't really care about me like I cared about him.
The next morning, I made the call I'd been avoiding and agreed to take the position.
11
CAMDEN
“One more episode of the baking show?” I asked.
“Are you sure?”
“I really started to enjoy it,” I said. “I love the host. She’s very funny.”
“I mean are you sure that’s how you want to spend the last hour we have before I have to leave?” she asked, a fresh bubble of a tear appearing in the corner of one of her eyes.