Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22029 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 110(@200wpm)___ 88(@250wpm)___ 73(@300wpm)
Phil and I take the last load of my stuff to the room. He sets the boxes down, looks around, and sighs. “Well, I guess I should get going. It was nice meeting you, Josie.”
“You, too. Thanks for your help.”
“You’re welcome. Say, would you be interested in getting coffee sometime?”
“No,” I say pointedly. “I have a boyfriend and he wouldn’t like it. I don’t care that he’s not here, doing so would be disrespectful to him.”
What is wrong with people? This guy knows I have a boyfriend!
Phil nodded. “Right. Sorry.” He sighed again. “I guess I’ll see you around since Mason’s dating your best friend and all.”
I say nothing as he leaves my room. If I have my way about any of this, I’ll never have to see him again. But I know I can’t start my college life being a recluse. Katelyn and I vowed to make the next four years the best four years. Plus, Liam wouldn’t want that. He’d want me to spread my wings and live. Just like he’s going to do.
After waiting a few minutes, I head back downstairs to say goodbye to my parents. At least that’s my intent until I see Phil walking over to Mason and Katelyn. I lag behind, trying not to show this guy I’m with him, but also going where he’s going. Guys make life so complicated.
Mason introduces Katelyn to Phil, and they start chatting like they’re lost long friends who haven’t seen each other since their high school reunion. I shift from foot to foot urging Katelyn to speed things up and when she doesn’t, I bail to find my parents.
Mom, Dad and I have a giant group hug. They promise to call, and I promise to answer, and mom says she’ll make plans with Katelyn and I in a month to have a girls’ day, which I appreciate. As soon as they’re gone, I had to the room and start unpacking.
Katelyn and Mason come into the room soon after. She has nothing in her hands while Mason’s arms are stacked to his line of sight.
“Where am I putting this stuff?” Mason asks as the veins in his arms begin to pop out.
“On the floor is fine. Thanks, babe,” Katelyn says.
Barf.
“I saw you and Phill chatting,” Mason says. “He’s nice, right?”
“Sure. Right up until he asked me for coffee after he found out about Liam.”
“Josie, I’m sure he didn’t mean it like that,” Mason says. “He’s not from around here and is just trying to make friends.”
“How come you didn’t tell him about Liam?” I ask him.
Mason looks from me to Katelyn, and then runs his hand over the top of his head. “I’m not sure what to say, Josie.”
Mason has a point, but I don’t want him to have one. What I want is for everything to go back to the way it was supposed to be. Right now, Katelyn and I should be setting up our room, gushing over our guys in their University of Texas uniforms. I look at my desk, where I put my new phone and then go to my bag where I know Liam’s picture is. I set it next to my phone as my heart twists from missing him.
“Look, I gotta run. I’ll be back and we’ll go to orientation.” Mason kisses Katelyn and waves to me.
Katelyn and I unpack our things. We take turns helping each other hang posters, and we attach the flowers we bought to the walls and to our door, along with the message board. Every room on our floor has one and I think it’s going to be great to leave our fellow co-eds messages.
Mason returns and we start orientation. It’s mostly games geared to getting to know your classmates. I refuse to leave Katelyn’s side because I don’t want to be alone.
By dinner, the three of us head to the on-campus cafeteria to eat. I have to admit, the food is good, which surprises me. After dinner, when I’m ready to head back to our dorm, Mason tells us about a party on campus, where the football team will be.
He has to go.
Which means Katelyn wants to go.
I have a choice. It’s like I’m standing at the fork in the road. Go back to our room by myself and sit there, waiting to see if Liam calls me back, or go to the party and meet people.
Katelyn tugs my hand in the direction Mason’s walking.
“We’re in college, Josie.”
“I know.”
“Liam would want you to have fun.”
“It’s just . . . he’s all alone, Katelyn.”
She looks toward Mason, who has stopped halfway down the path. I’m not sure if he can hear us or not, but if he does, I hope it hurts him to hear the things it hurts me to say.
“How about this,” Katelyn says. “We’ll go for a little bit, and then we’ll come back to our room. If things were different for Mason and Liam, we’d be doing this regardless.” She squeezes my hand. “This was our plan, remember? We were going to go to school together and have fun. We were going to live and have an amazing college experience.”