Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Except she didn’t want it to become part of their relationship.
And yet, it had.
Galvin would start school the second week of January. She had her schedule, her books, and had modified her schedule with Penny and Jack to where she’d work a couple nights a week and Saturday evenings. This would give her ample time to not only study, but also to take the commuter train into Boston. It was a little over an hour each way and she’d use that time to study as well.
The plan was for Sail to leave the weekend before he was due to start the semester at the University of Miami. Jack would drive down with him and fly back after Sail was settled in a dorm, away from the frat house. He didn’t want to return to the party scene and intended to double up his course load so he could graduate on time.
Galvin would go to Miami for spring break, and Sail would come back to Seaport for his. They’d talked about this a few times, to ease the distance between them. Galvin still had reservations about whether they’d make it until May when Sail graduated.
Now, she wasn’t sure they’d make it until the end of January.
She was finishing up with her customer when Sail came into the diner. He sat on his favorite red vinyl stool, which was smack dab in the middle of the counter. It always seemed to be empty when he came in by himself.
Galvin greeted him from the other side. “Hey.” It was their usual greeting, but her voice seemed questioning, like she wasn’t sure if she should talk to him or not. She hated feeling this way—wondering where they were—which was exactly why she didn’t want to get involved with him or anyone for that matter.
“Are you almost done?”
She nodded. “Can I get you something?”
Sail shook his head. “How about a chocolate milkshake?” His fingers touched her hand.
Was everything okay?
Did she read too much into things?
Galvin hated making milkshakes or anything that had to do with ice cream. It was one of the messiest jobs at the diner. Still, she didn’t balk when her boyfriend asked for one. She scooped, added milk, stuck the metal cup on the machine, and went through the motions Penny taught her. After pouring it into a tall glass with scalloped edges, she added whipped cream, some crushed peanuts, and a cherry.
“Here ya go.” She set it down, along with the metal cup, which had the remainder of the milkshake, and then lingered . . . awkwardly. Should she stand there and watch him drink his shake or go clean something?
They had things that needed to be said. What those things were, Galvin had no idea. She felt a heavy pressure on her chest, and considered crying ten times a day, thinking it would help. The times she had cried didn’t do anything for her, except make her feel worse.
Galvin lingered until Sail finished his milkshake. She gave him the bill because he always paid for his expenses at the diner. He gave her enough to cover the bill and a tip, which made her feel uncomfortable. They were dating and it felt like he was paying her.
Sail followed her through the kitchen door, waited for her to clock out and toss her apron in the bin, and then walked behind her as they left through the backdoor. By the time they made it to her small platform, she had tears in her eyes. Everything told her he was there to break-up with her.
All because she wouldn’t take his money.
Shouldn’t that have been a noble thing?
Galvin opened the door and moved the light switch up to the on position, lighting up the kitchen. She set her key on the counter, turned and leaned against it.
“What’s up?” she figured if she kept her tone even and friendly, he’d tell her nothing and she’d just find a way to get over her feelings.
Sail kept his distance and her heart fell.
“Just say it,” she said quietly as she looked down at the ground.
“I know you start school on Monday and I’m trying not to ruin that for you, but I’m heading back to Miami tomorrow.”
The words echoed in her mind. He was leaving and he wouldn’t be there when she started one of the most important days of her life.
Galvin nodded. There wasn’t anything she could say to change his mind. She’d known from day one he would return to Miami. The when shouldn’t matter.
“Galvin.” Sail stepped forward but she held up her hand.
“It’s fine, Sail. I’m fine.”
“I’d like—” He didn’t have a chance to finish whatever he planned to say because he had her in his arms. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” she mumbled into the crook of his neck. “I get it.”