Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94155 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 471(@200wpm)___ 377(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“We’re not breaking up,” Mark says when we pull apart. “I promise you that. This relationship is too strong and too important to give up. This is just a bump in the road; it’s not the end of the road.”
“Maybe you should be the writer,” I chuckle, bringing his knuckles to my lips for a gentle kiss. “I couldn’t have said it better myself.”
“But…what’s next?” Mari asks. “I don’t know what to do. Am I supposed to keep going to school?”
“We’ll have to figure all of it out. If school is something you want, we’ll make it work. You won’t be kicked out of NYU, but you might face ridicule from your peers. You might be better off going somewhere else after this semester.”
“I’ll think about that when I need to think about it. But what about Nepal, John? You love it there. I don’t want to hold you back.”
“I’m not going anywhere until our family can go with me. Traveling alone doesn’t appeal to me anymore. I want to be with you – both of you. And our little one.”
Mari finally smiles for the first time since she entered Rachel’s office. “Do you really mean that?”
I lean down and kiss her softly. “Of course I do. I love you, Mari. I would never leave you to raise this child alone.”
“I know you wouldn’t. And I love you, too.”
Hearing those words come from her lips sends a shiver down my spine. Sure, she’d said it in Rachel’s office, but it’s even better when it’s meant only for us.
“I love you both, too,” Mark says. “In case that wasn’t clear already.”
We all laugh. “We’re just one big love fest.”
“We’re one big mess, too.”
“Yes, we are, but we can clean it up. I have faith in us. Together, we’re unstoppable.”
Mari is still crying, but it’s a much softer cry now. This, I can handle. I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her toward me. Mark leans on her so that we’re a tight ball on the couch.
The pressure is enough to lull Mari to sleep after about twenty minutes. All that crying must have tuckered her out. I’m tired, too, but not ready to sleep. There’s too much on my mind.
I want to figure out the next steps. Rachel will give us our punishment soon. After that, what will we do?
I have no idea, but I do know one thing.
Whatever comes next, we’re going to face it together.
That’s what people who love each other do.
23
Mari
I feel so incredibly drained.
I spent last night at John’s apartment with him and Mark, but I needed to get back to campus today. They may be suspended from duties indefinitely, but I still have class even though I don’t want to attend.
I made it through both of my classes today, so now, the weekend has finally begun. I’m worried about going back next week, though. Who is teaching now that Mark and John aren’t allowed to? I don’t want some other teacher. I want them.
The dorm room is empty when I get back from class. Jessica must have decided to go today. I’m proud of her. She’s gotten a lot better about doing school work over the last couple of weeks. She still uses her tutor a lot more than she should, but she’s making progress. And that’s what matters.
Going back to school today was double the stress. I only made it to Mark and John’s class yesterday, and that obviously didn’t happen. Today was my first full day back at school since Alaska.
Ugh. I miss Alaska. We never should’ve come home. The situation would be the same, but the guys’ reputations wouldn’t be tarnished. And we’d still be happy.
It’s crazy to think how sad I am now that we’re in New York. This feeling started the second we landed, so it has nothing to do with what happened with Dean Dryer. I knew this would happen. Alaska was a pocket of bliss; New York is dreary in comparison.
I need to be back in nature. Maybe the guys and I can go away for the weekend. I know we’re supposed to talk to my parents this weekend, but with all of this stuff going on at NYU, I’d rather put that conversation off.
My heart sinks. Scandals like this gain attention from all kinds of newspapers, and my parents love to keep up with the news. The story better not break before I have a chance to explain to them what happened.
How am I supposed to do that? Jessica will still come with me, I’m sure. The guys, too.
My parents may have been able to get over the pregnancy. They love me. They only want me to be happy, and anyone can see the guys make me happy. However, knowing that I had a part in getting a professor and a grad student fired? I’m not sure how proud Mom and Dad will be once they find out about that.