an Alaskan fishing trip every summer. He had someone lined up as summer caretaker, but she backed out at the last minute. The guy’s desperate. And a little eccentric, if you ask me. He’s trying to make it an offer that’s hard to refuse.”
“How do you know all that?” I ask, flipping the paper over. Did I miss something?
“I called,” she says, looking pretty satisfied with herself. “I checked it out in advance. You didn’t think I’d send my friend into something sketchy, now did you? I told him that you were super tidy, maybe even a little obsessive. He seemed to like that, plus I told him how you worked at the campus historical center one semester.”
“I filled in for someone one day.”
“So I stretched the truth a little. The job’s yours if you want it. He asked that you call and confirm by tomorrow.”
“Confirm? Macie, you can’t go around committing me to things without asking me first.”
“Come on, Katherine. It’s good money. It’s all the money you need.”
I can’t deny that, but I lean into the mirror, trying to seem unimpressed. The problem has been making my head spin. I can’t do the internship and still make enough money for school, but it’s not likely I’d make enough in only three months anyway, so skipping out on the internship seems like a complete waste of an opportunity. I’d been thinking maybe I could find a job in town where I could work nights and work with Professor Schumacher during the day. (I mean, who needs sleep?) But I couldn’t do that long distance. And a lighthouse? What’s up with that?
“Come on, Katherine. Heading up to the north woods. It’s very romantic, don’t you think? It sounds like something out of one of your books. What’s that one on your shelf? The one with all the dog ears?”
I laugh without any bitterness. Macie has that effect on me. “Pride and Prejudice, but believe me, it doesn’t sound anything like that.”
“Katie,” she whines, knowing how much I hate it when she calls me that.
“I appreciate your concern, but—”
“Do you?” She tips her head to the side, and her earring swings like the pendulum on a grandfather clock. She holds the newspaper up in front of my face, so I can’t help but read the advertisement again.
“What’s ‘DL required’ mean?” I ask. “Driver’s license?”
“Or dog lover,” she jokes as she shoves the newspaper back into my hands.
“Ha, ha.” Animals really aren’t my thing. My mom bought me a Betta fish after Dad left, but it committed suicide. It leaped right out of its bowl onto the steaming radiator while I ate my breakfast. Pretty much lost my enthusiasm for the whole pet thing after that.
“Andrew won’t like it.” I sling my backpack onto my shoulders.
Macie throws her arms up in exasperation. “The fact that that’s your brilliant counter-argument makes me even more convinced you need to get out of here for a while.”
I groan in annoyance, but I slip the newspaper into my backpack anyway. I don’t want to fight with her. And maybe…somewhere…in the back of my mind…I worry that she might be right.
It’s well past midnight and my pillow is buzzing. At first I think it’s a mosquito that has discovered the tiny hole in my window screen. I slap at the air then flop over, covering my head with the blankets. After a few seconds of thrashing, I’m fully awake, realizing that I’ve fallen asleep on my phone and I’ve missed three texts from Andrew. It buzzes again.
Me: where r u?
Andrew: outside in my car. can i come in?
Me: no men after midnight. rules.
Andrew: seriously? it’s not like i’m going to ravage you on the living room floor.
I stare at those amazingly awesome words for a minute, or two. Or three. The image of our naked, tangled bodies sends a flash of heat right to my core. Unfortunately, before I can figure out how to respond in a clever, sexy way, Andrew has to go and break the spell.
Andrew: kidding. sorry if that embarrassed you. i just really need to talk.
His text douses my flash fire with cold water. I’m glad he can’t see my face because there’d be no hiding my disappointment.
Me: talk about what?
Andrew: i heard about the job.
A flutter of panic hits my stomach. He’s going to talk me out of it. Not that I’ve talked myself into it, but still. We’ve had plenty of conversations over the years that started just like this. Oh