My eyebrows shoot up so fast I’m pretty sure they hit my hairline. I hate where this is coming from, but it’s still pretty close to what I’ve been waiting for him to say all these years. I mean something to him. I mean a lot to him. Which is why I don’t want to burden him with my current crisis.
“Andrew…my problems don’t have anything to do with you. There’s no reason why you should—”
He drops his hands from my shoulders. “See. That’s what I mean. Everything in my life has everything to do with you. You’ve been the one constant thing in my life for…what? Over seven years now? That’s not an accident, Katherine. We…work. We make sense. We’ve both been through some rough times, and we only made it to the other side because of each other. I understand you, and you understand me because the same things are important to both of us. Do you know how rare that is?”
His words knock the wind out of me, and I wait for him to spit it out. To just say it. Say it, Andrew. Tell me that you love me. I love you. We belong together, and not just as friends.
But then he says, “You’re my best friend. My life would suck without you.” I try to pretend he’s not quoting a Kelly Clarkson song and let him wrap me into a bear hug. I can be patient. That’s what love is. “I’m sorry this is happening,” he says, “but don’t worry. I’ll come up with a plan, and we’ll put the wheels back on this bus.”
I nod my head against his chest. I trust him, but I want him to believe in me, too. Just like him, I’m stronger than I was back in high school, back when everything fell apart. When he realizes that for himself, that’s when he’ll see me differently.
Chapter Four
Katherine
The next morning I’m leaning into the bathroom mirror at the Alpha Phi house, trying to see how close I can get the mascara wand to my eye. Lexi and McKenzie are standing along the counter to my right. Based on the way they’re dressed, I’m guessing they have brunch plans at Brook Marsh. Mom and I used to do lunch at the country club. Back before Dad left.
Macie comes in just as Lexi and McKenzie leave. “Here,” Macie says, slapping something against my back, hard.
“What’s that?” I ask. I take my time twisting the mascara cap back on and dropping the tube into my makeup bag.
“This,” she says with her typical dramatic flair, “is what they call the campus newspaper.” She says it slowly like she’s pronouncing a foreign word.
“Yeah, I think I’ve heard of that before. I mean, why do I want it?”
She shakes it in my face. “Girl, inside these smudgy pages I’ve found the answer to your prayers. Your means of salvation.”
I roll my eyes and start brushing my hair. Macie is always going on about finding herself, or finding myself, or finding something. She means well.
“Look,” she says, flipping the paper open and folding it back on itself. She jabs her finger to the want ads, one in particular that she’s circled in red Sharpie.
I pull a handful of paper towels off the roll and start to wipe down the sink, then notice the water spots on the mirror and tackle them, too. “Am I being incredibly dense?” I ask. “I still don’t get it.”
“This is your ticket,” she says. “And would you please stop cleaning the bathroom? The housekeeper will do that.”
I sigh in surrender; she’s losing patience with me.
“Not only does this cancel out all your money drama,” she continues, “but I’ve been thinking about this, and it may be your last chance to do something on your own. Just for you. Not for your mom. Not for Andrew. Not even for me. You need this job for more than just the money.” She sounds almost pleading now.
I roll my eyes again and look down at the newspaper she has set on the counter.
WANTED. Summer caretaker for historic lighthouse on Little Bear Island. 6/1–9/3. Education/exp w/historical sites preferred. DL required. $10,000. Serious inquiries only. 218-555-0113.
I make a dismissive sound and toss the paper towels in the garbage. “Too far away.”
“A short six-hour drive,” is her quick response.
“Why would they pay so much? Ten grand? That’s insane. There’s got to be a catch.”