Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74256 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“I can—” I start to reach for my purse, but the look he gives me changes my mind. “So bossy.” I playfully roll my eyes.
“You know you don’t pay when you’re with me.” He grabs the ticket and makes his way to the counter.
I pull my phone out of my purse to have something to do while I wait. When I pull up my email app, I freeze when I see an email with the subject line Request for interview. I tap on the screen and quickly read. I have to read it three times before I do a little shimmy in my seat, because this is what I’ve been waiting for.
“What’s the dance for?” Chad asks.
“This.” I thrust my phone at him.
His eyes scan the screen. “Kindergarten.” He smiles as he continues to read. “Wait.” He pulls his eyes from the phone to stare at me. “You applied here?”
“What?”
“Faith, this job is in California. It’s actually in this town.”
“What?” I say again, my enthusiasm deflated.
“Come on.” Chad keeps my phone in one hand and offers me the other. I place my hand in his and he helps me stand from the booth. His fingers twine through mine as he leads me outside to the rental. We’re both quiet as he leads me to the passenger side and opens the door for me. Once I’m in, he closes the door and rushes around the car before sliding behind the wheel. He doesn’t start the car, instead, turns in his seat to face me. “Talk to me.”
“I’m just bummed. This is what I’ve been hoping for, and it’s here. In California.”
“How did you find the job?”
I shrug. “Social media. I guess I didn’t realize my phone adjusted my location when I was looking for jobs online. I was so excited I’d found a kindergarten position, I didn’t even look at where it was.”
He nods. “So, what are you going to do?” He reaches over and laces his fingers with mine.
“What do you mean?” His hand in mine is soothing.
“Are you going to take the interview?”
“Why would I? I live in Ohio, Chad. Are you losing your mind in your old age?” I tease. I’m trying like hell not to show my disappointment. The past two days have been extreme highs and extreme lows. I’ll have time to stress over my job after I send him off. He doesn’t need me piling my worries on him right now.
“I’m being serious. Take the interview. What’s the worst that can happen?”
“Um, that I’ll get the job when I don’t live here.” That would be my luck. I’d be offered the position on the spot and have to turn it down. Talk about depressing.
“Consider it experience. Besides, I’m here.”
Is he saying I should stay here? In California? “But you’re leaving.”
“I’ll only be gone for four to six months.”
“That’s a long time.”
He shrugs. “It’s not even a year. I think you should do it.”
My heart starts to race at the possibility of getting my dream job and living close to Chad when he comes home. He’s going to come home. “I’m just setting myself up for disappointment. What happens if they offer me the job?”
“That depends. Do you like the school? Do you like the interview team? Do you like the location? Do you feel safe there? Do you want to live close to me?” He winks. “There are a lot of questions that would need answers.”
“But I don’t live here.” I sound like a broken record, but that’s all I can manage as I struggle to process what he’s suggesting.
“Then move here.”
“What?” My heart is no longer racing. It’s soaring. Does he want us to be together? Is that what he’s telling me? Are we finally going to be in the right place at the right time? No. He’s leaving. I’m letting my heart get confused. He just wants me to be happy, and he knows this is my dream. What he doesn’t know is that he’s also my dream. I’d give up my dream of being a kindergarten teacher if the choice was Chad or my job.
“Move here. I’m here.”
“You won’t be,” I blurt out the obvious.
Sadness fills his eyes, and his shoulders slump. “I know, but you have Hannah here, and you’re the most down-to-earth person I’ve ever met. I have no doubt you’ll meet new people.”
“You want me to move to California? From Ohio?” I add, because I feel like it’s worth repeating.
“I know where you currently live, Faith. You were willing to look outside of the area at home if you could get kindergarten. This is outside of your area.”
“This is not even in the same state.”
He shrugs. “Chase your dreams, baby.”
“I can’t just pack up and move.”
“Why?” There’s challenge in his eyes.
“I just… can’t.”
“Faith Gregory, you can.” He leans over the console, and I find myself gravitating toward him. “You can do anything you want. This is your dream job. Chase it. You don’t have to make a decision. Just accept the interview. Consider it good experience and interview training.”