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)
“I think it’ll just be easier for both of us,” he said. “You’ll want to study, and I don’t want to annoy you by needing attention.”
Galvin nodded. His reasoning made since, regardless of her heart breaking. She fought back a wave of tears, refusing to show him any emotion.
“I need to be up early,” she said. “I have a practice run into the city so I’m going to go to bed.” She stepped forward and forced her arms around him.
“Good, I’m tired anyway,” he said as he locked the door and turned off the kitchen light. She looked at him oddly. “What?” he shrugged. “Did you really think I wouldn’t spend our last night together?”
“I just—”
Sail cupped her face and kissed her, long and soft. “I love you, Galvin. I’m not sleeping in my bed on my last night in town. Especially when I want to be in yours.”
“Okay, I need to shower.” Galvin removed herself from his hold and disappeared into the bathroom. She locked the door and turned on the shower to drown out her sobs. This day had been coming for a long time and she should’ve been prepared, but knowing it was going to happen tomorrow really sucked.
Galvin sat on the blanket she kept in her locker at school and read her constitutional law textbook. Every so often she wrote on a sticky note and flagged the page, careful not to use highlighter in her book since it was a rental.
She flipped the page and then looked around. The park always had people in it, no matter what time of the day. It had quickly become one of her favorite places in Boston, especially when the weather was nice. It was Sail who suggested she check it out. In fact, he had given her a list of places to visit and eat. On rainy days, she went to the Boston Public Library and studied among the other students, or she met with her study group at school.
Sail and Galvin were in a place—the place being they were together, but not—and it only made sense to them. They didn’t worry about having a set time to talk because neither needed the pressure of missing an appointment. Instead, they texted throughout the day and if they were free to video chat, they would. This worked for them.
When he’d given her the gift at Christmas, of him paying for her tuition, he hadn’t told her it was a done deal, and she hadn’t found out until she was summoned to the finance office and was told about the anonymous donor. Of course, she knew it was Sail, and of course, the donation messed up her aid package.
There was nothing she could do about it and when she brought it up to him, he promised to make sure everything would be fine. “Trust me, Galvin.”
Right now, she had no choice, and she had time to figure things out. Her first two semesters were paid, and she had a little bit of a cushion especially with the money she’d earned.
Galvin finished her reading, packed her things, and walked toward the T station. She’d take the commuter rail back to Seaport, and then relax for the night. Tomorrow, she’d get up, go to school, and then go to work. She had a nice routine down, going to the Carter’s on Sunday for dinner.
After over an hour, Galvin slipped her key into the lock, dropped her bag onto the floor, and yelped. One hand went to her heart and the other clutched the edge of the counter. Sail stood in the middle of her kitchen, with a grin on his face.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice full of excitement.
“I hate Miami,” he said, staying where he was. “But the thing is, I never hated it until I met you, and now I’m there and it’s the worst place ever. It’s too hot, too many people, the sand isn’t right . . .”
“The sand?”
Sail shrugged. “Among other things.”
“Okay.” She closed the door and stepped closer. “Hi,” she said when she was in front of him.
“Hey.” Sail leaned down and kissed her.
“Do your parents know you’re here?”
He nodded. “I couldn’t do this without them.”
“Do what?”
Sail took a step back, putting a little space between them. “Be there without you.”
“I think that is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
He smiled.
“But I’m worried. Did you drop out?”
His eyes widened. “No, I transferred to Boston University. My dad pulled some strings I didn’t know he had. I won’t be able to graduate in May, more likely December, but I’ll be here. With you.”
It took a moment for the words to sink it. “Wait, what?”
He smiled again and stepped to her. “You heard me. Tomorrow, when you drive to the train station, we’ll be driving together. I’ll take the commuter rail with you and then transfer to another line. I’ll go to BU while you slay in law school. And then we’ll take the commuter home and pretend to be domesticated. Rinse and repeat.”