Chapter 46
Chapter
Forty-Six
Hadley: College finals are way harder than high school.
Jasmine: Seriously! This is brutal. Good luck to you both!
Grinning, I leave the lecture hall after finishing my Advanced Accounting final. I don’t want to be over-confidant, but I feel good about it. I knew the material, and I only had one question that gave me pause.
Maybe things are looking up for me. Or maybe knowing things are solid between Hunter and I changed my outlook.
My dad is still in the hospital. My mom is still overworked. Jace still sleeps in my bed. Sarah still demands too much. But the afterglow from my evening with Hunter lingers. With him on my side, the rest of it is easier to face. When I woke up this morning, the weight on my chest didn’t feel so heavy. It wasn’t gone, but I could breathe again.
The weak December sun tries to break through the clouds. With a shiver, I button up my pea coat and adjust the hem of my skirt. Getting dressed up for my finals helps me focus, but I wish I’d put on fleece-lined tights. I glance down at my bare legs, and then look up. Two people block my path.
“Jasmine! Hadley!” I rush at them in a group hug and smoosh them to me. I haven’t seen them in weeks, and affection warms my chest. “What are you doing here?”
Jasmine steps back from the hug and bites her lip. “A little birdie told us we’d find you here. Can we talk?”
Pulling out my phone, I check the time. I have a few hours until my next final. I should go study, but… I spent last night with Hunter, and my world didn’t fall apart. When I got home, the house was quiet, and everyone was fine. Jace was even in his own bed. More than that, it was good for me.
So I nod my head towards the Union. “Wanna get coffee?”
Hadley beams and links her arm through mine. Her blue eyes, the same shade as Hunter’s, light up.
“Yes! I was worried we were going to have to kidnap you.”
We hustle towards the sprawling brick building. Built in 1924, it houses a hotel, two ballrooms, tons of study nooks, and most importantly right now—a Starbucks.
Welcome warm air hits my face as Jasmine opens the heavy wooden door. My boots click on the stone tile as we wind our way past memorial plaques and portraits of ancient university presidents.
The Starbucks line is short. I order a mocha and then ask Hadley how her finals week is going while we wait. The wince she gives me says it all.
After grabbing our drinks, we cram around a tiny circular wooden table. Hadley and Jasmine eye me, and I squirm in my seat. Definitely feels like this is more than just a quick coffee date.
I sip my drink, so hot it almost burns my tongue. “What’s up? Do you have something on your minds?”
Jasmine sits her white cup down on the table. “We do. We’re worried about you.”
I’m touched by their affection. “That’s really kind of you. My dad—”
“No,” Hadley interrupts. “We’re worried about you.”
“I know you’re busy, but you kinda went MIA and started ignoring us.” Jasmine puts her hand over mine on the wooden surface. “We’ve missed you.”
A lump forms in my throat, and I swallow around it.
“I didn’t mean to ignore you.” My voice comes out a low whisper. “I just—”
“Everything with your family consumed you?” Hadley raises a brow, and I nod.
“That makes sense. We all have busy semesters.” Jasmine’s green eyes are full of compassion. “But what are you going to do so it doesn’t consume you this spring?”
I’m speechless. How can I do anything differently in the coming months? Hunter asked me the same thing last night. Will I really say anything to Sarah? Or will I just keep trying to do it all? I stare at the lid on my coffee, not sure what to say.
“It’s been forever since you’ve posted on your blog.” Hadley’s tone is gentle. “I miss my updates.”
I huff a sad laugh. “I wish I had time, but—”
“I think,” Jasmine says over my protests, “that you got so busy taking care of others, you forgot to take care of yourself.”
I nod. If I try to speak, I’ll probably start crying.
“We’re not here for a guilt trip.” Hadley reaches out and pats my shoulder. “We want to help you. We can babysit so you can go on a date with Hunter or take a GrubHub shift so you could get a pedicure.”
“Or work on your blog. Or just breathe.” Jasmine squeezes my hand. “Whatever you need.”
“Did Hunter put you up to this?” I motion between us. “This—intervention?”
“Nope.” Hadley arches a smug brow. “We would have said no if he had. This isn’t about him, we’re not here to meddle in your relationship. But we noticed you need a little love, and we care about you.”
“He’s been miserable without you, though.” Jasmine clears her throat and looks at me out of the corner of her eye. “Is what I’d say if I were meddling.”
A genuine laugh pops out of me at her admission. “But you’re not getting involved.”
“Just making an observation.” She grins, and I jump out of my seat to hug her. Then I wrap my arms around Hadley, too.
After I sit back down, she clears her throat, then sips her drink, staring at the table. “If I were getting involved, I might tell you that our dad cornered us today and it was rough. He might need to talk to you or whatever.”
“What about you?” I ask. “Do you need to talk?”
Hadley blows out a breath, tapping her fingers. “If I did, would you make time for me?”
“I would.” I smile. “While also making time for myself and other important people in my life. I’m going to get better at this.”
“Can you come to Movie Monday tonight?” Jasmine fiddles with the ends of her hair. “It’s short notice, but I promise, no deep conversations or interventions. Just goofy hockey boys and a kick-ass sci-fi movie. And just a few hours.”
My stomach sinks.
“I need to work tonight. The finals week orders are through the roof.” Their faces fall. “But next semester, I promise I will take off every Monday for movie night.”
And I’ll set aside a weekly date night with Hunter. That still leaves five nights for me to work. Taking two off is reasonable and healthy.
“We love that idea.” Jasmine beams. “I’m so glad you’re a part of our group.”
“I am, too. You guys are the best.” More than words can say. They’ve adopted me like I’m part of the hockey team family, and love fills up my chest like a balloon. I wish I didn’t have to leave yet, but I check the time. “I need to run home and make sure everything is covered. But thanks, girls, for being patient with me and honest. It’s nice to have friends like you.”
With one last hug, I grab my cup and head out.
Maybe I should feel guilty. Guilty that they had to talk some sense into me. Guilty that I can’t do it all and will have to say no to some things in the future.
But I don’t want guilt to define me or be my motivation. Right now, I just feel cherished and supported. By my friends. That’s a first. Turns out, a cup of coffee and a little mental break won’t ruin my day. In fact, it’s made it ten times better.