Chapter 6

 

 

Reed and Jackson talked until after midnight. Most of the time they talked about Jackson and Shelby, and ideas on how to propose. For the usually confident Jackson, proposing made him surprisingly nervous, which explained his frustration when Reed had abandoned him for Kate. After dinner they returned to the game and continued to talk while they played, but when Jackson went to the bathroom Reed pulled out his phone.

Everything okay? Kate had texted.

We’re good, Reed responded. I’ve just been very distracted lately.

And I’m the distraction?

A really pretty one.

I’ve never seen Jackson upset, she said. I feel bad.

Don’t, Reed said. I just need to spend time with him. He has some things going on that he needs help with.

With Shelby?

Reed wanted to explain but hesitated. It was Jackson’s secret, after all. The sink in the bathroom came on and he didn’t want Jackson to feel like he was still distracted. He didn’t have time for a lengthy text but he didn’t want to mislead either.

I have to go, he said. Can I tell you later?

Tomorrow for breakfast? she asked, and added a smiley face.

Lunch, he said. I should probably hang out here in the morning.

I’ll pick you up.

See you then. I’ll text you before I go to bed.

Jackson returned and Reed tucked his phone back into his pocket. Jackson glanced his way and shook his head. “How’s Kate?”

“She feels bad.”

Jackson abruptly released a self-deprecating laugh. “I can’t really blame either of you. We spent months getting you and Kate together, and I knew how much you liked each other. I shouldn’t be surprised at what you’ve become.”

“So you’re taking credit for us being together?”

“I was the one that helped Kate challenge you on your second date—and I kidnapped you and took you to Florida so you could get over Aura.” His usual smile appeared. “You know I deserve credit.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

In the game, Reed turned and threw a grenade at Jackson. He dodged but threw one back, and for several furious seconds they battled, ignoring the alien threats until Jackson managed to kill Reed. As he waited to respawn, Reed leaned over and pushed Jackson.

“You don’t get credit,” he said. “But I couldn’t have done it without you.”

Jackson laughed, the lingering tension melting away. They continued to play but the conversation shifted to the upcoming semester, which would start on Monday. Jackson had three classes while Reed had two, and the finishing of his Thesis.

“I forgot about that,” Jackson said. “You graduate in December, don’t you?”

“It looks like it,” Reed said, sprinting away from a new horde of digital enemies.

“So, don’t you have that job waiting for you in New York?”

“Yeah,” Reed said. “Dr. Caldin has a friend who joined a prestigious institute there. He’s the one that recommended me for the internship.”

“In December . . .” Jackson said.

“What are you getting at?” Reed asked, sparing him a glance.

“What are you going to do with Kate when you leave?”

Reed’s surprise got him killed as a sniper picked him off. He hardly noticed. In the flurry of events with Kate he’d all but forgotten how soon he was going to be finished in Boulder. Four months and he would be gone.

But Kate would be staying.

Reed’s graduation had been approaching for years, and in the last two weeks with Kate he hadn’t thought at all about how this would affect the direction of their relationship. Now that he did, he recognized the impending collision.

He tried to shrug it off with a smile. “I’ve got four months to figure it out.”

“Maybe,” Jackson said. “But it’ll come faster than you think.”

Reed didn’t respond, his shoulders dipping as if a tangible weight had settled on his back. It wasn’t much, but he sensed that each passing week would increase the burden until time forced a decision.

“I still have time,” he said, but a sliver of doubt threaded into his voice.

Jackson didn’t press the issue and they continued to talk about Shelby. They played deep into the night and then Reed got ready for bed. He texted Kate several times but didn’t mention his concerns, telling himself he had plenty of time to figure out what he would do.

He fell asleep thinking about the internship. Dr. Caldin had made it clear it was a prestigious internship, one that paid well enough to live in New York City. More importantly, the other psychiatrists at the practice had connections into every doctoral program in the country, making it a perfect stepping stone into his career. But there were only a few slots a year, and Reed had banked everything on the opportunity, so he hadn’t made any backup plans.

His forehead creased as he recalled the pre-graduate luncheon with other students. He’d talked to several representatives from other internships, several of which were nearly equal to his choice in New York. But is that what he wanted? Giving up New York would be hard, but if he could find an option that allowed him to continue his career and be with Kate . . .?

Ultimately he decided that he’d explore other possibilities. He was confident he could find another option as good as New York. Dr. Caldin would certainly help him, and he had other professors that might be able to help. He wanted to stay with Kate, and didn’t want to choose between his career and his girlfriend. His decision made, the weight on his shoulders faded, allowing him to fall asleep.

But a sliver of doubt remained.