Page 62 of The Interns

“Can’t you just try long distance or find jobs close to each other?”

That was the question. What was once non-negotiable for her was now being questioned more and more as she realized just how deep her feelings for Reed ran over these past two weeks. It was a silent debate she had kept to herself, but here with her best friend who knew her and her aspirations, she could finally ask it out loud.

“Would you give up everything you’ve been working towards for years for a guy you’ve only known for six months?”

“No,” she answered without hesitation. But then she rolled her head and looked upward as she thought it over. “Maybe?” she allowed with a slightly guilty look. “It depends on the guy.”

“I’m twenty-four, so it’s too soon to be doing that,” Maya stated definitively before the doubt crept in again. “Right?”

“You’ll be twenty-five in a month,” Syd pointed out, making them both laugh.

“Well, that changes everything. Case closed. Thanks for your counsel.”

Sydney laughed and reached over to squeeze Maya’s hand. “He’s back,” she whispered.

“You see that big winter storm headed for the northeast?” Reed walked around the small table in front of them and set the pitcher down.

“No,” Maya said. She’d been too distracted with him to know what was going on outside of their little love bubble.

“I caught it on the news while I was up at the bar. It’s due to hit in two or three days.”

“When I’m supposed to fly back up,” Maya filled in, her head already beginning to throb from the travel troubles awaiting her.

“Oh damn, Maya. Sounds like you’ll have to stay with us a little longer.” Syd gave her a pert smile. “I never understood why you always leave town so soon after Christmas anyway.”

“I like to go back and get settled in so I can start the semester off on the right foot,” she defended.

“It’s your final semester,” Syd reminded her. “I’m pretty sure you have it down by now.”

Darby joined them with her hands in her pockets and head hung low. They looked at each other, then at her, thrown off by her unusually sullen appearance until Sydney noticed the scoreboard and their eyes followed. Another frame, and two more gutter balls. Maya offered some words of encouragement while Sydney turned to the other two men who were allegedly there to hang out with them.

“Hey,” she called out flatly. “Lovebirds.”

“Hey!” Adam answered, looking a little confused upon being plucked out of his own love bubble. “What’s up?”

“Reed got us another pitcher, a blizzard is going to hit the northeast so Maya is going to be staying longer, I’m thinking we need to get those bumpers because Darby just had her third straight frame of gutter balls, and you’re up,” Syd said in the span of one breath.

“That’s great you’re staying, Maya!” Evan said. “We can do this again.”

“Uh no. No, we will not.” Sydney shot that idea down so fast, Evan looked like his head was spinning. “Just drinks next time. Keep my seat warm,” she said to Reed as she stood up. “I’m going to see about the bumpers. I’m counting on you two to keep this game moving.”

“You got it,” he answered, saluting their captain. He settled into the spot next to Maya with a sigh, noticing her slight frown as he rested his arm along the back of their seat.

“Nothing you can do about it.”

“I know.”

“We might even have a good time.”

“I know that, too,” she said with a slow grin.

He leaned in to give her a kiss, short and light by their evolving standards since they were in front of others. She began to laugh softly as she pulled away.

“What?” he whispered.

Their faces were still so close she could feel his breath when he laughed. She began to shake her head. “Your shoes are killing me.”

He looked down at their feet, both clad in the same red and blue leather shoes. “You’re wearing them, too.”

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