Page 75 of The Interns

Maya: Hey. What are you up to?

Reed: hey. just got home from class. you?

Maya: I’m home. I was hoping I could see you tonight.

Reed: you’re in atlanta?

Maya: Yeah.

Reed: where?

Maya: The Omni Hotel downtown.

Reed: yeah, of course. could be there around 8.

Maya: Perfect. Room 1307.

* * *

Maya opened the door to Reed standing there in a gray t-shirt and jeans, not quite filling them out the way he had the last time she’d seen him. His face had lost the light golden tone from last summer that had continued glowing long into the fall months. His curls were long enough now that he could tuck them behind his ears, and the scruff on his face was uneven and untrimmed, framing his smileless lips. Her chest ached the same way it had the last time she saw his face that early January morning. This time the hurt coming from being confronted with the toll their nearly three-month separation must have taken on him.

She took a step toward him and slid her hands over his shoulders, hesitant to move any closer until she felt his hands on her waist. She pressed her body into his and rose onto her toes, squeezing her arms around his back. His head dropped into the crook of her neck and he inhaled as he embraced her. Having him close and returning her embrace felt like pure relief until space formed between their bodies again as his hands moved down to her hips and gently, but certainly, pushed her away.

He looked down at the ground for a moment, focusing on her bare feet before his eyes traveled up her legs to her gray skirt and partially untucked light blue button-down shirt. It was the same outfit she wore the first day they met. Between her attire and the hotel, she didn’t need to tell him why she was here. He had to know.

“When did you get in?” he asked, his voice tentative and gravelly.

“Last night.” He flinched ever so slightly. “I wanted to tell you, but…”

She hoped he knew that, as well. He finally stepped in and closed the door behind him then followed her into the suite, but stopped in the center of the room while she made her way to the desk that sat against the far wall. She turned to face him and placed one hand on the desk to steady herself.

“I went to my fifth interview today,” she said finally, sparing them both the small talk. “Got another offer.”

“Five for five, huh?” he asked, sounding more like he was talking baseball than job interviews.

“Yeah.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised.” A small grin tugged at one side of his lips. “But I am proud of you.”

“Thank you,” she said quietly as she dipped her head before looking back up at him, feeling heartened by the warmth returning between them. “How about you?”

“Uh…” He looked down and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m in a bit of a slump compared to you.”

“Reed, I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant it took me that many before I finally found the right fit.”

He waved her off. “I know you didn’t…so you made a decision?”

She nodded and reached for the folder on the desk then walked toward him and handed it over. He took it with both hands, his eyes went to the embossed name on the letterhead: King and Associates. He glanced up, his brow furrowed like he wasn’t sure if this was some sort of cruel joke. She nodded for him to keep going. He continued reading the rest of the letter, the very generous offer letter that was addressed to her. Once it was clear to him, he dropped the folder to his side and placed his attention solely on her.

“Maya,” he breathed out.

“Do you remember that first night I was home over the break, and you told me the big firms wouldn’t be good enough for me?”

He nodded quietly.

“I think I had started to realize that already,” she admitted, “but I had that vision for myself for so long, and I was still trying to cling to it because it was all I knew…until I worked with Al. And you,” she said, her voice faltering because he was standing here in front of her.

His eyes began to fill with tears, and it simultaneously cracked her heart and mended it at the same time because none of this was in her head. What she felt for him was real and true, and he felt it too.

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