Page 241 of Out of Bounds

Ryan glanced back, eyebrows furrowed.

“You…put together a whole plan to distract me for a day to get me to ignoreoneinterview?” I was pretty sure I should’ve been angry but I couldn’t be further than that. “Um…that’s the mostScooby Dooconvoluted plan I’ve ever heard, Ryan. Seriously.”

The look of pure guilt on his face confirmed it but there was this weird feeling of pleasure that settled over me. Ryan wanted me to stay so badly, he’d do that. Or almost do it. He couldn’t go through with itbecausehe loved me.

I walked up to him, gazing up. “Why didn’t you justtalkto me, you dumb man?”

“You’re…not upset?”

“I mean, it’s one interview. If that doesn’t work out, it’s not the only apartment in Orlando. Pretty sure I’d be more upset if it was thought out better.”

“I’m sorry.” He sighed. “It was stupid. I panicked.”

“Don’t do it again,” I warned him. “But I love you. You and your weird plans.”

“Won’t do it again.”

“But, seriously. What were you thinking?”

“There is something I need to talk to you about,” he told me. He drew me over to the balcony. “This is something I’ve thought through.” He gazed down at me. “When I go in April…I want you to come with me.”

For a long moment, I didn’t understand what he meant. That was crazier than him sabotaging an interview.

“Go…where?”

“Wherever I go,” he continued in slow, measured sentences. “I’ll buy you a house. I’ll buy you a whole neighborhood. Whatever you want. I just need you there.”

I couldn’t think of what to say. Because the very first instinct was to absolutely agree with it but I couldn’t do that. I knew I couldn’t. Quickly, I walked over to the balcony, past the heaters, to the cool air. If I could just think a little, I’d figure this out.

“What if you get sent to North Dakota or something?” I asked, shaking my head. “How am I supposed to finish up my classes?”

Ryan was silent for a long moment and a numb feeling overtook me.

“You—you want me to drop out ofschool?”

Oh, god. It was way farther than the interview distraction.

“Kassie.” He stood next to me. “I’ll buy you an art studio. Whatever you want. Anything you want.”

Oh, god. We were too far off track and it was a splash of cold water on me. I drew in a slow breath. “I don’t want that, Ryan.”

“Anything. I don’t care—anything.”

“Ryan. I’ve worked…too hard to get here. And what happens if I—if I run off without you and it doesn’t work out? I’m alone. I don’t have a degree.” I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to focus on the dull ache. “Why are you asking this?”

He took a deep breath. “I don’t want only fifteen days during football season with you.”

“No.” I shifted away from him, trying to think. “No, I can’t do that. Because I can’t ask you to do the same thing. And—”

“I’d do anything for you,” he insisted.

I turned back to face him. “But that’s not true. If I asked you to go to Florida right now and throw balls around, you wouldn’t do it. And I wouldneverask you to. Ever. I wouldneverdo that to you.” I gestured back towards the glass doors. “This is your home, I couldn’t take you away from—”

“It’s not the same thing.”

“Ryan, it’s absolutely the same thing. And it sounds crazy because itiscrazy.”

“You’re not listening to me.”

---