Page 66 of Someday Not Soon

I smile. “Trust me, I’ve thought about it. But going back to Washington seems like the best choice for now.”

“Well, I want to say that’s a shame, but that would be rude of me,” she chuckles. “We’ll sure miss you. And I bet Jude has already booked his first flight out to see you.”

The thought twists that knife in my gut—the reality of leaving him. Besides saying goodbye to my best friends, not seeing him every day will undoubtedly be the hardest part of going back.

“I think we’re definitely going to rack up some frequent flier miles,” I reply.

She squeezes my hand. “And if you ever start teaching classes up there, you let me know, okay? I might just have to tag along to experience one of your classes again.”

I grin. “There are plenty of other great teachers around here. You wouldn’t need to travel hundreds of miles for one of mine.”

“I’m telling you, you really have a gift for teaching.You’re gentle and considerate, and you make people feel comfortable in their own skin—all while encouraging them to be their best selves.”

“That means a lot.” I take a sip of my latte, letting the sweet warmth help me swallow the lump in my throat. “One day, maybe I’ll follow in your footsteps and open my own business. Although, I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”

“I didn’t know a damn thing either,” she admits. “But that’s part of the adventure. It’s wild and can be unpredictable at times. You learn as you go, make mistakes, and figure it out along the way. If you wait until you have all the answers, you’ll never start.”

I smile, the corners of my mouth pulling up despite the nerves tightening my chest. “That sounds…terrifying. But also kind of exciting.”

“It is,” she agrees. “Terrifying, exhilarating, exhausting, rewarding—sometimes all in the same day. But if it’s something you truly want, you just have to trust yourself and take the leap. The rest? You'll figure it out. And you’ll have plenty of people in your corner to cheer you on, lend a hand, or just remind you why you started in the first place.”

I don’t say it aloud, but I sense a theme, both in my relationship with Jude and in this crossroads I’m facing with my career. Risk has never been my strength, yet the things that seem worthwhile are always full of it.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Jude

Present

The next fewdays fly by in a blur. It’s like life is on fast forward when all I want is to hit pause.

It’s not the end for us—we’ve agreed to do long distance. But with hundreds of miles between us, I won’t be able to hold her in the crook of my arm while we read. I won’t get to see the peaceful look on her face while she sleeps, or catch those happy, tired eyes first thing in the morning. No sound of her laugh drifting from the other room when she’s watching her favorite reality show. No reaching out to touch her whenever I want.

I’ll visit as often as I can, but no matter what, there will always be that damn countdown ticking away, reminding us that one of us has to leave. And frankly, I’m fucking tired of our relationship feeling like it’s built on borrowed time.

It’s the day before she heads back home, and I made sure to switch shifts with another doctor so I could have the entire day off. There’s no way in hell I’d miss out on spending every possible moment with her before she leaves.

The day is packed with mundane tasks—signing the official closing documents for the sale of her parents’ house, getting the oil changed in her car before her long drive back, and helping cram everything back into her luggage.

Throughout it all, I find every excuse to be close to her. My hand rests on her thigh as we drive, I pull her into a hug while we wait for our coffee, and when we walk my fingers lace through hers. If it weren’t for the way her eyes light up every time I touch her, I might worry that I’m overwhelming her with affection.

By the time we’re finished with all our errands, it’s nearly dinnertime. My body feels shaky, like I’ve had too much caffeine or pushed myself too hard at the gym. I know it’s not either of those things—it’s the thought of her leaving that’s got me wired and on edge. I shove her trunk past its breaking point with her belongings, giving it an extra push until I hear the lock click. If I could crawl in there with her stuff, I would in a heartbeat. But that’d probably look sketchy as hell, so I reluctantly decide against it.

Walking back into the house, I find her in the kitchen, blowing on a cup of hot tea. She points to the tea kettle, silently asking if I want some too. I shake my head, a better idea forming in my mind.

“Can I take you out for your last night here? Or would you rather stay home?” The word home slips out, and it feels too natural, like it’s not only my place anymore, but ours.

She takes a sip from her mug, tipping her head to the side in thought. “Does it make me boring as hell if I want it to be just us tonight?”

“Honestly, I’m relieved. But if the place I want to take you involves no one else, are you down?”

Her ears perk up at the mention of a no-crowds location. “Let’s do it.”

We take my car, and stop to grab takeout at our favorite Mexican restaurant. The smell of warm tortillas and seasoned meat fills the interior as we park and eat in the car. With the low hum of music on, we talk about all the future bands we promise to see one day—fully knowing we both hate crowds and would rather watch a show from the comfort of our own home.

As soon as we’re finished we take off driving again. The busy, multiple lane freeway turns into a single windy road along the coast.

“Have any idea where I’m taking you?” I ask, turning to sneak a glance at her in the passenger seat of my car.

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