Page 17 of The Sweet Spot

“I was just bored…I wanted to hang out with my friends. I finally got fired because he found me on a gaming website when I was supposed to be electronically filing liens.”

She smiles ruefully. “And what about the job you mentioned earlier? Is it less boring?”

I laugh quietly. “It’s a part-time job for a research architect.”

“That’s right up your alley, isn’t it? Why don’t you sound more excited?”

She doesn’t miss a thing. I drum my fingers over the safety bar. “Things aren’t as simple as I’d like them to be. My dad wants me to fly out to São Paulo for a software internship in about ten days.” I look out at where the glittering sea meets the dark sky, the stars sparkling above. “It’s a good opportunity, and it would look nice on my transcripts.”

“But you don’t really want to go.”

“I’d be gone for half the year instead of one semester.” I shrug, shaking my head. “I’ve done summer internships every year since I was a junior in high school—even the time I went to Tokyo. I kind of want to take this summer off.”

“Can’t you just tell him that?”

I scratch my chin, surprised I’m telling her this when the only other person who knows how I feel is Mãe. “My dad really, really wants me to go. He’s always hoped I’d follow in his footsteps and all that.”

She wrinkles her nose. “I guess I’ve never experienced that. My mom doesn’t care what I do, as long as I’m happy.”

“My mother’s the same way. But my dad thinks I’d be squandering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Life wasn’t easy for him growing up, so he can be hardcore.”

She cocks her head. “Are you guys close?”

“About as close as we can be with him living in São Paulo.”

“Is that why you’re going to school there in the fall?”

“Not exactly. São Paulo is nowhere near Florianópolis.”

“Closer than it is to Santa Cruz,” she counters, raising an eyebrow.

“For sure. I’ll visit him a couple weekends a month, but I chose UFSC because it’s a great school in a country I love. I’m American, but I’m Brazilian too, you know?” I glance down at her. “If my father had his way, my brother and I would’ve done all our schooling over there. He thinks we’re too Americanized.”

“You and your little brother?”

“My older brother, Nico.” Who won’t ever go, mainly to spite Pai.

“How often do you get to see your dad?”

Her questions dig into my chest, between my ribs. My father’s lived overseas for half my life. “A couple times a year.”

We fall silent, rocking gently as the ocean breeze jostles our car.

“I get wanting to chill this summer, but I think you’re lucky,” she says after a moment, leaning back. The move tucks her more deeply into the crookof my arm, and I take the opportunity to pull her closer. Her cheeks dimple with a smile. “I’d do anything to get out of here.”

“You will. You’ve got time.”

“I know. I just get tired of seeing the same stuff over and over—it’s hard not to feel stuck.” She peeks up at me. “I probably sound like an ungrateful brat. It’s not like I’m slaving away in a factory somewhere.”

“Everything you’re saying is valid, Wren. But you won’t be doing this forever, just like I didn’t work for my stepdad forever. You’ll work hard, study hard, and eventually what youhaveto do will line up with what youwantto.” The words resonate in my brain, advice I should be taking myself.

The Sky Glider pauses. We’re close to the middle now, approaching the highest point. I squint down to the crowd near the end, wondering if our friends are there, but it’s impossible to make out faces.

“Have you started packing for your trip?” asks Wren.

“I usually wait until the last minute.” I run my hand over my hair. “I probably shouldn’t. Once I almost didn’t get my passport in time, so you’d think I know not to procrastinate.”

“International travel seems pretty intense.”

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