Page 78 of My Star-Crossed Summer

She lifts a brow. “Absolutely not. Do you think a man in your position would quit? I’m frankly fed up with women telling themselvesnobefore anyone else does. I’m not going to let you do that.” She plants her hands on her hips and pins me with her stare. “If you want the job, it’s yours. And based on the way you seem to be absolutely glowing up here, I think you do.”

I nod, thinking of Diana's offer, and my stomach’s in knots again. The job with her could skyrocket my career—it’s what I’ve spent the last several years working toward. When she told me how much I could expect to make in commissions, I nearly choked because holy bananas, that many zeros would change my life completely.

This job with the camp won’t come with that many zeros. But what it offers could be so much more meaningful.

I don’t want to make this decision out of fear, and right now my overthinking brain has several fears bouncing around insideit. I’m afraid I’ll regret passing up the job with Diana. I’m afraid taking this job with Roxy is biting off more than I can chew. I’m afraid saying no might be the biggest mistake of my life. But most of all, I’m afraid of what might happen if I take this chance with Noah and then we fall apart—because that would mean losing everything.

Again.

In the storm of dark thoughts, one bright one floats the the surface:But what if everything works out just the way you want—and nothing falls apart?

“Can I have a couple of days to think it over?” I ask.

She nods. “Of course. I’ll email you the offer letter with all of the details before I leave.”

“Thank you.”

“Now,” she says. “Your friend Roxy has one more question. Does he make you happy? Because you deserve someone who lights you up like the Fourth of July, and I won’t let you settle for anything less.”

I smile because bossy Roxy is my favorite.

“I think he could,” I say.

“Someday,” she says, “I want to hear all the details. But let’s have that conversation when we’re off this mountain.”

“Deal,” I tell her. Even thinking of that night at the campground is stirring up the butterflies again.

She nods and starts walking back toward the cabins. Today’s one of those perfect days where the sun’s filtered through big puffy clouds, and the air is crisp and clear. There’s just enough breeze to keep the summer heat at bay.

“For the record,” she says, “You’re also amazing with these kids. I hope you know how much that means.”

This time, I don’t argue with her.

When Laylaand I get to the hospital, Priya looks up from the Octavia Butler book she’s reading and gives us a small smile. Aside from the dark circles beneath her eyes, she looks good.

“How are you feeling?” I ask her.

“Better. But I’m so bored,” she groans, just as Layla sits on the bed next to her.

“Good thing we’re here, then,” Layla says.

“Aunt Radha texted me and said they’re leaving soon,” Priya says. “They said they’d be here by three, but they’re always late.”

“No problem,” I tell her with a shrug. “We’ve got nowhere else to be today.”

She smiles and says, “Thanks for coming back to stay with me.” Something in her tone makes me think she’s more accustomed to being left by herself. My heart squeezes at the thought.

“Are you kidding?” I ask her. “You don’t get to leave under cover of darkness and rob me of a proper goodbye.”

Layla digs through her backpack and thrusts a big pink envelope towards Priya. “Open it,” she says, her eyes glittering.

Priya’s face lights up as she opens the envelope. Inside is a card made from a collage of images: blue mountains, a waterfall, a big golden moon, one of the massive telescopes like at the institute. When Priya opens the card, Layla says, “We made it for you this morning. Everyone signed it since they didn’t have a chance to tell you bye.”

Priya beams as Layla pulls her into a bear hug and says, “Everybody was so glad to hear you’re okay.”

There’s another tug deep in my chest, and a thought hits me like a bolt of lightning. The thing I liked most about real estatewas helping people find a place that became their home—a place where they felt they belonged. And being at this camp, with these kids—it’s the same in that way. The classes are cool, and the outings are a blast, but the most meaningful part of being here this summer has been moments like this one: watching two kids who felt like misfits grow more comfortable in their own skin and leave this place feeling like they can belong, too.

This camp sometimes pushed me to my limits, only to reveal moments like this one that remind me of how much good there is in the world. A glimmer, Noah would say, but to me, it’s much more.

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