Page 156 of Everything's Coming Up Rosie

I hold my glass up and say, “To you not being Roberto,” and he laughs.

Oh, how I’ll miss that.

There’s a quick pang of sadness at the thought.

He drops his arm slightly, and his gaze catches mine. He sets the glass down on the wood plank. “We haven’t talked about long distance,” he says. “Chicago isn’t New York.” A beat. “Should we try it?”

I want to say yes. I want to tell him that FaceTime and the occasional in-person dates will be enough, but I know better.

When I don’t respond, he shakes his head. “I know it won’t work.”

“I think we’d try it and it would end badly,” I say. “And I don’t want anything to ruin”—I motion toward him—“This.”

He holds my gaze. “So, what then? We just say goodbye?”

“You’re kind of like a drug for me,” I admit. “I think it’s better to quit cold turkey, don’t you?”

He presses his lips together and looks away.

I set my glass down on the wood plank next to his and crawl toward him. He reaches for me, and I let him hold me, savoring the way his strong arms draw me close. “I’m not sure how to let you go,” I whisper.

He kisses me then, and I get lost in it, certain if I could bottle up the way it makes me feel and carry it with me, it would be enough—at least for a little while. When I finally pull back, it’s because there are fresh tears streaming down my cheeks.

He uses his thumbs to gently wipe them dry, then tilts his head slightly. “Friday questions?”

“It’s Sunday.”

A soft shrug. “Oh, right. Maybe let’s pretend.”

I nod. “Okay.”

“Now that you’re heading off to this new life,” he says, “are you going to forget all about me?”

I’m so still I’m not even sure I’m breathing. “There’s no chance I will ever, ever forget you, Booker Hayes.”

And when I kiss him again, I know that this is really it.Thisis goodbye.

And while I wouldn’t trade my time with him for anything, goodbye really, really hurts.

Chapter 44

Seven weeks later

Opening night jitters are totally normal.

But these jitters are different.

This time, the playisin my hands. Mine and the hands of this wonderful new cast.

It’s not a large group, but they are talented and generous and kind, and because of them, I’ve settled into Chicago like I’ve lived here all my life. I have a small apartment without a roommate, which is slightly unheard of, but the older woman playing the nanny in the show offered it to me at a steal. Turns out it was her mother’s and she doesn’t have time to deal with putting it on the market.

That, or she really is a kind soul.

That kindness allowed me to save the money I made this summer, and I was able to send my old roommate Ellen most of what I owed her in unpaid rent, with a promise to pay the rest as soon as possible.

I finally feel like I’m starting to grow up.

My entire approach to this role has been different. The desire to make people like me creeps in sometimes, but it’s easy to swat it away. I remember the things I learned from Arthur, the things thecast at Sunset Hills taught me, and I pour myself into playing Nora in a way that makes sense to me.

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