Page 106 of The End of Summer

“No. I don’t believe that. Don’t do that.”

“Goddamn it. This is such a mess.” He pauses. “Are you coming home?”

“Yeah.”

“When?” he asks. “Do you need me to come get you?”

“Actually,” I realize, “I need to get my car.”

“Let me bring you.”

“Okay.”

“One thing, though.”

“What’s up?”

“Your dad – he kind of told me that I should give you some space. So, I’ll come get you, but I need you to just come outside. I don’t want to see him right now.”

“He did what?” I ask.

“I’ll tell you all about it when I see you. I just wanted to let you know.”

“Thanks. Yeah, come get me, please. I’ll handle him.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

BRADY

Afew hours later, we’re sitting on Gretchen’s couch. She looks exhausted and I know I should probably give her the chance to take a shower before I lay this on her, but I can’t hold it in anymore.

“I don’t know how to say this, so I’m going to just say it,” I begin. “I got the job.”

Her eyes go wide. “Seriously? That’s amazing!” She hugs me tight. “I’m so happy for you! Finally, a piece of good news!”

I squeeze her hard, then release. “There’s a catch.”

Her eyebrows knit together. “What is it?”

“It’s in New York. Well, three days a week, anyway.”

“I thought it was remote?” she asks.

“I did, too. Apparently not.”

“Oh.” She looks down at her hands and begins to pick at the edge of a throw pillow.

“They need to know by Monday,” I continue.

“So what are you thinking?” she asks, her voice hollow.

I shake my head. “I don’t know. I wanted to talk to you about it. I’m sorry for dropping it on you like this when you’ve got so much on your plate –”

“No,” she replies. “It’s fine, Brady. This is a good thing. I mean, right?”

“Hey,” I say. I place my hands on her upper arms. “Look at me.” She looks up, her lashes covering about half of her gaze. “Your father said –”

“I don’t care what he said,” she shoots back. “He doesn’t get to decide my future.”

---