Page 96 of The Pretender

“Yeah, and maybe you’re in love.”

* * *

My bags are packed,and I’ve sent Vee a couple of congratulatory texts which she promptly replied with a thumbs up. Maybe her ignoring me is for the best. If she didn’t mean what she said, then there’s no reason for me to stay. We’ll still be friends, even with two thousand miles between us. I struggled with walking next door and telling her I loved her too, but she never turned on her light, and I took that as a sign. But I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye.

So there, on her back patio, sits her chair with a fucked-up bow on the top. I didn’t know how to tie one and MyView, although helpful, could not teach me any bow tying techniques.

“You want me to drive you to the airport?”

I don’t answer Rowan immediately. Instead, I look down at the contents of my duffle bag. It’s minimal, only clothes and the flannel top Vee once wore when we did that stupid dance. All my stuff—including my film memorabilia—is packed away in a storage facility, so my sister can rent this place out to the next college kid who wants to take on a thieving neighbor.

I swallow, feeling a bout of panic flare up. It feels like I’m abandoning my entire life, and I guess I am, but this is what I wanted, right? This was the whole point of entering the contest in the first place. To get away? To start over? To do what I wanted? But now, it doesn’t really feel like something I want. I’m sure once I leave, it’ll be fine. I just need to do it. Rip off the Band-Aid.

“Nah. Thanks, though,” I tell him with a pat on the shoulder. “I think I’ll just take an Uber. I need to handle a couple of things first.” Like watching Vee for a few more minutes before I leave her forever.

“Are you sure? I don’t mind.”

I look at myFast and the Furiousfriend and shake my head. “Yeah, I’m good.”

Not that I think Rowan will cry or ask to hug me, but I don’t know what to say to my friend of four years. I’m leaving, and I won’t be graduating with him in a couple more months. Stupid, I know, but I’ve never been one to make great decisions. I don’t care that I’m close to graduating with a business degree. Business can go fuck itself. I don’t want a desk job and a monotonous future. I want to see the world. I want to live the life I’ve always dreamed about.

“Alright, man.” He holds his hand out for me to shake. “I’ll see you around.”

We both know that’s a lie, but I nod anyway. “Yeah. Behave yourself. Don’t let Mav take all your money.”

Fucker knows he sucks at poker.

He grins and shakes his head. “Take care of yourself, man.”

His voice turns serious, and I know this is the last time I’ll see him. If everything works out, I’ll never come back to Georgia, at least while Rowan is still in school.

I swallow. “You too.”

And that’s it. That’s how dudes say their goodbyes. Rowan turns and walks away while I’m left with a bag and pair of binoculars I stole specifically for this occasion. I walk to the window and raise them to my eyes, peering out for the last time at the girl who taught me that friendship comes in many forms. Sometimes it’s disguised as hate and sometimes as a fake girlfriend. Either way, as I watch her pacing her bedroom, I know that she deserves better than me. She deserves a real boyfriend. Someone who will be with her the next three years of her college life.

She deserves someone better.

I just hope that Vance isn’t that someone.

I know it’s selfish but leaving isn’t easy. It should be, because that’s what I want, at least I think it is.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I look down, hoping to see it’s Vee saying goodbye or at least giving me hell about watching her with binoculars, but I’m disappointed.

Maverick: You have one minute to get in the fucking car.

I smile.I knew he would show. He might have called me and said he didn’t do goodbyes, but I knew he would. Deep down, Maverick Lexington is a softy.

Me: Aww. You did miss me.

Maverick: I owed you a favor and since you won’t be here to claim it, I’m taking you to the airport. I always pay my debts.

He doesn’t oweme any kind of favor, but this is who he is.

Me: If you say so. Let me grab my shit.

Maverick: I don’t have all day.

I pocketmy phone and take one last look at the girl next door. She’s gone from the window, and my heart sinks. I should go over there, at least give her a high-five, but for some reason, I can’t bring myself to make it final.

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