Page 82 of The Dating Coach
"Speaking of acceptance," I said, pulling out an envelope. "This came today."
He read the McGill letterhead, face lighting up. "The research position?"
"Oncology lab. Part-time during school, full-time summers. Exactly what I wanted." I couldn't contain my grin. "They were impressed by my personal statement about findingbetter treatments so other kids don't lose their grandmothers too soon."
"Gemma, this is incredible!" He spun me around, laughing. "You're going to change lives. Save families. Everything you dreamed of."
"We both are," I reminded him. "Your architecture professor at McGill said your affordable housing project was graduate-level work. Montreal's lucky to get you."
"Montreal's lucky to get us," he corrected, setting me down but keeping me close. "The power couple of medical research and sustainable architecture."
"With occasional hockey on the side?"
"Got to pay the bills somehow," he grinned. "At least until my buildings start winning awards and your research cures cancer."
"No pressure," I laughed.
"None at all. We've got time." He kissed me softly. "All the time we need."
The move to Montreal happened in stages. First, finding an apartment that could accommodate my study needs and Liam's drafting table. Then, the endless packing, deciding what to keep and what to leave behind.
“Do you really need four different Anatomy textbooks?” Liam asked, eyeing my textbook collection.
"Do you need seventeen different types of drafting pencils?" I countered.
"Yes," we said in unison, then laughed.
Mia helped pack, her excitement about visiting us in the future was contagious.
"I've already researched the best cafes for studying. And there's this LGBTQ+ center near your campus that does youth mentoring. I could volunteer when I visit!"
"Already planning to move there?" Karen teased. "What about Pinewood?"
"I've still got three more years," Mia said. "But after that... McGill has an amazing psychology program, and everyone I care about will be there.”
"No pressure," Liam said, but he was smiling. "Though I've already started scouting apartments near ours. Just in case."
"Enabler," I accused.
"Proud of it," he agreed.
The night before our permanent move to Montreal, everyone gathered at the hockey house for one last dinner together.
"I can't believe you're actually leaving," Karen said, her voice catching as she helped clear the dishes. "It won't be the same without you two."
"Hey, no getting emotional yet," Henry protested, though his own eyes looked suspiciously bright. "We haven't even had dessert."
Frank emerged from the kitchen carrying a homemade cake decorated with "Good Luck in Montreal!" in slightly wobbly frosting. "Mia insisted on helping," he explained with a grin.
"It's beautiful," I said, genuinely touched. Mia beamed beside him.
"I already miss you and you haven't even left yet," my sister said, throwing her arms around me. "But I'm so proud of you for doing this."
"Three years will go by fast," I promised, hugging her tight. "And we'll visit all the time. Christmas, spring break, random weekends when we get homesick."
"Which will be often," Liam added, accepting a group hug from Karen and Henry. "You're stuck with us, whether you like it or not."
"Good," Frank said firmly. "Because this house isn't going to feel right without Gemma’s movie choices and your midnight study sessions."
