Page 67 of Overachiever
Me: Of course. What happened?
Remee: I’ll tell you when you get here. Love you.
Owen: On my way. Love you.
Remee was excited about registering for her classes this semester when I left her this morning. What could’ve gone wrong? Is it just that she didn’t get a class she wanted? It was the end of the world when she couldn’t get summer classes so something like that is what I expect when I walk in her place. Until I see the expression on Serena’s face. Something else is wrong.
“Where’s Remee? Is she okay?”
“In her room,” Serena says.
Remee sits on the loveseat that’s tucked against the wall, staring out the window. A reluctant smile forces itself across her face. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She lays her head on my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her.
“Thanks for coming.”
“Always, baby. Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“I have to quit school.” Her voice cracks on the words, and she swallows hard. “At least for a year.”
I look down at her, wondering if I heard her wrong. “What?”
She nods and continues with a sigh. “Dad found out I lost the grant from Building Hope. He shut down my education account.”
Anger flares up my spine. “Your Dad cut you off because you lost a grant?”
“Mom told him it was because of a guy. So he thinks I’m no different than Rachel and not worth his money. That I’m a waste.”
Every trace of me wants to tear this guy apart, not because he withdrew his money, but because of the hurt in her voice. Her eyes widen when I cup her face firmly and look her in the eye. “Listen to me, Remee. You aren’t a waste. You’re amazing and talented and smart. Better than all that, you’re loving. That’s something he’ll never understand how to be.”
This is exactly what she feared. That being in a relationship and not following her plan would screw things up. She hasn’t done anything wrong, but I doubt she’ll see it that way.
“Everything was going so good. I didn’t see it coming. I don’t even understand how Mom found out. I told her what I was doing this summer but not that I left early.”
Oh no. Maybe I really have ruined her life. “Shit,” I mumble, and she blinks up at me. “Rem, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what your mom was like, and when I came to her house looking for you, she asked how I knew you. It was a fair enough question since I was a stranger at her door looking for her daughter. I explained that you’d left the job early, and I wanted to check on you.”
“It’s not your fault. This was bound to happen eventually. I couldn’t keep them happy forever.”
There’s nothing I want more than to be able to fix this for her, but I can’t. I barely have the money to keep myself in school, fed and clothed. Now that I know Graham is moving, I’ll have to put back even more for rent. It breaks my heart to even think the next words, much less say them, but I have to.
“Rem, would your Dad reconsider and pay your tuition if we weren’t together?” Her eyes lock on mine, and I run my hand through her hair. “I love you, but I want you to be happy, and I know you need to finish school.”
Before I can finish, she shakes her head sharply. “No. Even if it would make a difference, I wouldn’t do it. I love you. I’ll finish school. It’ll just take a little longer. Serena said there’s a job opening at Glitties that starts in a couple of weeks. She’s friends with the manager, and she’s sure they’ll hire me. I’ll work, save, and go back next year.”
My gaze rakes over her, picturing her in the tiny shorts and crop top that Glitties waitresses wear.
Rolling her eyes, she slaps my chest. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“That you’ll be hot as hell?”
“I’ll be working in the kitchen. No skimpy outfit.”
“Damn. Do you think you could sneak one home, though?”
Her smile is what I was hoping for, even though it’s brief. “I’ll do my best.”
“You always do your best.” I pull her back into my arms. “I’m sorry. I wish I could help.”
