Page 86 of Roommates (Life in the Brohouse 2)

“Can someone please tell me what’s going on?” Hunter asks. “I thought we were going to have pizza and games.”

Rachel sighs and I watch her purse her lips while she looks between Hunter and me. “Alright, well just so you know, I didn’t want to tell you like this. And I was going to tell you!”

“Tell us what?” I ask, still completely confused.

Rachel twiddles her fingers together and I can’t help but worry that something terrible has happened. “Okay, well, here it goes. I was accepted into an internship program.”

My eyes widen and I feel my lips lifting into a smile.

“That’s amazing,” says Hunter.

“That’s so great!” I shout.

Rachel grimaces. “It’s in Paris.”

“Paris?” I repeat, my voice isn’t more than a soft whisper.

She nods. “It’s a summer program. I’ll be gone about two months.”

I can feel my smile falling. Two months? “When do you leave?”

“About a week after the semester ends.”

“That soon?” Hunter asks. I feel him rise from the couch, watch him wrap his arms around Rachel. “I’ll really miss you.” I watch him press a kiss on the top of her head.

Rachel smiles and pats his back. “I’m not leaving, yet,” she says. “We still have a few months. And it’s only two months. It won’t be that long.”

I blink. I’m still in shock. I don’t know why. I guess I thought we would all be spending summer together, hanging out by the pool and drinking cocktails. I should be happy for Rachel, but instead I fear what will happen to us. Things are already rocky between Rachel and Hunter. What if things become even rockier between all of us while she’s gone?

“Lucas?” I hear Rachel say.

I quickly stand and force a smile. I come to her side and stroke the side of her face. “I’m so happy for you,” I say, although deep down I’m already trying to think of a way to get to Paris. Maybe I could find a writing program. Maybe Dad has lawyer friends I could do an internship with. There has to be a way for us to be together this summer.

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