Page 2 of Kissing My Grumpy Ex Boyfriend

My confident and larger-than-life best friend chews on her bottom lip, waiting for my response. And it takes me a moment to realize she’s unsure of this decision. This is not at all like Tegan. She’s looking to me to hype her up. I more than owe her in this department over the years of our friendship. It’s my time to shine.

“That’s grea—” I say, my voice cracking from disuse. I clear my throat and try again, “That’s great. I think that you should absolutely do that. This could be the big break you’ve been waiting for.”

“Really?” Tegan glances over at me like she’s checking to see if I’m not being honest with her. “You think so?”

“Tegan, come on.” I smack her on the arm. “You’re an amazing actress. You were fabulous in our high school musical ofThe Music Manwhen you played Marian.”

The confidence returns to her smile. “The school newspaper said you were the Meryl Streep of Titan High School.”

I laugh with her.

“Please promise me you will go.”

Tegan nods and focuses on the road. “I will.”

It’s nice to know that even the most confident people have their own moments of uncertainty. This just reinforces my plans. It may not be a popular opinion in my family, but it will be one that I won’t regret.

“Now, Belle, what’s going on with you since you just finished your master’s degree? On the phone, it sounded like there was something you wanted to tell me.”

I sigh.

“I knew it.”

“Well, you know how the plan is to go to London for my doctorate just like my parents?”

She nods. “Yes, I’m well aware of the plan that’s been laid out for you since you were a kid.”

I look out the window and once again feel that longing to settle down that’s been on my mind for months.

“I don’t want to go. I’m ready to start teaching— high school. I know the plan was for me to follow in their footsteps, but I’ve made my decision. I’m dropping the bombshell on them this weekend.”

Tegan whistles low. “When you come home, you sure like to make a statement.”

I put my head in my hands. “I’ve been a wreck all week. But I know this is what I have to do.”

“I thought it was brave when you took your own path for college, Belle. You’re doing the right thing for yourself. It’s your life, and you are the one living it.”

“You inspired me,” I admit.

“I did?” Tegan glances over at me with wide eyes. “How’d I do that?”

“You showed me that it’s okay to take a chance on yourself, especially when the safer option is so much easier.”

Tegan sits up a little straighter in her seat. “So, what you’re saying is that I’m your hero?”

I laugh. “Yes, you are the wind beneath my wings.”

Tegan starts belting out the window rest of the verse of the Bette Midler song we’d sing in high school.

“You are insane. You know that?” I laugh when people walking down the street turn to see what she’s doing.

“Sing with me.”

“No.”

“Come on!”

“Nope!”

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