Page 69 of Tempt

My lips twitch.

His confidence is contagious. Especially when he uses that earnest voice, like he’s been to the future and can promise any worries are unfounded.

He reaches out to brush a thumb lightly over my cheek.

Andy comes barreling down the hallway toward us. “Found my shoes!”

“I’d better drop him off,” Daniel murmurs. “Though with the energy he has, he could probably fly there.”

I laugh. “Want company?”

Daniel’s smile fades. “No. You’re busy tonight.”

Except it doesn’t feel like he’s letting me off the hook. It feels like he’s rejecting me.

“Bye, Kat!” Andy throws his arms wide and I hug him.

“Bye, Andy. Have a great sleepover.”

When the door clicks shut after them, the house is too quiet.

* * *

WHY I WANT TO GO TO GRAD SCHOOL

Great title.

WHY I WANT TO BE A THERAPIST

Not better.

I stare at the blinking cursor. Words won’t come to me. My head feels like I’m walking through a fog.

Why is this so hard?

After running through the material for my remaining midterm, I turned to my personal statement.

This was supposed to be the easiest part of the application. How challenging can it be to write whatever you want? It’s not like there’s a right answer.

But the folders sit in front of me, one on top of the other. The final one is empty and I stare at my notebook computer screen.

The questions you’re supposed to address include “What contributions do you want to make to the field?” and “When did you first realize you wanted this career?”

There’s zero about Restoration Hardware furniture.

I call it quits shortly after nine.

The library is still full with people studying for midterms.

On the way out I catch sight of Adam studying, his face scrunched up and his basketball jacket around his shoulders. From the stack of books next to him, I’m guessing he’s got miles to go.

A girl with her arms clutched full of books, even more impressive than Adam’s stack, passes behind him, turning to search for a study desk. In the process she knocks his books over.

“I’m sorry!” she says.

Another person shushes her.

Adam waves her off, murmuring something to her and gesturing to the desk.

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