Page 197 of Finding Us

“Good. Sorry I haven’t called. It’s been busy with the move, and then my dad was here, and classes started.”

“Don’t worry about it. So how’s the new place?”

“It’s great, but one of the houses a few down from ours was broken into the other day so I’m not feeling too safe about the area.”

“Yeah, Harper told me. That sucks. You’d think you’d be safe in a small town like that.”

“I don’t think you’re safe anywhere anymore. So what’s new in your life? Work going okay?”

“Not really. My boss didn’t like me taking the summer off so he’s being a real ass about it. Giving me the worst shifts. Not giving me time off when I ask. I need a different job.”

“Doesn’t seem like you have many options around there.”

“I don’t. That’s the problem. If I want to work somewhere decent, and not some shit diner, I need to go out of town.”

“Meaning you’d have to move?”

“Yeah.”

“Have you told Harper this?”

“No. And I’m not going to. As much as I hate my job, I love Harper and I’m not willing to risk our relationship for a job somewhere else that I may not even like. I might as well stay where I am.”

This is one of those times when it sucks to have inside information. Jade’s told me that Harper isn’t sure about her future with Sean and yet Sean is putting his career on hold for her. But I can’t tell him what Harper said. He needs to hear it from her. The two of them need to work this out themselves.

“So you’re going to stay at that job until she graduates? That’s three more years, Sean. You sure you want to do that?”

“I don’t have a choice.”

“You could try dating long distance. Where were you thinking of moving to?”

“Don’t tell Jade this, okay?”

“Sean, you know I’m going to tell her.”

“Fine, but ask her not to tell Harper.”

“Okay, so what is it?”

“The guy I worked for last summer called and offered me a job at his flagship restaurant in LA. He said he was really impressed with me and could see me working as head chef at one of his restaurants someday. He’s got places all up and down the coast.”

“Sean, that’s a great opportunity. You can’t pass that up.”

“I already told him I couldn’t do it. I can’t lose Harper.”

“She goes back to California all the time to visit her family. And she’d live with you in the summers. You guys could make this work.”

“Not for three years. That’s too long.”

“You have to tell Harper about this. She has to know what you’re giving up to be with her.”

“If I did that, she’d tell me to take the job.”

“Yeah, so what’s the problem?”

“I don’t want us living on separate coasts. I’m hoping we’ll be engaged in a few months and I don’t want to live 3000 miles away from my fiancé.”

“You’re proposing to her?”

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