Page 124 of June

“I’m not exactly sexy, Caroline. I’m the nerdy, studious girl on the floor. Jodie is outgoing and hot. I read every night for fun and wear silly plaid pajama pants with mismatched T-shirts.”

“She wouldn’t go out with you if she didn’t think there was that possibility, Viv.”

“Are you sure? Because I really like her, Care.”

“Wear that black bra under that sweater and move it a little so it’s an off-the-shoulder thing. When she picks you up, if her eyes go to that bra strap, you’ll know I’m right.”

“I just bought that bra online because it was on sale,” Viv shared.

Caroline laughed and replied, “Trust me, that doesn’t matter.”

CHAPTER 31

Enid was nervous. She was standing outside Caroline’s dorm building and knew she needed to text her to have Caroline come down and let her in, but she wasn’t sure that she was ready for that. She still hadn’t made a decision about the job, but she now had an interview scheduled for the following afternoon with Sylvie and two other members of the team. Because Sylvie had worked with Enid before, this would be the only interview, and as Sylvie had told her before Enid had left her parents’ house to pick Caroline up for their date, it was more a formality than anything.

Sylvie had checked on the possibility of Enid working remotely in New Orleans, and the company had said no. They currently had no employees outside of the state of Florida, so they weren’t interested in dealing with payroll taxes and other legalities for one employee in another state. Enid understood, but it was still a hit because she’d been hoping that they would allow it and that, in doing so, they would magically solve all her problems at once.

She’d still have to work either around her class schedule, which wouldn’t be too hard, or she would have to change to the fully online program, but Caroline was what she was really worried about. Enid knew it was ridiculous. They’d only just started dating. She needed to make the best decisionfor herself and her career. Thinking about turning this job down just because of Caroline wasn’t something she should be entertaining, but her mind couldn’t shut off the idea that if she got this job and had to move within a month, they would end up losing what they had.

She’d talked to her mom about it earlier, too, and her mom had reiterated what Enid had already known: that she should do what was right for her. Still, Enid couldn’t stop thinking about saying goodbye to Caroline, getting in her car, and driving away from her. She pictured their relationship in its slow decline over the next several months until, ultimately, they would end it because that would be easier than missing each other all the time. That was how most of these things went, and it would be at least two years of that while Caroline finished school. Then, assuming they were still together, if Caroline didn’t want to live in Florida, it could go on longer, or Enid would need to find another job anyway.

“Oh, hey,” Jodie said when she pushed open the door. “Care is waiting for you upstairs,” she added and held the door open for Enid.

“Hi, Enid,” Viv greeted as she walked through it.

“Oh, hey. Thanks,” Enid said and held on to the door.

“No problem,” Jodie replied and smiled over at Viv before she looked back at Enid. “Hey, talk to her, okay?”

“Sorry?”

“About the job thing. Just be real with her,” Jodie replied.

“She told you?”

“I’m the best friend.” Jodie shrugged a shoulder. “We have to go, though, or we’ll be late for the reservation I made.”

“You made a reservation?” Viv asked with a smile.

“Yes,” Jodie replied, looking a little embarrassed. “See you later, Enid.”

“Bye,” Enid said and walked up the stairs, making her way to Caroline’s door.

She was surprised to see it closed, but maybe Caroline was still changing for their date. Enid sighed, knocked, and waited. When the door opened a few seconds later, Caroline stood there, and Enid let out a deep breath because, wow. Her girlfriend was… Wow.

“You look beautiful,” she said.

“I’m just in jeans and a T-shirt,” Caroline replied, looking down at herself.

“You’re always so beautiful to me,” Enid said, knowing that it was the truth.

“Trying to butter me up so that you can tell me you’re moving out of state?”

Caroline turned to walk farther into the room.

“No,” she replied, walking in and closing the door behind her.

“I don’t know if I feel like going out tonight,” Caroline told her.

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