Page 85 of Ink & Ambition

Arden sighs, running his hand through his hair. Alex does a similar move when he’s exasperated. “It means I need to get out of South Carolina. I need to do something better for myself. I can do something better.”

He sounds like he’s talking more to himself than to me. “You can do whatever you set your mind to, Ard.”

He laughs, “Thanks, Hallmark.” Arden holds the door for me to enter the cafe and he follows suit as I walk in and head toward the order counter. After ordering two breakfast sandwiches and two coffees–and after Arden demands to pay we’re sitting at a table by the window, coffees in hand and sandwiches being made.

“Did something happen at the factory?”

“The boss started cutting my hours. No rhyme or reason to it just, didn’t need me as much, he said.”

“Can they do that?”

Arden takes a sip of his black coffee. “They can do whatever they want, they own the place.”

“So you’re not doing as many hours at the factory but why does that mean you need to leave South Carolina? What about Dad and Memaw?”

As much as it wasn’t fair that I was off in college with Arden was home helping Dad take care of our memaw, that was the deal that we made. Dad told me to get out there and make something of myself so that when I came back, I could help more than I could before. We made that deal for the betterment of our family. Something must be really bad for him to want to just up and abandon them now.

Arden sighs. “I just need a change of scenery, Mars. A change of pace.” He sits back in his chair. The waitress takes this time to drop off our sandwiches and Arden tastes a massive bite.

I can’t seem to stomach my own sandwich at the moment. “So what are you gonna do?”

He chews, swallows then speaks. “I’m not sure yet. I just know I’ve got options to weigh, that’s all.”

I nod once, swallowing the words I want to say. The question I want to ask. How does he know it’s all going to be okay? Did Dad get a raise? Is Memaw on the mend? Do I need to go back and take his place as helper of the house while he figures out what he wants to do? It’s only fair, I suppose. Although I really would’ve liked to graduate from TU before having to do that.

Arden, sensing my hesitation, reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “It’s all gonna be okay, kid.”

I nod again, letting him appease me. Or at least letting him think he is. Taking a small bite of my sandwich, I think about what I need to do in order to go home and help out. I’ll have to goto the registrar’s office and unenroll from classes. I’ll have to quit the paper, and that means no moreNew York Timesinternship contest. No more podcast. No more Alex.

I choke a bit on a piece of egg sliding down my throat.

Arden peeks up at me from his sandwich. “You’re not going anywhere,” he says. As if he can read my mind.

“But, if you need to—”

“Margot, no. That’s not what’s going on here. You’re finishing school. You’re living out your journalistic dreams.”

“But, Dad and Memaw—”

“Are fine.” Arden places the food down with a sigh. “Will you just trust me on this? Everything is fine.”

I have no idea how I can trust his words considering the situation we have at home but I have no other choice. Maybe after he’s gone, I’ll call Dad and see if he can shed some more light on the situation.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out to reveal a text from Alex.

Dinner then? Cmon, I wanna see you

We're ordering in

Pizza or chinese?

Pizza

I'm in

Before I can respond, Arden is gathering up the garbage on our table, distracting me from the text. I would love to have Alex come and hang out with my roommates and my brother. It does, however, make me question even more what we are. Arewe friends with benefits? Co-hosts with benefits? Are we going to announce to the school that we’re together on the podcast? Are we together? Are we in a situationship? Too many questions and absolutely no answers. I need to assess with Dani and Syd. They’ll know what to do.

“What do you have planned for the rest of the day?” Arden asks as we head toward the door.

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