Page 70 of Love Legacy

But the question for now is, what am I going to do next year? I have a couple options. I can take the year off, wait to apply for jobs, and just stay with Matt on campus next year. I could spend that time learning another language and trying to get my interpreter certification. I’m afraid that I’m going to feel like I’m delaying my career by taking time off to essentially just wait for Matt to finish school.

Another option is to get a work-from-home job in my field, like interpreting and offering official translations of documents, and then stay with Matt here. It would keep my language skills fresh, but I’m not sure how much it’ll help me with getting my dream job. The last option is just getting a job in the city and staying at Matt’s Manhattan apartment, but then I’d only see him on the weekends. We could make it work, but to do that for a whole academic year? I’m afraid that could put a strain on our relationship.”

I can tell that she’s put a lot of thought into this. Matthew seems to be an important part of the future she sees for herself, so she’s willing to do a lot to make that happen. Even if that’s at the expense of her future career, though I don’t think he’d let her do that. I truly think he would move Heaven and Earth to support her in anything she wanted to do.

“I think you two will figure it out, Alex. I have faith that y’all will make it work,” I say in an attempt to reassure her. She gives me a small smile before turning her focus entirely on me as we enter our apartment.

“What about you? Have you and Sage figured out what you guys are going to do? I know she’s finishing up this year too,” Alex asks, dropping her bag near the front door before plopping onto the couch. I shrug, taking a seat on the other side of our sectional.

“Honestly? I have no idea. Sage and I haven’t talked about it all that much. I know she was looking at Public Health Masters programs, but I don’t think she was trying to stay at Pinebrook University. If I remember correctly, NYU and Columbia were her top two picks, and those programs are in-person in the city.

University of New England, New York Medical College, Cornell, and University of Rochester all had online programs she applied to as well, but she knows her GRE scores and GPA aren’t super competitive. It’s really a matter of what she gets accepted into. And then we’ll just travel to each other between campus and the city if need be.”

I wasn’t exaggerating when I said that Sage and I haven’t talked about what we’re going to do, relationship-wise, after she graduates. In fact, the only conversation we’ve had about post-college plans happened before we started dating. Since we got together, it’s been a series of“I can’t wait to spend the future with you,”and nothing more than that. Just one more reason why I’m avoiding Sage.

“Speaking of the lady, why didn’t you call Sage to pick you up from the airport? She’s back to campus already.”

I sigh, covering my face with my hands. “Because I came out to my parents, and unsurprisingly, it didn’t go well. I’m still trying to process everything, so I’m not ready to talk to her yet, because I know she wants to know how it went. And I need to process my own emotions before I have to deal with the guilt and pity she’s going to feel for me.”

Alex winces. “That bad, huh?”

I look over at her. “My father made me choose between my parents and Sage. He said that if I didn’t end things with her, leave Pinebrook and return to Georgia, he’d disown me.”

She stares at me in disbelief, the thought of a parent disowning their child unfathomable. “And what did you do?”

“I walked out. I went back to move out the rest of my things, with my grandmother’s help, the next day while they were at church, and in two days, I was on a plane back to New York. I haven’t spoken to them since.”

“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry, Naomi. That’s awful.”

“I knew it wasn’t going to go well and that being disowned was a very real possibility. I had just hoped maybe my father could realize he was being unreasonably controlling, but silly me.”

Alex moves closer to rest a reassuring hand on my knee. “Are you going to be okay?”

I nod. “I think so. I mean, our relationship has been extremely strained since I got kicked out of High Valley. It’s not like this was an extreme leap from where we already were. It’s just final now, rather than a tiny sliver of hope I could continue to hold onto for a little while longer. Plus, my Grannie Mae still has my back, and she’s the one I’m closest to.”

“Well, you know you always have us. Maeve, me, the sorority, Sage—you’ve got sisters for life now. And we definitely don’t care if you’re gay or in a relationship with Sage.”

I smile because I know Alex is telling the truth. The ladies of Kappa Theta Alpha have truly shown me unconditional love in a way that my own family hadn’t, and I’m so grateful for them. And I honestly attribute that to why I’ve been so accepting of what happened with my parents. Because in the back of my mind, I knew I had a family in New York. A family that loves me because they choose to love me, not one that’s barely holding up their genetic contractual obligation.

“I know y’all have my back. And that’s why I was so ready to return to New York. This is where I belong, with all of y’all.”

Alex is about to ask me another question when my phone rings.Again.“You should probably answer that. You know she’s going to keep calling you until you pick up. Or, at the very least, text her back.”

I sigh. I know Alex is right. I just don’t want Sage to feel sorry for me. Or to blame herself for what happened.

“Hi, Sage,” I say, trying not to sound tired but failing miserably.

“Naomi, are you okay? I’ve been trying to get ahold of you but you haven’t been answering. How did it go with your parents?”

Here we go.

25

Sage

Nervously, I made my way over to Naomi’s apartment. For the last couple of days of Naomi’s trip to Georgia, she wouldn’t answer my calls or respond to my texts. Last I had spoke to her, she was getting ready to head over to her parents’ house to come out to them. But now?Radio silence.That was until last night. Naomi finally picked up my call, just to tell me that she came back early, unbeknownst to me and that she wanted talk to me in person today rather than talk over the phone.

Now, I’d like to think that Naomi and I have a strong relationship. But the avoidance, the fact that she didn’t tellme she returned to New York? My rejection sensitivity has me fearing the worst. That what happened with her parents was so bad she decided to end things between us and wanted to do it face-to-face, rather than over the phone. I’m probably worrying for nothing, but that fear is still nagging in the back of my thoughts.

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