Page 38 of Bachelor

Chapter Thirteen

Whitney

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IHAULED MY SUITCASE—STUFFEDso full it I had to secure the zipper in place with a zip tie—into the trunk of Bill’s car. I tucked my hair behind my ears and stretched my arms out wide, flexing my fingers.

“Maybe we should start hitting the gym with Tyler,” Jessica panted as she leaned all of her weight onto the trunk, trying to get it to close.

I nodded, slightly out of breath, and leaned in to help her, the little car rocking and shimmying in the process until we finally heard the latch snap. “I think you’re right,” I laughed, wiping sweat from my brow and sliding into the passenger seat. Jessica took the wheel, huffing with relief as she rubbed her chilled fingers together and punched a button on the radio, the car filling with music. I continued, “Or maybe one of us should get a car with a little more trunk space.”

“Well, that’s exactly what we should be doing,” she snorted as she pulled out of the parking spot directly behind our apartment building. “I guess we’ve been lucky so far. Everything here is within walking distance to our apartments. Who needs a car when you have two legs?”

It was my turn to laugh, but there was an underlying tension in the air as we drove out of Gatlington and onto the highway.

In an hour, we’d be pulling into Hunter Mountain Ski Resort and the lodge the university had rented for us to use for the next three days and three nights. It was a Thursday, and we wouldn’t make it there in time to ski today, but tomorrow I planned on letting go of all my stress and just enjoying myself for a little while.

I had a lot to think about in the coming weeks that would force me to put my feelings about Rhys on the backburner.

As if reading my mind, Jessica asked, “So have you given any thought to what next year is going to look like?”

I ran my tongue along the inside of my lower lip and shrugged. “Graduate school.”

“Well, yeah.” She smirked. “Nobody finishes a master’s degree in a year instead of two just to say they’re done. Do you think you’re going to stay at Gatlington for your doctorate?”

I rested my head against the window. “That’s a good question. I probably should, right?”

“Why? Don’t the Ivies have better fine art doctorate programs?”

“I think it’d be a long shot getting into an Ivy League school, even for me,” I breathed, closing my eyes against the blurry, snow-covered landscape for a moment. “Plus, the cost of that... I’m doing fine for now, but yeah, I need a car eventually. I need a real apartment, not a studio in a dorm building.” I slouched in my seat, my head aching at the thoughts now flooding my mind. “I need a job, first and foremost.” I needed to mend things with my family. I needed to tell Rhys how I really felt...

“So... become a research assistant? Or get a job at a gallery, you’d love that!”

“Easier said than done, Jess. I’ve never worked a day in my life.”

“Oh, shut up, you’ve nothing but work your entire life, Whitney. Maybe not for actual money.” She tilted her head, silently considering my options. “Well, I have another year here at Gatlington at least because I get my masters. I don’t even know if I want a PhD at this point. I’m kind of over having homework.”

“I’ll miss homework,” I whispered, and I meant it.

Jessica barked a laugh. “Ten years from now, you’ll still be in school. I guarantee it.”

“You’re probably right. It’s the only life I know at this point.”

“Well, maybe a weekend away is just what you needed. You won’t even think about the future. It’s going to be all hot toddies and mulled wine and hot guys intightski pants.”

I grinned to myself as she pressed on the gas, and we sped forward into rolling hills toward the mountains.

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