“That’s true, but I was going to law school, Dad. I had plans. What now?” I asked as he looked at my mom and took a sip of water.
“Run the company for a year. Make it work and then I will send you on to law school. I just want you to try this for a while.” His eyes bored into mine and I frowned. “The sale will be final in a month. You can start after graduation, staying here if you’d like. We can also get you an apartment of some sort if you’d prefer that.”
“An apartment? A job?” I asked as I looked between them. “What’s the catch?”
“There isn’t one apart from working for me for the year. I want you to see your potential running a firm before you commit to that much more schooling. Your degree supports your talent.” Dad told me as I shook my head. “Don’t say no.”
“I’m not. I’m just surprised. This is a shock,” I assured him as I took a long sip of my drink. I thought about it as I pinched the bridge of my nose. It would give me a job after school and even a place of my own. I could handle waiting for law school and this gave me some stability. I thought about Rosie, but it was clear that she wanted nothing to do with me. She would never be a part of it even if she did. “I’d like to try this. I want a condo to live in. A college graduate shouldn’t be living at home.” I kept my tone light and Mom squealed as she ran around to hug me.
Dad smiled at me and we shook on it. It wasn’t warmth coming from him, but it was something. I stood to heat the plate up again to eat and Dad disappeared into his office as Mom sat beside me. I went up to my room after I was finished given that it was late, sending Luke a text with the news. He wasn’t my first choice but the only one. Rosie didn’t care.
Luke offered to come down and celebrate with me and I accepted. He lived here as well and was going to work at his father’s architecture service. I dropped the phone when I was done messaging him and closed my eyes. I knew what was missing in this package but to mention Rosie would end it all.
I stayed through Sunday, hitting some of the local bars with Luke and a few guys on Saturday. It was fun and felt good to have something solid to depend on. I could make plans for a new place without the worry of searching for it. Mom was already looking for me and Dad admitted that he wanted me to have something nice.
I drove back to school Sunday afternoon. I was thinking about everything as I parked and glanced over to see Rosie standing on the steps of her building with a guy. He was tall, leading me to believe that he could be the athlete I heard about and I stared at them for a moment. It was bright enough to see her face, and she still looked tired. The guy leaned close, seeming to say something to her as she smiled falteringly. He kissed her on the cheek and stared at her before walking away as she frowned.
Rosie walked back into her building and I got out of my car. I grabbed my bag and walked over to my own room, trying not to care about what was bothering her. I had my own life to plan and wanted to focus on that. My father preferred to keep the location of the building he was buying secret until the sale was final and I agreed. Despite our differences, Dad was a good business man and wouldn’t screw me over. He wouldn’t let his family lose money. This was his way of trying and I had to appreciate it.
I looked at the condos that Mom sent me through email, considering the pros and cons. I told myself that I’d have someone to live there with me when the time was right. Holland had ended things since she found another fling, so I was on my own right now. I didn’t mind, but I missed Rosie. I missed her more than I could admit to anyone.
I buckled down with school in the last month. There were parties and nights out, but I didn’t feel it. I didn’t want to hook up with a girl for a night or two or even have a fling like I did with Holland. I wanted the feeling that Rosie gave me back. I wanted her to be mine and live with me in the condo that my parents put an offer on. I wanted her to start her new life with me. That would pull the deal off the table and it was already accepted. I told myself that it wasn’t like she was around to ask. I didn’t have her in the decision to begin with.