I almost protest, knowing that he’s an engineering major, but then I stop. I’ve already dug myself too deep, pretending not to know Cody at all. After a few minutes of silence, I decide to leave it at that, and will myself to be satisfied with Trevor’s explanation. My encounter with Cody was tense. But only because it was a surprise, and I don’t believe he’ll make things uncomfortable for me here. In fact, I may be the only person willing to acknowledge him—and that reality makes me feel…well, it just makes me feel.

I reach around Trevor and hug him tightly and instantly notice him relax. He shuts the water off and turns around to pull me in close, kissing me, and tugging my hair loose. Trevor loves my hair, and he wraps his hands deep into the gold strands while he kisses me more. He lifts me, then turns me around so I’m sitting on the counter facing him. I keep kissing him, but I’m fighting myself because I’m aware that his parents could burst in at any moment. I let myself enjoy the moment until he works his hand up my thigh and slides his thumb under the side of my underwear.

“Whoa, not quite ready for exhibition time in front of your parents, if that’s okay,” I laugh and slide from the counter, but still tight against him. He just laughs lightly and lifts my chin to kiss me softly.

“Okay, no exhibition…yet,” he smiles, but it quickly turns into a flat line, and just as quickly a frown.

“What’s wrong?” I’m thrown by his quick mood change.

He takes in a sharp breath through his nose and closes his eyes as he runs his hand down his face. “We have to talk,” he says, and I’m completely rattled. Talk? Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?

“Ooooookay?” I say, letting him know exactly how unsure I’ve become by my now-guarded body language.

He doesn’t let his hands leave me as he slides them down my arms and grabs my curling fingers. “I heard from Judge Sumner’s office. I got the call tonight, when I left to come in here. That’s what me and my parents were talking about when you came in,” he says, and immediately, I know.

Trevor is leaving. For Washington.

I knew this might happen. While he’s talking, I’m already sorting how I can work things out with my firm and my internship, transfer to someone with a base in Washington in the spring. It won’t be easy, but I can pull it off. I’m half-hearing him when I realize he says Monday. Monday?

“What? You mean, this semester?” I shove him away a little, now frustrated and finally understanding what he’s been saying.

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you,” he says, reaching for me again. I’m a little standoffish, but I let him hold my hands, even if I’m guarded about it. “They really want me, and they’re willing to move my apprenticeship ahead. Charlotte, it’s a HUGE opportunity. I can’t say no.”

I know he can’t. He has to take this. But bloody hell, I’m living in his parents’ house! What am I going to do? I can’t stop my thoughts from verbalizing, and I speak. “Where am I going to live?” I blurt out.

Trevor just smiles softly and pulls me into a hug. “My parents totally want you to stay. Besides, I’ll come home every few weeks. This way we can see each other a lot. Really, it’s not a problem. We already talked about it. My parents love you, you know?”

His parents love me? I figured they liked me well enough. And that was before the comments I overheard from Jim. I don’t know that they love me. I’m so confused about everything, but I know I’m not going to come to any solutions tonight. I’ll give it a try—I have to. I really have no choice. I comfort myself, albeit barely, knowing that I can start looking for alternatives next week if I need to. I have a little money left from my inheritance, and I can always move back to the dorms. I swallow hard, nod, and smile up at Trevor, who slides his hand around my neck so he can pull me close for another kiss before he turns back to the unfinished dishes.

“You leave Monday?” I say, the sadness of it all setting in. I feel like I’m mourning, and I hate mourning.

“I do. I know, it’s fast,” he says, not turning around. “But I’ll be back two weeks after that, and then a few weeks later. I promise, it’ll all work out.”

“Okay,” I say, closing my eyes and willing the nerves to rest.

“That’s my girl,” he smiles over his shoulder. “You get to meet them all at dinner Sunday. The Sumners? Less pressure, no interviewing,” Trevor winks and gets back to work. I leave him there and head to our room, which suddenly feels an entire world away.