Jack and I are going strong. I can’t believe how much I love him. Even when he drives me crazy, which of course he does, I love him. We will get to see each other more often now that I’m on summer break. Even working full-time, it’s better than spending late nights in the library.
We have similar hours as he’s training at the fire academy, and he’s pretty wiped out at the end of the day. But I’m proud of him for chasing his own dreams. Of course, I’ll worry once he actually has to run in a burning building, because who wouldn’t, right? But we support one another, and I’d never try to stop him from doing what he loves.
I know I’m where I’m supposed to be, and I couldn’t be happier. I need to get to work.
Ciao for now,
J.E.
“You two ready to kick ass today?” Richard asked, dropping to sit in the seat in front of us as the bus continued to bobble on the dirt road.
Jonah was asleep beside him with his head resting against the window. He also attended Northwestern with us, and he’d signed on for the summer brigade as well.
“Yeah, I’m excited to break into our small groups today,” I said.
“Me too.” Jessica leaned forward.
“I spoke to the coordinator, Jade, and we can go this weekend and submit our med-school applications. It’s going to be a drive into Tegucigalpa, hopefully there will be Wi-Fi there. So, make sure you have everything completed and ready to upload,” Richard said, running a hand through his dark hair. His brown gaze studied me. His white teeth were perfectly straight when he displayed his megawatt smile. He rocked that all-American boy look rather well, and the boy oozed charm.
“Okay, great. Thank you for setting that up. My applications are all ready to submit, so I can go any time.”
“How many schools are you applying to?” he asked.
“Six.”
“Six? That’s not very many. I’m applying to twenty-eight. You’re also young since you’re graduating early, so you may want to up that number to increase your chances.” He smiled, and I straightened in my seat.
“Yeah, I’m pretty set on where I’d like to go, and I’m not that young,” I said. It came out sounding more defensive than I’d meant it to. The truth was, applying to medical school was expensive. I couldn’t ask Dad for more money, because he’d funded my trip to Honduras as it was. Six applications would already be a small fortune, and I’d just have to hope for the best and pray that someone would accept me.
Richard held his hands up in defense. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to come off like a dick.”
“No, you didn’t. Twenty-eight seems like a lot of schools to apply to,” I said.
“It’s pretty average actually. But you’re a rock star, Jade, and I’m sure you could apply to one and you’d get in.” Richard stared at me with an intensity that made me a little nervous.
Was he flirting with me?
Was I just out of practice with knowing how to read the opposite sex? Seeing as the last thing I was interested in was meeting anyone, I wasn’t paying much attention.
“Far from a rock star but thank you.”
“Don’t you date some famous dude in a band?” he asked, and Jessica choked on her water beside me.
“No. We aren’t together anymore.”
But thanks for asking—this guy was batting a thousand. Throwing all sorts of salt in my wounds today.
“Ah, good to know,” he said with a grin and pushed to his feet to return to the front of the bus.
“Well, that wasn’t very subtle. I think he likes you.” Jessica chuckled beside me. “He’s super cute too.”
“Not interested. Feel free to flirt away with him. He’s all yours,” I said, leaning back and reaching for my phone when it vibrated in my bag. We went in and out of service as we drove to our destination.
Cruz ~ Just wanted you to know that I sat through a miserable three-hour session with Dr. Roberts, a.k.a. Dr. Evil. She really is a bit sadistic where I’m concerned. She seems to enjoy torturing me. Anyway, she thinks I should respect your wishes to give you space.
I smiled and rolled my eyes at the same time. Why did I have to love him so much?
Me ~ How is this you giving me space?
Cruz ~ You don’t see my ass in Honduras, do you?
Me ~ I think we should set some boundaries. We can text once a week for now.
Cruz ~ For now? Until what??
Me ~ Until you meet someone, or we both just move on.
Cruz ~ I’m not going to meet someone, Jade. What are you on a dating quest in Honduras? I don’t want to move on. Are you sure that’s what you want?
My chest squeezed. This is what I didn’t want. He had a way of pulling me back in.
Me ~ Honestly? Yes. I desperately want to move on. But I didn’t come here to date. I don’t have to be dating someone to move on with my life.
Cruz ~ I’m going to change, Jade. No more booze and no more drugs. I’ll prove it to you.
My eyes welled, and it angered me that I wanted to believe him. But I couldn’t invest in this relationship anymore. It had all but sucked the life from me.
Me ~ I hope you do. But do it for you, not for me.
Cruz ~ I’ll do it for us.
Me ~ I have to go.
Cruz ~ I’ll text you in a week. I love you.
I sucked in a breath. He was making it tough to pull away.
Me ~ I love you. Goodbye, Cruz.
I turned my phone off and dropped it in my backpack. I swiped at the single tear running down my cheek before Jessica noticed. My chest ached. Everything hurt. It was like ripping off the bandage every time I talked to him. I missed him.
I loved him.
Focus, Jade.
You can do this.
Getting over Cruz Winslow was not going to be easy. But I’d traveled over eighteen hundred miles away to make it happen.
And I was no quitter.
Chapter Two
Cruz
“Good. You waited the week to reach out to her again. That’s a sign of maturity. You’re putting her needs before your own,” she said.
I stood at the window in Dr. Roberts’ office, a.k.a. Dr. Evil, contemplating her words. I dropped down on the brown leather couch facing her. “Yeah. And it fucking sucks. She’s pulling away from me and I don’t know how to stop it.”
“It’s not up to you to stop it. Jade needs to make her own decisions. And right now, she’s asking you to respect her wishes. She went to Honduras to take part in something bigger than herself. Bigger than the two of you. Let her go and spread her wings, Cruz.”