Page 129 of Faking it For Summer

“But I’m your best friend.”

“You are my best friend, but I need more than just you, Luke.”

“My love is not good enough?”

“I could ask you the same thing. My love’s not good enough for you to just stop putting that job first? You can’t find another job somewhere else?”

And then, suddenly, it clicks.

This is about my job.

I question her, “This is about my job?”

“Of course it’s about your job. I’ve been telling you it’s about your job.”

I didn’t get it. I guess I heard the words, but I wasn’t processing them.

“You think that the job is more important than you? Really, Mia, how could you think that?”

“You haven’t been back home in five years. You haven’t invited me to New York. You didn’t even come early when you were supposed to because of the job. You’ve disappeared different times on this trip because of the job. I feel like whenever we’re getting closer, you have to go because of your job, and I just don’t want to be second fiddle to your job.”

I finally understand what she is feeling, what she has been experiencing, and I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated because I’ve worked my entire life to get to this place, and I’m so close to getting to the next level. I’m so close to achieving all my dreams and finally showing everyone in my family—especially Rex—that I am the better brother.

And then it hits me: I’ve been living and striving for something for such a stupid, obstinate reason, and I am about to lose the love of my life for it.

“Fuck, Mia?—”

“No, I’m not going to fuck you again right now, Luke. That’s not what I’m saying.”

“I know.”

She gives me a small smile. “You don’t have to say anything, Luke. It’s okay. We just kind of want two different things from relationships.”

“We don’t?—”

My phone starts ringing, and I want to ignore it.

“You should answer that.”

“I can get it later.”

“It could be your job. It could be something important.”

“Mia, we’re literally in the middle of a conversation where you said you want me to put you first. I’m not going to answer the phone.”

“Please, answer it.”

I take a deep breath and grab the phone. I’m surprised when I see it’s my grandmother’s name on the screen.

“Hey, Grandma. Is everything okay?”

“No,” she says. “It’s not.”

“Wait, what’s wrong?”

“Everything is going to shit. I knew this was going to happen. I just knew it, and we need you. I need you to come right now.”

“What’s going on?”