JENNIE

The next day, the weather is nice, with no snow and minimal slush on the sides of the road. When I get to Vance, Kimberly is sitting at her desk, and she smiles at me as I grab my usual donut and coffee.

"I didn't even know you came last night. I fell asleep," I tell her.

"I know, Smith was sleeping, too. Thank you again," she says, and her phone rings.

My office feels strange after being on campus yesterday. Sometimes it seems as though I live a double life: one half a college student, one half full adult. I have an apartment with my girlfriend and a paid internship that honestly feels like a job, not an internship. I love both halves, and if I had to choose, I would choose the adult life, but with Lisa.

I dive into my work, and lunchtime comes quickly. After several duds, I hit upon a manuscript that is really captivating, and I find myself eating quickly so I can get back and finish it. I hope they find a cure for the main character's illness; I'll be heartbroken if he passes. The rest of the day goes quickly as I am completely withdrawn from the world and fully enveloped in the manuscript, which ends terribly sadly.

With tears staining my cheeks, I leave for the day and head home. I haven't heard from Lisa once since I left her asleep and grumpy in bed, and I can't stop thinking about her words from last night. I need a distraction from ruminations; sometimes I wish I could just shut my mind off the way other people seem to be able to do. I don't like that I overthink everything, but I can't help it. It's who I am, and now all I can think of is Lisa and me not having a future. Still, I really need to do something to get my mind off obsessing over this. She is who she is, and she doesn't want to ever get married or have children.

Maybe I should call Wendy after I go to Conner's to get groceries and do a load of laundry since Lisa and Jisoo will be going to the hockey game tonight . . . God, I hope that goes well.

When I arrive at the apartment, I find Lisa reading in the bedroom. "Hey, sexy. How was your day?" she asks as I walk in.

"It was okay, I guess."

"What's wrong?" Lisa looks up at me.

"The manuscript I read today was so sad,incredible but so heartbreaking," I say, trying not to get emotional again.

"Oh, it must have been good if you're still upset about it." She smiles. "I would hate to have been there the first time you read A Farewell to Arms."

I plop down next to her on the bed. "This was worse, so much worse." She grabs hold of my shirt, pulling me to lay my head on her shoulder.

"My sensitive girl." As she runs her fingers up and down my spine, the way she spoke the words she just uttered makes my stomach flutter. To be called "my girl" in any form makes me much happier than it should.

"Did you even go to classes today?" I ask her. "Nope. Watching the mini-human wore me out." "By 'watching,' you mean watching TV with him?" "Same thing. I did more than you did."

"So you like him, then?" I'm not sure why I'm asking this.

"No . . . well, as far as annoying children go, he isn't at the top of the list, but I won't be planning any playdates soon." She smiles.

I roll my eyes but don't say anything else about Smith. "Are you ready for the game tonight?"

"No, I already told her I'm not going." "Lisa! You have to go," I shriek.

"I'm teasing . . . she'll be here soon. You owe me for this shit, Jen." Lisa groans.

"You like hockey, though, and Jisoo is good company." "Not as good of company as you." She kisses my cheek.

"You're in a good mood for someone who acts like they're being led to slaughter."

"If this goes badly, I won't be the one who is slaughtered."

"You better be nice to Jisoo tonight," I warn her.

She raises her hands in mock innocence, but I know better. A knock is heard at the door, but Lisa stays put. "She's your friend, you answer the door," she says.

I give her a look but go answer the door.

Jisoo is dressed in a hockey jersey, blue jeans, and tennis shoes. "Hey, Jennie!" she says with her usual friendly smile and a hug for a greeting.

"Can we get this over with?" Lisa says before I can even say hello. "Well, I can see this will be a fun night." Jisoo jokes and runs a hand over her hair.

"It'll be the best night of your entire life," Lisa teases her. "Good luck," I tell Jisoo, who just chuckles.

"Oh, Jen, she's just showing off, trying to act like she isn't excited to spend time with me." Jisoo smiles, and it's Lisa's turn to roll her eyes. "Well, this is too much testosterone for me, so I'm going to change and run some errands. You two have fun," I say, leaving them to their little

games.