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This was news to me. If that was true, that
meant Jason would be over Hunter’s dad’s accounting firm when it
came to Bradley Oil. Co. My dad nodded his head in approval, but
gave nothing away in his expression.

“So your plan is stay in San Diego?” My dad
asked, digging for more specifics.

“Yes sir. We’ll be going to Texas for my
folks’ annual charity gala this weekend, but it’s right back to San
Diego after that.

“You’re going to Texas? You never told us
that.” My mom shrieked, in an almost accusatory tone.

“I know, I wasn’t for sure, so I didn’t say
anything. It’s just for the weekend though.”

Trying to talk my mom out of her hysterics
was also a task. Luckily she didn’t put up much of a fight on this
one.

“Well that’s good, I know Cara loves San
Diego so it’s good for you kids to have a nice fresh beginning
here,” my mom chimed in, desperately trying to calm herself and
wash away the stale mood my dad had cast over the table.

“Enough about Jason, my life is the most
exciting,” Mila joked, and was actually successful at getting a few
laughs from the group. “I am going to be working at my dad’s
doctor’s office, as an office maid, while going for my Nurse
Practitioner certification.” Ryan threw her an inquisitive glance.
“It’ll only be part-time since school is so demanding. But yeah, I
want to be a NP.”

“Where are you going for that?” My dad asked,
always so eager to interrogate.

“I’ll be at UCSD.” She shrugged her shoulders
as if it were no big deal, when in all actuality, it was a major
deal.

“Cars, you’re awfully quiet. I don’t like the
silence, what are your plans?” My dad asked --his tone rough and
demanding.

“I have an interview this week with San Diego
Sports Managing for a possible Sports Marketing Manager
position.”

“And she’ll get it too,” Jason threw in,
feelings as confident as I wish I could have.

“That’s awesome Pinks, why haven’t you said
anything? What the hell?” Mila slumped in her chair after receiving
the stern look from my dad about her language.

“I just didn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up,
that’s all.” My mom beamed her I’m-so-proud-of-you smile and I
tried my hardest to reciprocate. The truth was, I was terrified,
but I was excited at the same time.

“Cars, no one makes it big in this life by
playing scared. Go big or go home baby girl.” My dad was a man of
few words, but when he spoke, wisdom usually came pouring from his
mouth. The words invaded my ears, and while I knew he was right, I
had to work myself up into the excitement phase of it all. I knew I
was more than capable of doing the job and doing it well, I just
had to make someone else believe in the same things, and that part
I was not so sure about.

We finished up and I said my long goodbyes to
my parents. I knew I’d see them at the end of the week, but I
missed them, neurotic and all.

<>

Driving back to my apartment, I lay me head
back on the headrest and put my foot up on the dash board. The hum
of the Shelby slowly massaged me to sleep. I awoke to the roar of
the car pulling into the parking lot, and ran my hands through my
windblown hair. I had nothing to do today but study. I had finals
all week, an interview in a couple of days, and graduation at the
end of the week. The daunting task of making it through this week
had me already craving a bottle of Aspirin, but I just kept telling
myself that I was up for the challenge.

I trudged up to the front door, and lazily
pulled myself in to my bedroom. The apartment was empty, which was
nice, and I threw myself onto my bed, face up, and waited for Jason
to join me. He came into the room and threw himself, face down, on
the bed next to me. I looked over at his glorious brown hair, and
rubbed my fingers through it, causing him to stir, and look up at
me.

“So you’re really going to stay in San
Diego?” I asked him, trying to hide the shock in my voice. He gave
me an incredulous look, and simply shook his head. “Why are you
shaking your head?” I asked, genuinely interested.

“I can’t seem to get through to you how far
in I am. I’m not goin’ anywhere. Besides, what the hell is there
for me back in Texas anyway?” I’m sure this was a rhetorical
question, so I avoided answering. I knew Jason had professed his
love for me, in more ways than one, but the thought of me making
someone so complete and happy, didn’t equate with me at the moment,
and I found it hard not to second guess myself.

“I just didn’t know if you were ready to make
these big life decisions.”

“No time like the present. We graduate in
five days, I guess I had to,” he grinned, “besides, I told you I
love you. Outside of you, I have only said those words to my mom,
and one other person. I meant every word of it.” My mind
immediately jumped to the other person who he’d said those sweet
words to, but rather than pick a fight, I kept the question
suppressed inside of me, and focused on the more positive aspects
of our lives right now. “I do have a question for you.” My eyes
shot open, not sure of what direction this was going in.

“What’s that?” My voice was a feeble tremble,
afraid to hear the words ready to leave his mouth.

“I’d like to know if you want to move to La
Jolla.” His eyes glistened, and a look of relief washed over his
face, almost as if he had been holding the question for a
while.

“Move to La Jolla? I can’t afford to move
there.” I blurted out, and watched amusement, obviously at my
expense; replace the relief on Jason’s face.

“No babe, move to La Jolla with me.” He began
caressing my arm, and I felt the heat radiate through my body at
his touch. I would have loved nothing more than to move in with
this beautiful guy, but I knew, in my moment of sanity, that it
wasn’t the best choice right now.

“Jason! We can’t do that. I am already tied
to a lease on a condo with Chelsea…”

“And, I’ll buy you out of it.”

“It’s not that simple.” I began stuttering
for words. His lovelorn stare caused me to lose my train of
thought, and I had to clear my throat before being able to speak
again. “My dad would kill me, well, you. We haven’t been together
all that long, and a good chunk of it we’ve spent fighting or not
speaking to each other.”

“That’s only because what we have is deep.
Its pain and pleasure mixed into one.” He stood, running his hands
through his hair, “I don’t like the two place thing. I hate you
having to pack a bag. I want you to come home, and have your shit
in the closet, in our room. I want you to lie down at night, next
to me, in our bed. That house is empty when you’re not there.”

“You’ve been in it so long without me…”

“Yeah, you’re right, I have. But now that I
know what it feels like with laughter and sass, moans and groans,”
he smiled saying this, “I want to keep it that way. Even when
you’re pissed off at me, and stomping around with your hands over
your chest; it’s a thousand times better than me being there
listening to myself think.” I could tell he had put a lot of
thought into this, but Chelsea kept popping in my mind, and I would
feel absolutely horrible if I bailed on her without even discussing
it with her first.

“What about Chelsea?”

‘What about her?”

“I can’t just dump her like that.”

“She’s a big girl. She’s got Hunter, I want
you.” The sincerity in his voice was too much to take, and I felt
myself caving.

“I need some time. I’m not saying no, but I’m
not saying yes either.”

“It’s not a no, so that’s all I care about.
How about after graduation?”

“After Texas,” I replied, trying to give
myself as much time as possible.

“Deal.” He walked over and kissed me hard.
“You can even redecorate our house the way you want it.” The smile
on his face was so large; I could see every tooth in his mouth. He
could be so convincing, and yet, I still second guessed myself. I
knew what my heart wanted, but my heart and my mind were
conflicted, and I honestly wasn’t sure which was going to win
out.

After napping for a couple of hours or so,
Jason got a couple of phone calls from his dad, demanding that he
get some work done for clients before their meetings later in the
week. He reluctantly peeled himself from my bed, and trudged to the
front door. He stopped and kissed me possessively, and reminded me,
“Think about it.”

I nodded and he walked out the door.

Going back into my room, I decided to study
for Professor Velez’s final exam. All of my other classes would
have fairly easy exams, but Management 457 was a tough class, with
a tough professor. About an hour into my study session, Chelsea
came bursting into the apartment, and yelled my name, while
bounding into my room. I curled my lip at her and her interruption,
but sat my notecards aside to entertain the intrusion.

“So, what’s got you so giddy?” I asked,
annoyance littered in my tone as well as on my face.

“Jason.”

“Hmmm, funny you should mention him, because
I have something to tell you.”

She gave me a look that demanded
information.

“He asked me to move in with him after
graduation.”

Chelsea’s mouth dropped, and after a few
seconds, she regained her composure. The silence in the room was
suffocating, and before she could fix her lips to say anything, I
gestured for her to say something.

“What the hell Cara? You don’t even know him
really. You’ve had the most chaotic relationship known to man.”

“I know. I didn’t say yes…”

“And you’re not going to.”

A knock on the door sent Chelsea bounding to
answer it, and when she returned, Chase was standing in the door
way behind her. “Remember that little detective work that we all
set out on? I nodded my head, “well, our buddy Chase here, finally
found some shit, that your pretty little ears need to hear.”

I swallowed the thick lump that had lodged
itself in my throat. A few days ago, I would have loved for nothing
more than to find something, but today, I found myself wishing I
could close the can of worms that I’d opened. Chase pulled out a
series of papers from his back pocket and handed them to me. As I
look them over, he began to speak.

“So Jason and Stacey -- not just some friends
from back home. Not just some fuck buddies out here in San Diego,
they were destined to be the next big thing in their families. They
were hot and heavy, on and off in high school, after high school,
and then it seems there was an engagement of some sort.” I stared
at the papers, but said nothing. “She is so close because she was
so close.”

I tossed the papers on my bed, “I already
knew about this,” I said, much to their shock.

“What?” Chelsea asked, holding her ear like
she hadn’t heard me.

“Yeah, I found that out a while ago.”

“And you never said anything?” Chelsea asked,
stepping forward.

“Well I didn’t want to stir up anymore bad
blood.”

“And you are aware that she is going to Texas
this weekend like you right?”

The words cut through me like a machete and I
looked to Chelsea for answers. She took out her cell phone and
handed it to me. I stared at the screen and saw for myself that
Stacey had written Jason a message:

No invite for Bradley parties in SD? That’s okay,
I’ll be at the biggest party of all in Heath!

My nostrils flared, and the room all of a
sudden felt 100 degrees warmer than it had a few seconds before. I
noticed Jason hadn’t responded, leaving me to believe that he
hadn’t even seen it, but Jacob had.

Can’t wait to have us all together. What a party it
will be.

Jacob had to know about the depth of Jason
and Stacey, and he also knew that I was coming to Heath, so I
failed to see how this was shaping up to be an acceptable
arrangement for anyone involved.

“How did you see this? You’re not friends
with Jason.” I asked, unintentionally snapping at Chelsea.

She politely took the phone from my hands. “I
was actually on my computer at home, and saw Mila had commented on
a post on Jason’s wall… so I clicked on it, and there it was.”

“I didn’t see Mila’s comment.”

“It’s right here. You glossed over it, all
she said was hmmmm.”

I collected myself and sat down on the edge
of the bed. Chase stared at me with worrisome puppy dog eyes, and
Chelsea looked like she was watching a ticking time bomb.

“So, now what do you do with this newfound
information?” She asked, and I looked at her, surprisingly calm,
and shocked her with my answer.

“Nothing.”

“WHAT?” She yelled, “Don’t be a damn fool
Cara. I don’t trust this Stacey chick at all, and you shouldn’t
either.

“Chelsea, you have no idea the level of
commitment that we’ve tackled in the last few days. It sucks not
hearing this from Jason, but there is probably a reasonable
explanation for it. Their families are close, so him saying
anything about her going probably didn’t seem like big news to
him.”

Chelsea looked dumbfounded.

“The point is we’ve reached a level where we
are both just so incredibly happy. We’ve spent too much time
fighting over asinine shit and I don’t want to fight anymore, not
over things that just don’t matter.”

“Hello. Earth to Cara.” Chelsea yelled, “This
isn’t just anything. This is a big chunk of his life, that’s crept
her way into your life. Wake up and smell the rotten ass apples,
and get your head out of the sand.”

“You know this girl has it out for you?”
Chase asked.

“Yes I know, but I’m going to face her head
on.”

Chase scratched his head, but didn’t say
anything.

“Well, I didn’t think it would happen, but
you’ve gotten your fill of Jason and you aren’t letting go. Luckily
for you, I’m going to Heath too.”