Mosaic by Leigh Talbert Moore Read Free Book Online Page B

we’d be apart? I don’t want any changes at that price.”
    He exhaled into the phone and I could hear him walking. “We’re apart now.”
    “But you can actually come and see me.” I felt desperate and angry, which didn’t make any sense. I knew what he was saying was right. “After last weekend, are you actually saying you want to give that up?”
    “I’ve got to go. I’m in a workshop.” He was walking again, and his voice was still determined. “But this isn’t something you can blow off. And I won’t let you turn down an opportunity like this for me. You’ll blame me for it later.”
    That pierced my forehead. “I would never blame you for anything I chose to do.”
    “I’m just saying—”
    “I can’t stand this separation as it is. It’s physically painful to me, but maybe you don’t feel that way?”
    “You know that’s not true. I miss you so bad…”
    “Then how can you even suggest I apply for this?”
    His voice grew quieter, and I could tell he was trying to whisper. “I’ve got to get back inside, but I’ll call you as soon as I’m out, okay?”
    With a sigh, I let him go. Then I sat on the concrete bench and looked up and around the quad. The live oak trees with their black trunks and heavy branches hung low in the dense heat. My limbs felt equally heavy and weighted down as all the emotions of the past twenty-four hours pressed in on me.
    I knew what Julian was going to say, and deep down in a part of me I didn’t want to recognize, I knew he was right. Dr. Arati was giving me an amazing opportunity, and I couldn’t just dismiss it without serious consideration.
    Everything was changing, just like I said it would. Julian kept insisting we could get through anything, but as the waves kept growing higher, I couldn’t help my growing fears for our untested little lifeboat.

Anna’s Private Blog: Fat Harry’s Fiasco
     
     
    Thursday night again, back at Fat Harry’s with Rachel, fake IDs in hand. Only this time, there were no unpleasant Jack sightings. I hadn’t even seen him since last Friday when he’d shown up outside my ethics class.
    Rachel was pouring her second beer from the pitcher and ranting about a prelaw class she was taking and a judge who’d been caught applying corporal punishment to prisoners, among other things.
    “One year later he was running for senator!” she cried. “How’s that for going into the legal system.”
    “Are you arguing for it or against it?” I laughed, taking a sip of my beer. My nose wrinkled, and I wished I’d ordered a Malibu and pineapple instead.
    “Neither!” Rachel always got louder when she started getting buzzed. “I’m just saying if you have connections and know how to use the law, you can get away with anything. Look at Richard Nixon! OJ Simpson! Michael Jackson!”
    “Are you planning on doing criminal defense or prosecution?”
    She shook her head and took a big gulp. I watched as she finished and then cried. “Neither. I’m going into corporate litigation.”
    “That’s probably for the best, considering Brad’s decided to relaunch his dad’s corporation.”
    She exhaled a deep breath and leaned back. “Can you believe that? That was the first I’d heard of any of it.”
    My eyebrows flew up. “You and me both! Have they been discussing it when our backs are turned? Brad seemed to have it all worked out!”
    “I don’t think so. Julian seemed pretty surprised by the whole thing. But who ever knows what those two talk about.”
    We were laughing when the song changed, and an up-tempo dance song filled the room. It was getting increasingly crowded with frat boys in their button-down oxfords and khaki pants, and that was usually the time we called it a night and caught the streetcar back. Tonight was different, though. Rachel and I both were happy and excited and a little tipsy. Our eyes met and widened, and we both laughed before jumping up and heading to the dance floor.
    “Come on, Anna!” She