“We have to talk to you about something,” Dad says.
I laugh drily. “Yeah, I figured.”
Mom frowns. “We’re sorry, Becca. We didn’t want to do it this way. But it’s out of our control now.”
My thoughts flip over.
What the heck does that mean?
Maybe Alex has told them he doesn’t want to speak with me. Maybe Alex hates me.
Could I even blame him?
“My boss has decided to ramp things up with the East Coast office,” Dad says. “The plan was to move in roughly a month to check if I was going to lead the charge. But now, well….”
“He’s been given the promotion,” Mom says, brimming with pride. “He starts next week. Becca, we’re moving back to the States.”
A smile spreads across my face, bright and starry and all the more impactful because it’s not the hell I imagined.
“That’s great news,” I yell, leaping up and walking around the table, wrapping my arms around Dad and hugging him tightly. “I’m so proud of you.”
Dad returns the hug. “You want to come with us? I had this whole speech prepared about how we can’t make you move with us, how you’re free to do what you want – all true, by the way – but you want to come?”
“Of course I do,” I say fiercely, thinking of June, thinking of the smell of the ocean on a cold East Coast day.
And Ben. Always thinking of Ben.
I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.