“I miss Trinity Falls.” Quincy’s voice was flat.
“You’re kidding.” Benita gave him a wide-eyed stare. “You now live in the fifth-largest city in the country and you’re telling me you miss little Trinity Falls? Why?”
“I have friends here.”
“You’ll make friends in Philadelphia.” Although after three years in L.A., she still didn’t have friendships that were nearly as close as the ones she’d left behind. In Trinity Falls, you could pick up friendships where you’d left off. In L.A., she had trouble even forming them.
“Philadelphia isn’t Trinity Falls.”
Benita frowned. Quincy had lost her. “Isn’t that the point? Isn’t that the reason you left Trinity Falls and accepted the faculty position at the University of Pennsylvania?”
“Not exactly.” Quincy shrugged an impatient shoulder. “I thought a faculty position at Penn would offer more research opportunities.”
“I’m sure it does.” Benita felt an obligation to defend Ramona’s desire for something more than what this small town had to offer—although it seemed that Ramona was hesitant about staying in Philadelphia. “It also has cultural attractions and opportunities you’d never find in Trinity Falls.”
“We have our own cultural attractions.” Quincy adopted a stubborn tone. “We have beautiful parks here.”
“Philadelphia has parks, too. And four major league sports franchises.”
Quincy snorted. “I’m a fan of the Cleveland teams. For that matter, I’d rather attend a Heritage High or TFU game. At least I care about those teams.”
“I don’t understand you, Quincy.” Benita shook her head. “You finally make it out of Trinity Falls, get a job at a prestigious university, and you’re complaining that you want to come back?”
“Ean did it.” Quincy gave her a smug look. “He gave up his partnership at a well-renowned law firm in New York and returned to Trinity Falls.”
“I never understood that, either.”
“Trinity Falls is home, Benita.”
“That doesn’t mean you have to live here.” She waved a hand to encompass the bookstore. “If you get homesick, you can return for a visit.”
Quincy searched Benita’s features. She wondered what her high school friend was looking for. “How happy are you in Los Angeles?”
Benita relaxed into a smile. “Palm trees, beaches, perfect weather. What’s not to love about L.A.?”
“I can think of a few things.” Quincy sipped his soda. “Earthquakes, smog, water shortages.”
Benita gave him a pitying look. “Hollywood, Universal Studios, Disneyland.”
Quincy counted off on his fingers. “High cost of living, high crime, congested freeways.”
Benita scowled. “I have a great apartment—”
“Here you could afford a house.”
Benita continued, ignoring Quincy’s interruption. “And a successful career—”
“Which you could obviously manage from anywhere.”
Benita bit back a sigh of irritation. “I’m not the one who wants to return to Trinity Falls.”
“Maybe you should.” He shrugged w
ide shoulders. “You have family, friends, and a boyfriend here. They’re more valuable than professional sports franchises or cultural attractions.”
Quincy’s words had the tug of truth. Benita fought it.
“Trinity Falls bores me.” Although it hadn’t bored her during this visit. Between planning Doreen and Alonzo’s wedding, helping Vaughn produce his play, and coordinating the university dinner for her great-aunt, her schedule had been frantic—and interesting and fun. The realization shocked her.