29. Reese

Fall on campus is a beautiful thing.

The grounds are flush with every variety of shrub and tree. The color display is spectacular. Orange, gold, and red.

I could get used to seeing this every day. My heels click on the limestone stairs as I pick my way down to the sidewalk. It’s warm for a fall day, you can practically smell the sunshine.

I smooth my hand over my pencil skirt, relishing the way the soft breeze plays against my red, satin blouse.

Red, because that’s our school’s colors.

I should be a shoo-in for the job. An alumni of the college, of the Community Planning program, it’s a no-brainer. Add to that, one committee member on the panel was an old professor of mine.

I glance around. It’s like a full circle. This campus was my home for six years—I’d gladly devote my life to making the university a better place. Not that it needs me, it’s pretty exceptional already.

But still, I’m excited about the job. The more they talked about it, the more I wanted it. I need a challenge. This is the fresh start I was hoping for, and it has nothing to do with a man. I’m doing this all on my own. A certain charming farm boy flashes before my vision, causing my step to falter.

That’s not an ache in my chest, it’s growing pains. I’m a big girl, I can fucking handle it.

“Reese.”

I turn back, spotting an old friend hurrying across the lawn to catch up to me. Hallie. She lived on my floor freshman and sophomore year. We were in the same bible study. I listened to her tearfully work through her breakups. At the time, I was blindly in love with Jonah, so I didn’t understand all the flavors of heartache just yet.

She stops in front of me, auburn hair shining in the sun. I could have been a better friend, but I was too caught up in my own things. Regret flickers through me, but then I remember that she was one of the friends who ghosted me after Jonah and I broke up.

I still have the unanswered texts on my phone.

She reaches out and briskly runs a hand up and down my arm. “I thought that was you! I heard you were interviewing with the planning board today.”

Hallie works in the environmental department, which would be adjacent to my department. I tilt my head, wondering if I could work with her after everything. Fuck it, if I get that job, I’ll invite her out to coffee, and we can be best buds.

She pulls her hand back, noting something in my eyes. My poker face has always been pretty shit.

“Hey, I’m sorry I never texted you back. I’ve been so busy.”

“No worries, Hallie.”

I’m lying. Turns out, I’m not that magnanimous. My spiteful heart is holding a grudge.

Her gaze flicks across my face and she worries her lower lip. “I never got to talk to you after everything.”

Everything. The breakup of the decade? Jonah and I were so public that the worship team called me Mrs. Craig.

I try to keep my face neutral. “Oh. Yeah. I moved out to Clark, so I would have been hard to find.”

But she could have answered my texts.

“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you.”

I tilt my head slightly. There’s a hint of reproof in her words. “Did Jonah ever say anything about it?”

She winces. “He wasn’t gossiping or anything. But he was really wrecked after the breakup.”

“I was too.”

I could have used a good friend. Too bad none of them sided with me.

I guess a tempting Jezebel isn’t entitled to friends.

She adjusts the purse on her shoulder. “The prayer team really helped him through it, I think. I guess Kevin had to break up with his first girlfriend over the same differences.”

“Differences?”

She blushes. “About waiting until marriage and all that.”

“What?”

I close my eyes, counting to three before I look at her again. “He told the prayer team why we broke up?”

“Well, yeah. You know how it is. That’s when we open up, you know? We bring our biggest struggles before the lord.”

“And, apparently, we trash our ex-girlfriends there, too.”

She puts a hand on my arm. “I’m not judging you. We’re all sinners, Reese. None of us are perfect.”

She squeezes my arm and lets go. “I miss hanging out. Maybe we can get coffee sometime?”

“Yeah, maybe.”

Probably not. I glance back at the building. “If I get the job, I guess we’ll be seeing a lot of each other.”

She winces.

I squint at her. “What.”

The word isn’t pitched as a question, so much as a growl.

She shrugs, glancing down the sidewalk like she’d rather be anywhere else.

“Hallie, what?”

“It’s just… I think they’ve already got someone for that position, Reese. I’m so sorry.”

“Why post it if they’ve already selected their candidate?”

“It’s a formality. Part of the university policy. You have to make the position public before you can hire internally.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “God damn, it.”

She’s looking at me, conflicted. Maybe she genuinely feels bad, but I also know, she’d take that little curse personally.

Using the Lord’s name in vain and all that.

I pat her arm, sidestepping around her. “I’ll see you around, Hallie.”

But, probably not.

Damn it.

Damn it all to hell.