Page 4 of Teaching Roman

I wasn’t, but I didn’t want to admit that right now. The last thing I needed to do was rub Brett's proposal in Cassie's face. Besides, it wasn’t like we were usually attached at the hip. “He’s seeing his family. That’s a healthy thing for him.”

“And he’s not taking you?” Cassie asked. “Trevor never introduced me to his family. I should have known that something was”—

“I don’t want to go to Indiana with him,” I cut her off. “This semester was difficult, and I’m not caught up on any of my shows.”

“Your shows?” Jillian repeated, not bothering to hide her laughter. “Are you a sixty-year-old woman? Gonna do some Sudoku and start adopting cats?”

I swatted her with my free hand. “Don’t be a bitch.”

“Don’t be a sixty-year-old woman!” Jillian laughed again and bounded back into her room to finish packing.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I took it out in time to see a text message from Brett flash across the screen.

BRETT: Change of plans. I’m staying with you over break. I can’t go home until we’ve talked.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket and tried to look normal. Brett not going home was a bad thing. If he stuck around, he’d keep bringing up marriage until he wore me down. I wasn’t going to say yes just to get him to shut up. But I knew what would happen if I told him I didn’t want him to stay.

My relationship was doomed. That was becoming clearer with each minute that passed. It wasn’t fair to let him think there was a chance. But breaking up with him right before Christmas? That was a bitch move. Suddenly, it felt like all the air in the apartment had evaporated and I couldn’t breathe. Even staying in Washington felt impossible.

“Are you okay?” Cassie asked, eying me with suspicion.

“I’m fine,” I said, trying to sound like I was telling the truth. The fact was that I was far from okay. “I just decided to go to Mexico with you.”