Page 127 of Keeping Score

“You don’t think it’s a good idea?” I asked him, because at the end of the day, I really did value his opinion—more than almost anyone’s.

Or maybe I was just looking for someone to tell me to stay.

“Look,” Liam sighed, “you need to do what’s best for you. If you think that looks like going back to Michigan and trying out something new there, then you should do it.”

“But—?” I asked, knowing it was coming.

He stared at me, seemingly at war with himself over words unsaid. But I knew I couldn’t force him to say whatever was on his mind unless he absolutely wanted to say it. And apparently, he didn’t.

“But nothing,” he said finally. “I think this is something you have to decide on your own.”

“Gee, thanks,” I scoffed, as he poured two mugs of coffee, pushing one across the counter toward me. “Glad to know my best friend doesn’t care if I stay or go.”

“So dramatic.” He rolled his eyes. “Of course I don’t want you to go. But because you are my best friend, I want you to do what’s right for you more than I want you to do what’s comfortable for me.”

A shit-eating grin encompassed the lower half of my face at his words.

“Are you finally admitting out loud that I’m your best friend?”

“You’ve always known it.”

“Yeah, but my love language is words of affirmation, and it’s nice to hear it out loud every once in a while.” I batted my eyes at him dramatically, much to his disdain.

“Brody?” he said, fixing me with a glare.

“Yeah, bestie?”

“Don’t push it.”

“Got it.” I nodded, sobering up quickly with a sip of black coffee. “But anyway, since we’re on the topic of following my heart and what-not… I sort of agree with you. Problem is, I don’t really know how I’m going to feel about being in Michigan until I’m back there.”

Liam waited for me to continue.

“So, I booked a flight and I’m leaving in an hour,” I said, watching with amusement as his face transformed to one of utter shock.

“You’re leaving for Michigan today?”

“Don’t start planning my farewell party just yet,” I hurried to add. “I’m just going there to check out some apartments. See what the job scene is like. Feel out the vibes.” I shrugged. “Basically, I’m just hoping I’ll have a strong gut reaction either way telling me if I’m making the right choice or not.”

Liam shook his head in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you’re changing the course of your life based on ‘the vibes.’”

“I already told you, I’m not changing anything. It’s more like a trial run.” I shook my head. “And anyway, I’m asking if you’ll keep it quiet because I don’t want Maggie to know.”

“Why can’t Maggie know?” he asked. “I mean, I get not going out of your way to tell her, but why are you trying to swear me to secrecy over it?”

“Because I just don’t want her to think she’s, like, running me out of town or something. I mean, really it has nothing to do with her.”

It has everything to do with her.

“You know what this reminds me of?” Liam said.

“What?”

“That episode of The Office where Jim moves away to some branch in Stamford after Pam breaks his heart.”

My jaw dropped. Whatever I’d been expecting him to say, it wasn’t that.