The Tuition Fee

Chapter 27: June, Year 4

Alina

Having the townhome to myself was an odd sensation. I felt like I had so much space to move around in that I didn't know what to do with myself. It was hot out now, but I spent at least an hour every day laying out on the hammock Nathan had gotten me for my birthday. 

Nathan. I wish he didn't consume my thoughts as much as he did. At any given moment I was thinking about him or my father or work. Sometimes Derek too, when he texted in at all odd hours of the day because of his shifts. We spent a lot of time texting and had managed a few "picnics" in his office. He always played a movie or music on his laptop so we could sit on the couch and cuddle. Well, among other things. Sometimes I felt bad for how much I enjoyed the physicality of our relationship, but he never tried to push it much further. He dropped the dating idea, never invited me out outside the hospital, didn't interfere with what I did at Britton. We had no label, but Marissa said we were almost friends with benefits. I didn't correct her. 

I was texting her now, swinging on the hammock in the humid morning air as she updated me about her baseball tour with Reese. I received about twenty pictures a day from her, and I appreciated her trying to include me long distance. Nathan was the one taking all their pictures, he decided last minute to join them in Philadelphia and follow them up to New York City and Boston before driving back down to Britton and continue his internship here with the Britton Athletic Department. He'd only been gone a week, and while I wouldn't admit this openly, I missed his company. I missed having another person living in the same space as me. Being alone left me with too much time to think. 

Derek: Are you coming in today? Was going to pick up subs; want one? Dinner?

I smile at the text on my phone and shoot back a thumbs up. Derek had a document on his phone with my order for every take out restaurant in a five-mile radius of the hospital. My sub of choice: Italian, no oil and vinegar or tomatoes. 

I had the entire day off from work and was going to head to the hospital to spend time with my mom, then dinner with Derek and come home. He liked to plan out his day, so I usually got these texts in the morning before I'd even finished my first cup of coffee. 

Can't wait! I added, standing from the hammock and fixing my skirt. My psychologist advised me to not spend too much time in my pajamas in the morning to help me get in the mental space to be productive. It seemed to be working since every morning when I got up I was dressed before I even went downstairs. 

Nathan: Next time I vacation with Reese and Mar, remind me to get my own room. I snorted at his text and a picture of the two of them cuddling on the Airbnb bed. 

Just bring some headphones and eye mask, I shot back. I locked the back door, grabbing my purse from the table and making my way out to the car. 

I got a text a second later of Nathan holding those exact two items and I couldn't help laughing out loud. Smart man, I replied. He sent back a nerd-face emoji. 

I pulled onto the street and my thoughts drifted once again to Nathan. We were civil with each other, of course, especially since my birthday. He greeted me when we ran into each other in the house, but we pretty much stayed out of each other's way. The calendar on the refrigerator was the only reason I ever knew what he was doing. Marissa was the one who'd told me he was going on the trip with them and my heart stung that he hadn't bothered to tell me himself. 

"You're going with Ree and Mar?" I asked him one night, coming home late from Crew's Keep. He was on the couch in joggers, no t-shirt, playing video games on the tv with his glasses on. It bothered me that my brain's immediate reaction was, damn is he fine.