Karma

34| Restrained

Karma & Nathan
Three Weeks Before The Breakup
Twelve Years Ago

"What's the matter, gorgeous?"

I looked up in the mirror and met Nathan's gaze in the reflection. He circled my waist with his arms and rested his head on my shoulder. I loved when he held me this way.

"Nothing." I lied. Everything was wrong.

"Tsk, Tsk, Tsk. Nice try. Spill."

I fidgeted with the makeup brushed I was holding. I was in the middle of getting ready for our date tonight when my crazy mind started wandering.

"You know you can't lie to me, baby." He teased and kissed my neck.

He wasn't wrong. He and I have leaned the hard way that neither of us could lie to each other. In this case, I was going to have to bend the truth in a way where I didn't tell him everything.

The horrifying truth happened earlier at my house when the mail came. I found out that I had not only got accepted into the nursing program at a great medical school, but it was also covered with a scholarship. Great, right? Nope. The scholarship was for USF which was in Florida.

Nathan didn't live in Florida. I had a feeling if I asked him to go with me, he would. But that was selfish of me. His whole family was here, his whole life was here. He and I have talked about plans to go to NYU together.

"Well," I started, "my parents and I have been going back and forth about schools for college. They think that NYU might not be the best for me."

Nathan's brows formed a deep V. "That's stupid. Where do they want you to go?"

Shit. "Columbia University." That wasn't a good lie. I'm going to get caught.

"Oh, well that's super close. You should apply. It's a really good school, Karma."

"I don't know. . ." I met his gaze again. "We made plans, Nathan."

"Is that what you're worried about?" He turned around to face me and he cupped my face in his hands. "Listen to me, gorgeous. I don't care if you go to school here in New York or to school in California. Nothing will change between us."

I knew he meant well, but what he said still haunt me a little. "Are you saying it wouldn't bother you if we are that far away from each other?"

He stroked my cheek with his thumb. "Of course it will. It's hard as hell for us to stay away from each other now."

He glanced away briefly before he looked back at me with love and pride in his eyes. "I want the best for you, Karma. But when it comes to picking schools, screw me and screw your parents. It's about what you want. It's your future and your choice to make."

Right there, in that moment, I knew what my choice was. "I want to go to NYU. With you."

His face brightened with a half smirk. "Yeah?"

I nodded as Joy soared through me. "Yeah, I do."

"I knew you couldn't resist me." He said playfully.

I rolled my eyes at his smart remarks.

"Seriously," he said when he sobered, "you make me so incredibly happy. I can't believe your mine, Karma Fitzgerald."

"I love you." I leaned up and brushed my lips against his "Forever."

"I love you, too. Forever."