Uncompromising (Age Gap, gxg)

Chapter 44

The Friday after Thanksgiving started in a way that my mornings almost never did. I completely fucked up my schedule, and only Gracie and Jashanna were on the ball. At 7am, they stumbled into the kitchen in their pajamas instead of their school clothes, and I might have freaked out a little bit because they weren't even close to being dressed.

"You're not ready for school yet?" I snapped.

They shared a look, then snickered. "Mom, today is the day we're supposed to have the FSU tour. You told us we were leaving here at 8am for the 1pm tour. We still have another hour before we have to leave," Gracie said while trying not to laugh.

Sure enough, I checked the schedule on my phone, and she was right, I'd just never set a reminder, so I forgot all about it. Damn, if I'd remembered that when Hollie and Zee went back to school, I might have been less teary knowing I might be able to see them in less than a week! "Shit, I'm sorry." I just shook my head. "I guess I have time to make you a good breakfast then. What are you in the mood for?"

"Can we just have some scrambled eggs and bacon?" Jashanna wondered. "We were going to make it ourselves, so we can make it for you too."

It was nice to offer, since I'd just been wondering if they could cook more, so making breakfast was a good test. "Okay, perfect. Go for it. You get the food and I'll get the tea and coffee." I had the easy job, and I was able to relax on the couch with some coffee while Swiftie and Karma came for some nice snuggles. It was a good morning, even if it had started a little differently than I'd expected. But the girls did a decent job with the breakfast, and then they got ready for the trip up to Tallahassee for the tour.

Right on time, we got on the road for the four hour drive to the FSU campus after giving our kitties some goodbye kisses. As usual, the girls wanted me to blast Taylor Swift for the entire trip, and I obliged them. Of course, that meant the three of us singing along for the entire drive, no doubt amusing any other drivers who passed by us. That certainly helped pass the time better, and soon enough we made it to the visitor lot and parked before walking over to the campus bookstore to wait for the tour.

Yes, this time I bought the Seminole panties! Two pairs actually, cuz I got one for Zee too, hoping to give it to her before we went home. I'd already ordered her a laptop, knowing she was doing all her work here on the school provided desktops in the computer labs, and a cool winter parka from Helly Hanson for the Norway trip for her graduation presents, so this was more of a fun gift.

"This is a pretty gorgeous campus," Jashanna commented. "You're sure that we can get in here?"

"Hollie did, so maybe we can too." Gracie was looking around at all the brick buildings and trees in the area. I had to admit, as college campuses went, it was pretty lovely. It was a good weather day too, with temperatures warm, but not overpowering since we were in northern Florida.

"Don't worry about getting in," I told them both. "It's better to choose the campus that will give you the degree path you want. If that is here, then that is what we'll try for. But if it is a different university, then we go there. You know USF is close, as is the University of Tampa. If you're dead set on going to the University of Florida, I might cry a little, but I would be okay if it made you happy." Having gone to FSU, their biggest rivals were UF and Miami, so I hoped they wouldn't want to go to either of those! But I'd still support their choices.

"What if we don't know what we want to do?" Jashanna took Gracie's hand and looked at me nervously. "I really have no idea what I want to do. How do we figure it out?"

Gracie nodded. "I don't know either. How did Hollie know?"

I gave them a little shrug. "I don't think she does. Unless she picked her major without telling me, she's still undecided. You don't have to have your whole life planned out at your age, okay? I had it easy, I was always going to work with your Nana, so I kept taking courses that would help with that. One of you could do that, or maybe sometime in the next few years you'd figure out something else that interests you and try it. I'll certainly help you. I'm sure Quinn would too, and so would Zee. Oh! Speaking of which."