There’s more shuffling at his end before he says, “The most I can give you is three weeks to tie up any loose ends. There are a number of girls who share apartments and I can give you a few names to contact so you can get a place lined up.”
Oh my god… I’ll have to find a place to live and I have three weeks to do it.
“Okay, that would be great.”
“Wonderful, Ivy. I’m going to give you my number, once you’ve settled everything at your end, let me know when you’ll be arriving in Cincinnati. I’m also going to send you some paperwork to look over. Okay?”
“Yes, that sounds good.” I scribble down the names and numbers of the girls.
“And, Ivy?”
“Yes?”
I can hear the smile in his voice as he finally says, “Welcome to the Cincinnati Ballet.”
“Thank you.” I can’t help but squeeze my eyes tightly shut as I kick my legs in the air from where I’m sitting on the couch. “Thank you, so much!”
We say our goodbyes and I sit there for I-don’t-know-how-long just staring at the phone in my still shaking hand. My whole body is literally vibrating with excitement.
I’m going to dance with the Cincinnati Ballet!
My first impulse is to run over to Roan’s apartment and tell him the good news.
Just as I’m about to sprint next door, a few doubts start to niggle their way into my brain. I mean, how are we going to make our relationship work with me in Cincinnati and him here at Barnett?
Mr. Moliter said the first couple months would be difficult. Which isn’t a surprise. I’m going to have all new choreography to learn. An entire show worth. The hours will be long. Exhausting. It’s doubtful I’ll have any spare time to even visit Roan. And with football, school, and getting ready for the draft, neither will he.
Inhaling a deep breath, I try calming my racing thoughts. Even though I’m absolutely thrilled to receive such a coveted offer, there’s a downside that is just beginning to slam into me. I don’t really want to leave Roan behind. I’m afraid I’ll lose him if I do. It’s not like we’ve been together for very long. Hell, it’s only been a little over a month. Everything between us is still relatively new.
I’ll also have to leave school. I have absolutely no idea if I’ll be able to salvage any of my credits for fall semester which has already been paid for with scholarships and financial aid. Even though I’ve earned A’s in my courses, there’s still all of November and part of December to get through before the semester is over. I have no idea if I can complete the class work from Cincinnati. It’s entirely possible the school might not allow me to do that.
And then there’s Lexie. After nearly a year and a half of separation, it’s been so nice rooming with her again. What kind of friend will I be if I bale on her when I just got back? I also signed a yearlong contract with her for the apartment. Can I really just take off and leave her high and dry? I hate that Lexie will have to scramble around for a new roommate.
With all of these thoughts churning in my head, I slowly lower myself back down to the couch. Was I seriously giddy just a moment ago about leaving? How did getting an opportunity to dance for the Cincinnati Ballet turn out to be a bad thing? It’s almost mind boggling.
Not knowing what else to do, I head over to Roan’s so I can share the news with him and we can talk about how we’ll make our relationship work. My step falters as I open the door that leads to the hallway between our apartments.
What if he thinks it’s just easier to end things between us?
I mean, that’s a real possibility. And I can’t exactly blame him if that’s what he decides to do. I was seeing Finn for six months and he probably started cheating on me as soon as my plane hit cruising altitude. I don’t really think Roan would do that but… he may not be interested in having a long distance girlfriend who is never around.
Even though there’s only about forty feet separating our apartments, by the time I reach Roan’s door, I’m a nervous wreck. An opportunity that felt like a gift from god just ten short minutes ago now feels like a mixed bag. If I leave-
Oh my god… I’m not even one hundred percent certain I’m going to do this anymore.
The negatives just keep piling up and I can’t seem to look past them.
But if I don’t seize this opportunity now, it may never come around again. Can I really live with that? Feeling confused, I rap my fist on the door and wait. I can’t stop from bouncing restlessly on the balls of my feet in the thinly carpeted hallway. When the door finally swings open, it’s Sam.