"You know I love you, right?"

He smiled that brilliant smile up at her and nodded. "Yeah, I know. I'm glad you finally figured it out."

Chapter 14.

EDITOR.

Liz spent the majority of her summer in Hayden's new one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte. She wasn't taking any cla.s.ses, and the paper practically ran itself; Hayden had been absent all last summer and it had still continued just fine. She knew that once school started she wouldn't have as much free time to come see him, so she wanted to spend as much time as she could with him now.

Right before the summer ended, Liz met with Professor Mires and her scholarship advis.e.m.e.nt committee to determine how she was going to spend her scholarship intern hours. Liz had been planning to work with the Raleigh News reporting staff that she had contacts with, but Dr. Mires had something else in mind. She had gotten in touch with her colleague Nancy from the New York Times and had secured Liz a spot working with their team on a political journalism reporting portfolio. It included some travel to and from New York City to meet with the team and perfect on-site reporting skills.

Liz was floored that Dr. Mires had gone to that much trouble for her. Dr. Mires insisted that Liz had earned such a position. Nancy had been so impressed with her work on the colloquium in the spring that it had made it an easy choice. Liz would be flying up to New York at the beginning of September for her first meeting.

Fall rolled around all too soon and she kissed Hayden good-bye and returned to Chapel Hill for her senior year of college. She had a busy year ahead of her. It made her a bit dizzy to think about it: editor, internship with the New York Times, research hours with Dr. Mires, not to mention that she was still taking a full load of cla.s.ses, had a boyfriend, and had tried to keep up with regular tennis lessons. She wasn't sure she was going to have any time to breathe, let alone think. Of course, she couldn't complain; she had basically gotten everything that she wanted.

Liz walked into the newspaper office on the second floor of the Union on campus. It felt a bit surreal to have spent so much time away from the place over the summer. She had practically lived there the three years prior.

It was the first week back to school for her senior year. The paper had already gone out and only division leaders had to be in the office that afternoon. They had the full meeting for everyone interested in working on the paper that evening. Liz had prepared for it best she could. She just hoped she had half of Hayden's charisma.

She walked into her new editorial office and sighed. It was one of the few offices in the building that had a door and a lock that actually worked. It felt a bit surreal to be in here again; she had commandeered the office last summer while Hayden had been away.

She ran her hands along the desk that she knew she would never be able to keep as clean and meticulous as Hayden did. She had helped him move his stuff out of the office this summer, and it had barely taken any time, even though he had occupied the s.p.a.ce for a year and a half. By the end of the first week, she knew it would be a mess that she would never be able to get back under control.

A knock on the door jolted her from her thoughts. "You're early," Savannah said with a smile.

Liz checked her watch. Still thirty minutes before the meeting. "I'm editor. I'm supposed to be early. What are you doing here?"

"I just got out of cla.s.s. You've had Professor Mires before, right?"

"She's my advisor," Liz told her.

"Is she as difficult as everyone says she is? Her cla.s.ses are always packed, but I know a bunch of people who want to drop because she grades unfairly."

Liz snorted. "She just makes you earn your grade. It's worth it to be on her good side. She helped get me an internship with the New York Times for this year."

"Nice. It's who you know, not what you know," Savannah said with that knowing Maxwell glint in her eye.

"Usually," Liz confirmed with a shrug. If anyone had connections it was Savannah Maxwell. "How was your summer?"

She shrugged, but had an unmistakable giddy smirk across her face. "Pretty good."

"And what's his name?" Liz asked, leaning back against the desk.

"I mean, I'm talking to this guy named Forrest," she said, the look disappearing.

Uh-huh. That clearly wasn't who had caused her to get all fl.u.s.tered.

"Forrest and Savannah. Not getting much more Southern than that," Liz joked, wondering if she should push for the real story.

"It's not serious or anything. He's just a guy I met at the gym."

"Did you see Lucas this summer?" Liz asked, diving in.

Savannah's cheeks colored, but she clearly tried to play it off. "Yeah. Some. Over the Fourth of July my family goes to Hilton Head, and his family came with us this year."

Liz already knew about the Fourth of July, of course. Brady had postponed going to Hilton Head last summer to stay with her an extra day. She was glad Savannah had had a good time.

"Right. And you still like him?" she asked her friend.

"I don't really know. I've known him . . . forever. I don't think he feels the same way about me."

"Have you looked at you recently? He would have to be dumb or blind or both not to be interested in you, Savannah," Liz said. She knew Lucas had to be into her. The guy was related to Chris, Brady's best friend, so he couldn't be stupid.

Savannah laughed. "Thanks for the ego boost. He's dating someone else, though."

Liz deflated. d.a.m.n. Savannah seemed so happy about him. "Really? That sucks."

"I mean . . . don't tell anyone," Savannah said, biting her lip conspiratorially. "He kissed me on the beach."

"Oh my G.o.d, really? What happened? When did it happen? Did you kiss him back? Did it go further?" Liz asked, going into full-on girl mode in a matter of seconds.

"We kissed in the sand for like two hours at sunset. It was incredibly . . . insane. I don't know how to explain it."

"So, why isn't he interested in you? I'm so confused."

Savannah shrugged with a sigh. "He said that he didn't think we should keep doing what we did that night. He goes to Vandy, so he probably wouldn't want to do the distance thing. And the part where he has a girlfriend . . ." She trailed off.

"You're Savannah Maxwell. Said girlfriend might as well not exist."

"Well, she exists, so it doesn't matter. Let's talk about something else. Lucas is like a distant summer memory," she said entirely unconvincingly. "How about a big thank-you for putting me as the coleader for the Washington division!"

Liz knew Lucas was far from a distant memory, but she knew that she wouldn't get any more dirt now. She hoped that Savannah figured out what was best for her.

"You totally deserve it," she told her.

"I'm excited to get started. I have some big shoes to fill."

"I don't have that big of feet," Liz said, glancing down at her high heels.

"Knock-knock!"

Liz groaned as Savannah turned to see who was entering the office. Meagan appeared around the corner with an oversize Vera Bradley bag on her shoulder and a big smile. She ran the kvetching column, which was essentially gossip and complaining, but the majority of the student body really loved it.

And with Meagan's introduction the fun girl time officially became the paper division meeting. Savannah gave Liz an amused look as they turned to listen to Meagan talk about her summer.

Nearly every day Liz and Hayden had left the paper and walked together to his car parked in the s.p.a.ce reserved for the editor-which was now reserved for her. It felt so strange walking out of the newspaper building that evening having just completed her first-ever paper meeting and walking down to her car without Hayden.

Victoria had planned a back-to-school party at their place that night, and Liz antic.i.p.ated it being in full swing before she even got there. And in all honesty she just wanted to take her time getting home. Maybe she would call Hayden and see how he was doing.

He seemed to like his new job. They didn't push him enough, and she knew that he wanted to do more, but he always wanted to do more. He just wanted a break to prove himself, but as with most people in an entry-level job, Hayden was suffering from the problem of having to work his way up the company ladder.

Hayden answered on the third ring. "Hey, gorgeous! How was your first meeting? Do they all love you as much as I do?"

"I miss you," she murmured softly into the phone.

"I miss you too, Lizzie."

She sighed heavily and then tried to let the feeling pa.s.s. Long distance sucked. It was why she and her last boyfriend hadn't worked out. Of course, her last boyfriend hadn't really cared either. She didn't think this was even close to the same situation, and she wasn't worried about Hayden. But it still sucked.

"The meeting went well," she told him. "Everything is in place and now I just have to be there to make sure it runs smoothly."

"I'm sure it will. You had a pretty good mentor."

Liz reached her car and slipped inside. "I'm just glad I now have my mentor's parking spot."

Hayden laughed through the line just as she turned on the car and backed out. "I wish I were there to drive you to and from school. I'm going to miss that."

"Me too."

"And our secretive smiles across the office."

"Mmm."

"And having you curled up against me when you sleep."

"Hayden . . ."

"And whispering your name when we make love."

"You're not making this any easier," she groaned.

"Come visit."

Liz shook her head even though she knew he couldn't see. "I just left."

"I'll come visit you then."

Liz giggled. "You have to work tomorrow."

"I just want you in my arms. Is that too much to ask?" he asked.

"Never," she murmured as she pulled up in front of her house. The ride was too short. She barely got any time with him, and as she had suspected, Victoria already had the party going.

"Wow, it's loud wherever you are," Hayden said.

"Victoria is throwing a back-to-school party. I didn't realize it had already started. She knew I wouldn't be back until late."

"Well, have a good time and tell Vickie I said hi. I'm sure she'll be thrilled."

"Will do. I'll call you later. Love you," Liz said, popping the door open and exiting the car.

"Love you too."

Liz hung up the phone and sauntered into her house. The music was blasting and a crowd of people took up her living room. She was nearly tackle-hugged as soon as she walked in the door. She screamed as she was picked up and spun around.

"What the f.u.c.k!" The guy who was holding her just laughed louder as she tried to get free. "Put me down!"

"All right. All right," he said, catching her and setting her down on her feet. She smacked him on the arm when she regained her balance.

"Justin!" she yelled, throwing her arms around him. "What are you doing here?"

"Such a kind welcome. I haven't seen you in months and you're already smacking me around," he said, laughing at her still-shocked expression.

"You deserved it. Picking me up like that! I had no idea who you were." She just shook her head as Justin smiled down at her. "What are you doing here anyway?" Liz nodded toward her room, and Justin followed her back there as they continued talking.

"Victoria invited me," he told her.

"She's just full of surprises, isn't she?"

"Nice," he said, sitting down on her bed and crossing his ankle over his knee. "So, how have you been? Are you still with Lane?"

"Yeah, he's in Charlotte working as a reporter. I'm editor now and working internship hours with the New York Times," she said, slipping out of her heels.

Justin whistled low. "Someone is fancy."

"What about you? Where are your big plans taking you?"

As Justin filled her in on what was going on in his life, Liz retreated into her closet and picked out an acceptable outfit for the party tonight. He told her that the company he had been working for had gone under over the summer, and he had been out of work for a little while when he finally found an investor for the business he had been working on since they last talked. After he had a source of revenue again, the project had hit the ground running. He asked Liz again if she would be interested in working with him as a writer for the company, but she turned him down and, as other people showed up for the party, they left it at that.

She sought out Victoria, who was regaling a small crowd with one of her ludicrous stories. Liz only caught the tail end of it.

"So two Australian firefighters and a scuba instructor later and I had the perfect Aussie sandwich. I know that I'll be going back to Australia. That place should not be a one and done kind of thing. There's a reason their population started off as criminals," Victoria said with a wink. She shifted into her right hip and took a drink out of her red Solo cup.

Liz just shook her head. Victoria and her adventures in Australia this summer for study abroad had been a constant stream of conversation since she returned. Liz had heard about how Victoria had been triple-teamed by the three Aussies at least twice. She was most proud of that story.

Why she insisted on telling it to complete strangers was beyond Liz's mental capacity.

"Hey, b.i.t.c.h!" Victoria said when she saw Liz. "About time you got here."

"I've been here for a while. I was talking to Justin. Thanks for inviting him."