“Nothing,” Olivia and Farrah chorused.
“Sammy, there are some things guys are better off not knowing,” Blake said.
“You’re right, you’re right. By the way,” Sammy said through the mouthful of burger. “There’s something I have to tell you guys.”
“Including me?” Olivia pointed to herself.
“Yeah.” He chewed and swallowed. “I’m, uh, going to be an intern at NASA this summer.”
There was a beat of silence before a loud squeal caused every head in the restaurant to swivel in their direction.
“We’re going to be in New York together?!” Olivia threw her arms around Sammy’s neck. She seemed thrilled for someone who always said study abroad relationships don’t last after the program ends.
Sammy grinned. “Yep.”
“Congrats!” Farrah reached across the table to hug her friend. “You rocket scientist, you.”
“Hardly. I’ll be working on mathematical models for a climate change project. Not exactly Neil Armstrong stuff.”
“Whatever. Anyone who works at NASA is a rocket scientist in my eyes.” Farrah wiped her mouth with a napkin. “You’re my mom’s dream. If I majored in math and got a NASA internship, she’d faint from happiness.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing you didn’t,” Sammy joked.
“Congrats, man.” Blake clapped Sammy on the shoulder. His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“I can’t wait to start my New York spreadsheet.” Olivia whipped out her phone. “There are so many amazing restaurants we have to try. Let’s start in the West Village and work our way to the other neighborhoods.”
Farrah hid a grin. Some things never changed.
When they returned to the dorm, Olivia and Sammy split to plan their summer in New York while Farrah lingered in the hall outside Blake’s room. His uncharacteristic moodiness stopped her from breezing inside like normal.
“What’s wrong?” She leaned against the doorway and watched Blake hang his jacket in the closet with more care than usual.
“Nothing.”
“You’re quiet.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“You always have something to say, even when no one wants you to say anything.”
Not a hint of a smile. It wasn’t Farrah’s best joke, but Blake usually indulged her with at least a chuckle.
She walked inside and placed her hands on Blake’s shoulders, forcing him to look at her. “You can tell me anything. You know that.”
“I know.” Blake blew out a breath. “It’s going to sound stupid.”
“Try me.”
“Everyone has amazing summer plans. Sammy with NASA, Olivia with CB, you with your design i
nternship—”
“I haven’t submitted my application yet,” Farrah reminded him. She needed to put the finishing touches on her final design. She didn’t love it, but it was good enough. At this point, Farrah was just glad she had something on paper, especially since the deadline was coming up fast.
“You will, and you’ll get it.” Blake’s matter-of-fact confidence eased her nerves somewhat.
“Thanks. You’ll have an amazing summer too.” She rubbed his arm. “Don’t worry.”