Truth or Dare by Sloan Johnson

two blocks to the restaurant, I notice more than a few of the college punks checking out my girl. All I do is smile, knowing that she’s all mine and there’s not a damn thing they can do about it, other than drool.
    The hostess seats us at a table in the back, just as I requested when I called earlier. Not knowing how either of us are going to handle tonight’s conversation, I figured it was for the best if we weren’t in a high traffic area. I’m regretting that choice now because there’s nothing to distract me.
    “How was your day?” I ask, knowing the words are lame as fuck.
    She goes through her classes for the semester, telling me about the ornery Lit professor and the eclectic head of the Psychology department. Somewhere around her third class, I start to zone out, knowing I can’t delay the inevitable. “Are you listening to me at all?” she asks, annoyed by my inattention.
    “Sorry, I’m just distracted,” I say, clueless as to how to continue, so I just spit it out. “Robby’s dad got me a job in Nashville. I was supposed to leave in a few weeks, but the owner called this morning and wants to know if I can be there by Wednesday.”
    Lea takes a few deep breaths, but doesn’t say anything in response to my less than eloquent revelation. I swear, if she asks me to stay here, tells me that she was wrong, I’ll turn down the job. I’m not the one who wanted to go when there’s no way for us to move together. “Wow, that was quick,” she says quietly after a long pause. She presses her hands to the table, pursing her lips. “It’s okay. We’ll make this work. Right?”
    She reaches for my hands, squeezing them tightly and I know she’s as nervous as I am. Long distance relationships are hard, and both of us are going to be busy all the damn time. Her with school and me with work and doing whatever I can when I’m not at the club so all of this isn’t for nothing. Lea has faith that I’ll be able to get a deal, so I can’t fail. It’s simply not an option at this point.
    “Yeah baby, we’ll make it work. Will your parents be upset if you come down there for Thanksgiving?” Of course they will. Not only are they total freaks when it comes to family holidays, their opinion of me is going to sink lower than I ever thought possible once they find out that we’re together and that I left her behind to chase my dreams. They won’t give a shit that I’m doing this at her urging, all they’ll see is that I am abandoning their daughter.
    When this was all just the two of us sitting around the apartment dreaming about how life could be, it seemed easy, but now, I realize it’s going to be anything but. I can’t ask for time off right after starting a new job and she won’t have a real break until November. Her family isn’t as close as they used to be, but I don’t think she has ever spent a holiday away from them. And call me selfish, but I want her to be with me for as many as possible.
    “They’ll have to understand,” she sighs. I know she’s imagining the tongue lashing from both of her parents, telling her that I’m not good enough for her. Fuck, I hope they won’t break her resolve. I need to know I’ll be able to see her. “Will you be able to come home for Christmas?” she asks hopefully.
    “I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee anything right now. I don’t even know what I’ll be doing by then.” Her lower lip quivers and I fear tears aren’t far behind. “Baby, I promise I’ll try. It’s the best I can do right now.”
    Throughout our meal, I silently plead with her to beg me to stay. We’ve spent too much time fighting over this for me to bail now that she knows, but damn, I want to. She said something last week about maybe looking into Vanderbilt for grad school. That would put us closer together, but that’s two years down the road. It would be easier for me to stay here with her and then we can go together. But only if it’s her idea. Otherwise, I’ll be