Page 42 of Can't Stop Now
“I know, me too. I had a ton of fun last night,” Maya said.
They ate breakfast, chatting to Maya about grad school and their future plans. Jacob was mostly quiet, but kind. They helped Maya clean up the dishes and then went upstairs to get their bags, ready to head out and get back on the road. As they were about to leave, Jacob got a phone call and went to take it outside, while Will remained in the kitchen with Maya.
Maya wrapped her arms around Will in a tight embrace. “I’ll miss you, buddy. Try to visit. Arizona isn’tthatfar away,” she said.
“I know. I’ll definitely try, I just need to get a job so I can make enough money to travel at all,” Will said, shrugging in defeat.
“Iknowyou’re gonna get an awesome job, Will. And it seems like you already might be on your way to finally getting yourself a boyfriend…?” she asked, smiling and wiggling her eyebrows at Will.
Will took a deep breath in, smiling. “I mean, we’ll see about that. I doreallylike him, Maya. It’s hard to get him to open up at first, but he’s so damn sweet. Andgod, hot too…” he trailed off.
Maya laughed. “Well, here’s hoping. You gotta keep me updated, buddy!”
“Of course. And you too, about Sarah! You know I’m gonna be your best man at the wedding, girl,” Will said, smiling deviously at her.
Jacob returned to the kitchen, with a stone-faced look.
“Is everything ok, Jacob? Who was that on the phone?” Will asked, concerned.
“Oh, it was fine. Don’t worry about it,” Jacob said, his eyes darting around for his suitcase.
“You sure?” Will said softly, getting up and walking toward Jacob.
“Huh? Oh. Yeah. You almost ready?” Jacob said, the same strained look in his eyes. He wouldn’t really make direct eye contact with Will, and it was making him worry.
Will turned toward Maya and furrowed his brow, shrugging, as if to silently say to her, “Don’t know what the hell is wrong with him.” He shook his head, and they all walked out to the front yard.
“Love you, Maya,” Will said, wrapping his arms around her.
“Love you too, Will. Visit soon,” she said.
Maya gave Jacob a hug too, and wished them well on the last few stops of the road trip. Will waved to her from the passenger seat of the car as Jacob drove them away, and they headed out on the road south, to Santa Fe.
Will was nervous because the phone interview he had scheduled for the job at the illustrators magazine was set to happen that night. He had pushed it out of his mind the previous night, wanting to think about nothing other than having fun with Maya and Jacob, but now reality was settling in. He pulled out his phone to do online research about the magazine and brush up on interview skills.
After about an hour of studying, he sighed, looking over at Jacob.
“I’m so nervous for my interview tonight,” he said to Jacob, needing to vent a little. “I feel like they’re going to ask me about work experience and all I’m gonna be able to say is that I was an art major.”
Jacob cleared his throat. “Well, that’s not all you have to offer. You should definitely tell them about all the art students you helped teach. Play it up, talk about how you were a leader and all that stuff. Not that any of that matters, because they’ve already seen your portfolio. They’ll know you’re talented.”
“Ahh, Jacob, you’re so sweet to me,” Will said, smiling and placing his hand on Jacob’s thigh. Jacob shifted slightly in his seat and didn’t smile like Will had expected him to.
“Is everything okay?” Will asked, looking anxiously at Jacob. Jacob paused for a few seconds, not answering. Will took a deep breath. “What is it?”
“I don’t know. It’s just… last night. When we were walking back from the club.”
“…Yeah? What about it?”
“I mean, I kind of didn’t want you to tell Maya… y’know… aboutus. I didn’t want her to know we do that kind of stuff. But she saw us holding hands, and then took that picture of you kissing me… she’s not gonna put that on Facebook or something, right?” Jacob said, nervously. He started to bite on the inside of his cheek nervously.
“Um… I doubt it, I don’t see why she’d put it online. But does it really matter? She’s my best friend, she knows everything I do. I’d honestly feel weirder if shedidn’tknow. I thought you were okay last night, holding my hand,” Will said, furrowing his brow and looking over at Jacob, studying his face.
“I don’t know. I’m just about to start a new job, and I don’t want to start off on the wrong foot. I don’t know what employers can find online if they know where to look,” Jacob said.
Will took his hand off of Jacob’s thigh, sighing. “I mean, I don’t think it would really be that big of a deal if an employer saw a picture of you being kissed on thecheek, anyway, but they wouldn’t find it, even if Mayadidput it online. I mean, what are you, that deeply ashamed of it or something?” Will felt his chest begin to tighten.
“I don’t know,” Jacob said, swallowing.