Chapter 4The Practice Run

To stop myself from hesitating, I opened my laptop right in front of her on the video call.

Without a second of doubt, right before the midnight deadline, I changed my final college commitment from Columbia University in New York to a prestigious university in Southern California.

Lily was thrilled, practically jumping for joy in the hallway.

She had begged me to go to the same school as her for months.

But back when high school started, Mason and I made a pact. We promised to study hard so we could go to his dream city—New York—together. They had the aerospace engineering program he had loved since he was a kid.

Even though I hated the freezing East Coast winters and had zero interest in STEM-heavy schools, I made it my ultimate goal for three entire years.

Growing up as next-door neighbors, both our families loved the idea of us going to the same college. Everyone, including me, thought that Mason and I naturally becoming a couple in adulthood was a given.

But now, I couldn't find a single reason to go to New York.

If I stayed by Mason's side after today, I would absolutely despise myself.

I just wanted to hide as far away as possible. I didn't care where I went, as long as Mason wasn't there.

If he was on the East Coast, I was going to the West Coast.