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“That’s a bummer,” she mumbles. “Why would he do that?”

“I don’t know, I didn’t ask. I guess he wants to do something meaningful after graduation.”

“But—he doesn’t seem like the type.”

“You don’t even know him.”

“I can just sense these things. He isn’t made for the army.”

“Well, he’s doing it. He’ll be gone by August. But, he said he wants to spend his summer with me.”

She drops her pastel crayons at this comment.

“His summer?”

I nod again.

“But he’s leaving?” she confirms.

I nod even more aggressively.

“Do you think he actually…likes you?”

“Maybe? Who can tell, the guy flirts with everyone.”

“But does he say he wants to spend his summer with all of them is the real question.”

That is a good question. Maybe I should have clarified what he meant by that.

Does he want to date? If so, would there even be a point to it? So many questions to be asked, yet I couldn’t come up with a single one when he told me.

Just as I’m lost in my train of thought, a text comes in at the top of Maggie’s head.

“Oh my gosh.”

“What?!” she yelps.

“Sean just texted me.”

“Does he normally do that?”

“Sometimes, but not really.”

“Read it!” Her eyebrows raise as if to say, c’mon slowpoke!

“Lunch again tomorrow?” I recite. “That’s what he said. He’s asking to have lunch again with me tomorrow,” I squeal.

“I think that answers our question.”

“Should I say no?”

Her eyes narrow at the screen. “Is that a trick question?”

“He’s leaving, Maggie. For the army. Have you ever known anyone who enlists and then comes right out? They always stay for years.”

She thinks for a moment.

She knows I’m right. I’ve seen this time and time again—and in every military romance there is. It doesn’t work. Or it does, but there is so much heartbreak it doesn’t even seem worth it.