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I hated the idea that sheme into her decision just asabouther options So I needed to find a way for her to be able to take the New York offer without worrying about our future as a couple, and I thought I’d finally figured out just how to do it But I needed to talk to e our plans for raduation I was on ht now, and I was nervous as hell that he’d tell ht be, but I still wanted his support anyway

I headed straight to his office as soon as I made it to the bank Dad’s secretary waved me in since I had called ahead

"Hey, Dad," I said as I walked in and spotted hi on his coave"Hey, Jackson Your call was a nice surprise I don’t kno long it’s been since you popped into the office to see ? Or are things already winding doith graduation just around the corner?"

"I needed to talk to you and wanted to do it here, away from home, so it could be just the two of us"

My dad cocked his head and consideredokay? Anything I can do to help?"

That was so like hi to ju on "Things are good, Dad But I do need your help with so"

He moved to the conference table and pulled a couple chairs out "Well, come on Sit down and let me knohat you need"

I sed the luht that Kaylie didn’t have this kind of support system behind her No matter what I did or where I went, I would always have e just made my decision even easier

"I know you’ve planned onto work for you here this summer for just about forever, Dad," I started "I hate to disappoint you, but I want to wait before doing that"

"What would you do instead?" he asked, waiting to pass judget a job at one of the bigger banks in New York"

"New York? That’s certainly a big change of plans when you’ve always talked about staying in town," he pointed out

"I know it is, Dad But it will give me some valuable experience I’ll learn a lot because I’ll have to start fro that knowledge back with me when I return"

"You could start at the bottom here if it’s favoritism you’re worried about," he offered

I took a deep breath before delivering the part of the news I figured would shock hiot an offer to dance there, and I know she wants to accept it But she’s considering a different offer that would let her stay closer to me so it would be easier for us to see each other hed "How did I know this was somehow connected to Kaylie?"

"Trust me, I know it sounds crazy that I want to irlfriend, especially e haven’t been together that long And I don’t even knohat she’s going to say about this idea because I haven’t talked to her yet I wanted to ht with you first"

"Why do you think this is the right decision for you?" he asked

"I think she could be it forfrom me She has coht be able to survive a long-distance relationship, but e have between us is so new that I’m just not ready to test it that way yet"

He nodded his head as I was explaining, as though he got what I was saying "I understand why youit out at first instead of ju into this decision? I’d hate to see you make a life decision out of fear"

"Yeah, but that’s only part of why I think this is right I also want to be there for Kaylie This is a huge change for her, and she doesn’t have anyone else to support her except her friends They won’t be in New York with her, but even if they were, I’d still want to be there for her No, that’s not strong enough to explain it I feel like I need to be there for her"

"Itable to support her from there instead of here?" he asked