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“Your ticket?” I asked

“Out of Sweet Water Maybe to the Olyrades I have swi”

“The next Michael Phelps”

Carson scoffed “If only…”

It really wasn’t far off I could totally see a load of goldhis neck one day Of course, I didn’t say that No need to inflate his ego to a proportions

I sauntered over to the chair at his desk and took a seat “When did you get an offer?” I asked

“Offers,” he clarified “Last year It’s official now though”

“Where to? Please tell me it’s in another country” I needed to calculate the distance from Durham to wherever he’d be If he said it was on the West Coast, I would cry tears of joy

“Duke”

The blood drained from my face

No, he was kidding He heardme Surely…

I blinked at hih—so But he didn’t He was serious As I looked closer, I noted the hint of excitement in his eyes, the anticipation, the pride

Oh osh…

“What about you? Where are you going?” he asked, and I wanted to sob

Wherever will accept hed and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear “I’m not sure yet I applied for early admission to a handful of places but haven’t heard back I should know so soon”