"We're free girls," Jill said happily and lifted her glass over the center of the table.
Emma leaned forward to clink her glass against Jill and Mandy's. Being free was the best feeling in the world, Emma decided. She was free from college, free from Tristan...
She hastily shut down all thoughts of Tristan. Memories of her ex had no place in this beautiful paradise with her two best friends.
"You two are free," Mandy said. "Some of us will be returning to college in the fall."
"You're the one insisting on going to medical school and trying to save the world," Jill teased.
Mandy smiled as she shifted in her chair. The blue bandanna wrapped around her head covered the black hair she’d cut into a bob just below her earlobes. Mandy's mocha-colored skin gleamed in the fading light of the sun setting over her bare shoulder. Her deep brown eyes were thoughtful as she fiddled with the straw in her drink.
"I don't know what else I would do with myself," Mandy admitted. "If I can’t become a doctor..."
Her voice trailed off as her gaze turned to the window. The only thing Mandy ever dreamed of being was a doctor, and she’d spent their four years in college studying her ass off to attain that goal. When Mandy was five years old, her parents were killed in a car crash. Mandy was lucky enough to survive the crash, but her right leg was crushed so severely it had to be amputated. She was so adept at using her prosthetic that anyone who didn't know her, would never realize her leg was fake if she were wearing jeans.
After the accident, Mandy spent a lot of time in hospitals and rehab. She'd once told Emma the only thing that got her through those depressing and pain-filled days were the doctors and nurses who saved her life and the unwavering love and support of her grandparents. Mandy swore all those years ago, she would one day become a doctor so she could save children too.
"You will," Emma assured her. "You aced the MCATs."
"Yeah, well, that was just a test; Stanford is going to be a whole different ball game," Mandy said.
"Only you would think the MCAT's are just a test," Jill muttered as she stabbed her straw repeatedly into her frozen drink. "I barely passed my finals."
"To be fair, that's because you were out till two every morning of finals week," Mandy reminded her.
"I was simply taking the edge off," Jill said with a laugh.
Emma leaned forward and squeezed Mandy's arm. "You're going to do great, Mandy, believe me."
Mandy forced a smile. "That's still two months away. Right now, I have the whole month to enjoy with you two lovely ladies."
"Damn right!" Jill declared. "And then we all have to return to the real world." Jill downed the rest of her drink. She waved at a passing waitress, asked for another one and three shots of tequila.
Emma wasn't entirely sure what the real world was anymore. She'd spent her entire life in school; now she didn't know what to do with it. She had a bachelor's degree in history; one she’d intended to use to become a history teacher, though she would probably have to get her master's too.
When she'd started her college life, she was certain she would enjoy teaching for the rest of her life.. Halfway through this year, she suddenly realized the last thing she felt like doing was spending the rest of her life inside a school building.
By then, it was too late to change her major or figure out a different plan. She wouldn't mind working in a museum, or some other historically oriented place, but she knew how difficult it was to come by those jobs, and once again she would probably have to get her master's.
Jill had recently suggested she move to California so they could all rent a place together. At first, Emma was unsure if that were something she'd like to do, but the more she thought about it, the more appealing she found the idea. She'd always wanted to see California, she could stay with her two best friends, and if she couldn't find a job she could always wait tables or return home. At least she'd get to try something new.
Her parents wouldn't be happy when she told them about her change of heart, but that was a conversation saved for after this trip. For now, she was determined to relax and enjoy the next month with her friends. The three of them had been saving for this trip since being placed together as roommates their freshman year. One day in passing, Mandy had told them her grandparents owned a home in Bermuda. It had been in their family for generations, and they rented it out to people.
Talk of renting the home was originally just a fun idea they batted around between them. As the semester wore on, and their friendship strengthened, renting the house became something they were determined to do. They busted their asses at crappy jobs, and they'd scrimped and saved until they raised enough money to rent the house for a month. Now it was finally their time to celebrate.
"Beach tomorrow for sure," Jill said. "I want to hop in on a couple of volleyball games and scope out some of the guys."
"Sounds like a plan to me," Mandy said.
"Maybe we can even get Emma a date," Jill teased.
Emma gave her a wan smile as she fiddled with the tiny umbrella she'd placed on the table. "I think I'll continue to stay away from men for a little while."
"It's been a year, Emma," Mandy said.
"Not long enough," Emma muttered.
The waitress returned with Jill's drink order and placed it on the table. Jill grabbed her new drink and leaned forward. "You need a good fling to forget
