A crushing wave of sadness engulfs me as I think about how little time I have left here and how soon I’ll have to leave this life, this campus, and Jace.

I’m distracted by a text from Katie. Leaving campus now, it reads. Have fun this weekend!

I quickly reply, telling her to do the same. She’s going to visit her dad for the weekend. I pull up Jace’s name in my texts and stare at my half-composed message for a moment.

Finally, I delete what I started writing previously and send Are you free this weekend? He usually has practice on Saturdays, but I hope his game yesterday might mean he has both days off.

He responds immediately. Nope playoffs start next weekend so extra practices.

I turn off my phone, embarrassed by how disappointed I feel.

The screen lights up again.

Why? I could be convinced to skip…

I type back, it’s a surprise.

I’m in appears on the screen.

Crippling disappointment is replaced by giddy excitement.

Be ready at 7 tomorrow morning, I reply. Then, after a moment of thought, I add, pack a swimsuit.

I was considering renting a cabin for a weekend getaway, but my mother’s mention of the Vanderbilts has given me another idea. I pull a folded scrap of paper out of my wallet and dial the number I saved.

“Hello?” a deep voice answers.

“Hello. Duke Vanderbilt gave me this number to use if I required your services,” I say. “Are you available for a flight tomorrow morning?”

“Yes, ma’am,” the voice replies. “What time?”

“Eight, at whatever private airport is closest to Lincoln, Michigan.”

“I’ll look and send an address to this number.”

“Okay, thank you,” I reply, giddy now that my plan is actually in motion. I dial the next number I need to call before speaking with Thomas and Philip.

“Thomas, isn’t your wife due to give birth soon?” I ask, trying to appear casual as I stroll around his office twenty minutes later.

“Yes, in just another month or so,” he replies. “Two weeks after we return home.”

Eagerness overwhelms the pang in my stomach at yet another reminder that the end of my time here is rapidly approaching. “You should travel home this weekend to see her. I’ve already made all the travel arrangements for you.”

Thomas starts to protest. “Princess—”

I hold up my hand, silencing him.

“Please, let me do this for you. I have plans with Katie to have a girls’ weekend, and Philip is perfectly capable of looking after me on campus. I feel badly that you’ve been away from home on my account for so long, and it would make me feel better if you allow me to do this.”

The last sentence is true, but the grateful look Thomas gives me makes me feel guilty for the selfish motivations I have for arranging this trip.

“The car’s outside now,” I state. “Your flight leaves in two hours. And I’ve already gotten Richard and my father’s approval for this,” I add, knowing that’s likely to be his next objection.