"I swear, Ryan, if this turns out like last time..."

"It won't! I promise."

"You can't make a promise about something you have no control over! Also, why are you even going to bother? You're getting ready to leave for who knows how long."

Ryan let out a heavy sigh. He was so done with me. My best friend had spent the past hour trying to talk me into going on a double blind date, along with him and some girl this other guy was setting him up with. It sounded harmless enough. But the last time I let Ryan talk me into a blind date, long story short, he had to come rescue me from the weirdo. Ever since then he was protective and super critical of anyone I showed interest in. So I knew this guy, Dan, must've been a pretty decent person if Ryan was trying to set us up. But I still wasn't so sure about the whole idea.

"You're right, Nicole. I can't promise it won't be another disaster. But I'll be there, so there's nothing to worry about. And so what if I'm leaving soon. I may as well have a little fun while I can. Right?"

I rolled my eyes and pretended to gag at what he was insinuating. "Do not put images of you having 'fun' in my head, okay? Just send me the details and I'll do it. It beats spending another Friday night alone, I guess. But I have to get going. I still have to study for that stupid exam in the morning. My last one, thank God."

Ryan walked me to the door and watched me drive away with that goofy grin on his face that always made me smile.

Ryan and I grew up together because our mothers were best friends. They'd not so subtly hinted on numerous occasions that they'd love to see us together. But the stars just never aligned for us in that sense. Sure, I spent my entire teenage years secretly crushing on him, as did all of my other friends. But he was never interested in me like that.

At any rate, we were both getting ready to begin new chapters of our lives... apart from one another for the first time ever. I was graduating college in a matter of days, and just a couple weeks later Ryan would be heading off to boot camp.

My heart was crushed when he told me his plans to join the Navy. But I tried to be supportive because I knew it was something he'd been considering for a long time. He'd tried the college route and wasn't a fan. But he'd talked about having a career in the military since we were kids, so I had to be happy that he was following his heart.

I was still sad, though, for selfish reasons. Who would I go to for everything ever if Ryan wasn't there? Would Dan be able to fill those shoes? I'd find out soon enough.