Summary:
<blockquote>“I hear you’re about to graduate, huh,” John called from the booths.
Kieran’s jaw tensed on reflex, but he pried his mouth open to say, “Sure am, against all odds!”
“Hell yeah, brother. You itching to get out of here once the degree is in hand?”
The question was reasonable, his tone jovial, but Kieran froze stiff as a startled possum. Two weeks ago his answer would’ve been “of course not,” but then the admissions offer slashed new depths to his greedy imagination. The security he had built over the last two years stung sweetly between his teeth. Cozy living arrangements with fresh food and a wad of cash stuffed behind the attic access panel in his room; easy closeness grown between himself, Sean, and their mutual best friend Xander. He hadn’t told either of them, yet, about the letter.</blockquote>
➤ not really particularly sff though I guess there's technically a ghost, so it doesn't feel like it fits an sff publication, but it's a good story
