He's right –– what does she owe anyone, anyway? She could stay on for something ungodly selfish, or take off the moment she graduates, and no one at home would ever know it was ever a possibility.

The urge to cave feels overwhelming, but he's not shutting her down like Joel did any time hope came up. Might as well tough it out.

"I'm just talking about taking a year or two to get a deal for them, not going back there."