“You were right, though. I would have felt like a dumbass in my T-shirt and jeans.”
“I know.” Her smile is real. “Sometimes people know more than you.”
“People? As in you?”
“In this case, yes. I’ve been to these presentations before, so I knew what to expect.”
“You were nervous.”
“That prof hates me.”
“Why?”
She shrugs. “No idea.”
I whisper in her ear, “She’s jealous.”
That makes her laugh, which makes me feel better. “She’s well respected. And she used to have a show on HomeTV.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah. She’s really good, and I’ve learned a lot from her. If she thinks my work could be better, then I need to make it better.”
We start to walk down the long corridor in the design building when she says, “You really should consider the entire project, though, Luke.”
“Can’t afford it.”
“You can’t affordnotto.”
I’m doing my best not to get angry again. “Tayler,” I snap. “What I can and can’t afford is none of your business.”
“Oh, right.” She pulls away from me, looking left and then right. “Um, I forgot something back in the room. I’ll see you later.”
Before I can say another word, she’s gone.
