“When do we playthem?”
When I glance up, his eyes are glowing with something akin to fear.
“Elias, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of time.”
His nostrils flare and he huffs as he leans back in his chair. His legs splayed open, exposing the impressive shape of his thighs in grey sweats. I gulp.
“Can you explain to your mother?—”
I laugh so loud I have to clamp my hand over my mouth.
“Clearly you’ve never met my mom. There is no ‘explaining’ where she’s concerned. It’s her way or the highway.”
“So, what’s wrong with the highway?”
I cock an eyebrow. “Elias, what’s your mom like?”
Something changes so drastically and suddenly on his face I want to recoil like I’ve been burned. He swallows. “My mother died in a car accident when I was sixteen.”
My stomach drops. It’s like a trap door being opened.
“God, Elias, I’m so sorry.”
An awkward silence follows. I have no idea what to say except sorry, and I’ve already said that. If he wants to give me the silent treatment now, I guess I’ll just have to take it.
“It’s fine,” he says finally.
I look up from where I’d been blushing into the cover of an economics textbook.
“You should go home for her birthday.”
Oh damn, I feel freaking terrible now.
My parents house surfaces in my mind. Its acres of land. The gardens with their labyrinthine mazes and carefully trimmed hedges. The well-maintained tennis courts.
“We could…”No, what are you doing?
His head snaps up, his gaze meeting mine.
I sigh. “You could come with me and we could practice on my parents’ courts.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You have tennis courts at your house?”
“My parents do. Yes. On their property.”
I flush. I hadn’t anticipated getting many chances to be embarrassed about how wealthy my parents are while I’m at Princeton. But I guess that just shows how sheltered I was from real people before I got here.
That cocky exterior seems to be hiding for the time being. He shuffles uncomfortably in his chair. “I won’t be intruding?”
“No.” I chew the inside of my lip. “Actually, my mom loves new people. She’d be really happy to meet you. And there’ll be like a hundred people at the actual party. Her birthdays aren’t exactly … intimate.”
He perks up and for a moment, it’s worth it. Introducing someone to my family. Bringing something that’s safe and just mine into that world for the first time. It’ll be hell. But maybe worth it to see that smile on his face.
“Excellent!” He sits up straight and grabs his textbook and laptop. “Where did you say they live?”
“Newtown, Connecticut. Don’t Google it, it’ll just depress you.
12
