She whips back as if she’s been slapped. She has no idea I found someone else, and she won’t know until the day I decide to tell her, which isn’t today. She has no idea that there’s someone in my life that I want to get to know and can’t do it if I’m promised to another. I want to do this right by Avery. And the last thing I want is to lead Dorothy on. She’s a nice girl and all that, but she’s not who I want.
“What do you mean?” my dad asks. Dustin shifts at his tone. This has to be awkward for him, but truth be told, I’m glad he came along. He needs to know that I’m no longer interested in doing what my parents want for me anymore.
“I mean that it’s my life, and I’m not going to marry someone you have set out for me.”
“Nonsense,” my mother says, laughing as if what I said was the greatest joke in the world. It makes me want to get up and leave, but I was taught better than that. I was taught respect, and even though my parents are the way they are, I’m still going to respect them.
Dustin clears his throat and coughs into his hand. “I think he’s being serious, Mrs. R.”
Her laughter dies down, and she looks at Dustin long enough to make him realize that he probably should have kept his mouth shut. “Don’t,” I hiss at her before she can say something stupid to him, something that will make him feel lesser than her. She can be petty like that sometimes, even if it’s in the most polite manner.
She flicks her gaze back to me. “This is already all been arranged, Reid. The Kenzys are expecting you to marry their daughter once you’re both out of college. They’re looking forward to it, in fact. I’m sure their daughter is too.”
I roll my eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, Reid Romaine Rathe.”
“Sorry, but I seriously doubt Dorothy is going to care. She hasn’t even made an effort to get to know me. In fact, I haven’t even seen her since school started.”
“Maybe she’s shy,” my father chimes in.
My mother nods. “She’s always been so shy to approach you at our parties. I bet that’s it. You’re just going to have to approach her.”
I shake my head. “I’m not approaching her for anything other than being her friend.”
I look over her head when I see familiar faces entering the room. Mrs. Kenzy’s eyes land on mine, and a big smile takes over her face. Mr. Kenzy looks as grumpy as he always does, and Dorothy, who is fiddling with her hands nervously, follows her parents dutifully as they make their way to us.
“Ah, there you are,” my mother says as they approach. She and Mrs. Kenzy peck each other’s cheeks.
“Sorry we’re late,” Mrs. Kenzy says. “Dorothy’s study group ran late.”
At the mention of her name, Dorothy’s eyes slide to mine. She’s a pretty girl. She doesn’t wear too much makeup, and her red hair is always tidy. She doesn’t dress like a college girl though. With her pencil skirt and light blue blouse, she dresses like her mother still picks out her clothes. My father is right about her being shy. As quick as she looks at me, she looks quicker at her feet.
“This just got real awkward,” Dustin whispers in my ear.
“Reid,” my mother says with a forced smile. “Aren’t you going to say hi to Dorothy?”
I clear my throat. “Hey,” I manage.
Her gaze flicks back to mine, and when her mother nudges her shoulder, she straightens her back and grows a little bit of a spine. “Hi, Reid. How are you?”
“Good,” I answer. This is stupid. I try not to, but that one word comes out as being anything but interested in having a conversation with her. Any other time, if our parents hadn’t said we were to marry one another, this would be a good opportunity to talk with a friend, someone I grew up with, but now…
It’s hard to sit here.
“How are your classes this year?” Mrs. Kenzy asks me.
“Fine,” is my only answer.
“Do you guys want to grab a table while we catch up with your parents?” she asks, her face hopeful.
Yeah, that’s not going to happen.
“Actually,” I say as I stand up. “We were just leaving.”
My mother frowns. “So soon?”
“Lots of studying to do,” Dustin answers with humor in his tone as he stands up with me. I knew bringing him along wouldcome in handy. While I hadn’t anticipated him being my backup, that’s exactly the role he decides to take.
