Mindy Sue scooted far away from Marco. “What is wrong with you? That’s not just rude. It’s mean.”
“Babe.” Marco reached for Mindy Sue but she swatted him away.
Mindy Sue’s frown sank deep. “No. Apologize.”
Marco fumed, but turned to Adam and Simon. “Sorry.” Under his breath, he added, “Even if it’s true.”
Brooke heard him, but Mindy Sue and their friend Julie sat behind him and missed it.
Adam and Simon both looked at Brooke and flushed with embarrassment.
Mindy Sue stood and stared down at Marco. “Let’s go get something to drink.”
He held up his half glass of lemonade. “I’m good.”
Mindy Sue huffed out a frustrated breath. “Come with me.” She started walking away.
Marco reluctantly stood and went with her.
Julie gathered up the empty plates. “I’ll take care of these. Back in a sec.”
Jeremiah followed her with the empty cups.
Brooke found herself with the two uncomfortable guys. She tried to make them more relaxed and went back to her original conversation with Adam. “So if you’re not interested in being the candidate, what do you want to do?”
Adam stared at the grass but answered her. “I prefer the behind-the-scenes aspect of politics. Campaigns, fact-finding on causes and legislation, analysis of the viability of being for or against something, finding the best way to give the masses what they want in the most economical and fair way. Those kinds of things.”
Brooke gave Adam a smile as he glanced her way finally. “You’re a numbers guy. I envy you that. I’ll bet you aced your calculus and statistics classes.”
He tried to hide his grin. “That’s where I excel.”
“It’s where I fail,” she confessed.
Simon’s gaze shot to her. “You failed your math class?”
“Well, not literally. I think the highest grade I got in any math course was a B plus, and that took many sleepless nights studying until my eyes were more red than green.”
Simon set his phone down for once. “Me, too. I prefer facts to figures.”
Adam offered, “If you need a tutor, I’d be happy to help.”
“Thanks,” she said sincerely. “But I’ve actually completed all my math prerequisites. I got them out of the way early. I figured if I pulled my hair out all in the first three years, then nobody would remember me as the bald graduate next year.”
“Your hair looks good to me.” Simon’s shyness flared as his gaze dipped away, then came back to her.
“Thanks. I didn’t have to take a math class this past semester. It gave me time to grow it back,” she teased. She glanced past Simon to Adam, who’d gone quiet. “It must be hard to excel at anything and be recognized for your accomplishments when your father is such a high-profile figure.”
Adam’s head snapped up. His gaze met hers. “It’s like living in the shadow of a huge cloud. He starts rumbling and everyone turns to stare at him to see what he has to say and what he’s going to do. It’s like I don’t exist.”
Simon bumped his shoulder to Adam’s. “Tell me about it. Everyone kisses my dad’s ass.”
“What does your dad do?” Brooke was happy she had this chance to get to know them better.
“He and his family own Opal Oil.”
Damn. They were billionaires. She didn’t know what to say, except, “Wow. How does he feel about you studying biology instead of business or something?”
“He’s more interested in my older brother, who’s happy to join the family business.”
