By contrast, Arden, Lydia, and Terry had been whispering about my birthday for weeks, with a dramatic uptick once I mentioned Neill’s probable attendance. I knew perfectly well he was only coming to gorge himself on free food, but rather than spoil the festive atmosphere, I decided to let them discover the truth firsthand. As soon as he regaled them with a few choice anecdotes about papers he was thinking of writing, or the pithiest comments he’d made in class that week, my friends would beg me to run the other way.
The day swept onward, and I sailed happily in its wake until it was almost six o’clock and the house smelled pleasingly of fondue. My triple-layer yellow cake with chocolate frosting was waiting in the kitchen. At last the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it,” I yelled, hurtling down the stairs. When I yanked open the front door, Anjuli glowered back at me. My smile crumbled to dust.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, after rapidly discarding my first theory (a rupture in the fabric of space and time).
Anjuli gave a huff of annoyance. “Your mom called my mom.”
“Why didn’t you say no?”
“She would have asked too many questions.” Her eyes shifted sideways. Was that a flash of guilt? “Don’t worry. I won’t stay long. There’s a Maya Deren retrospective at the Orpheum later, so obviously everybody from EFS is going. We might get coffee after.”
Speaking of mothers, mine chose that moment to step into the hall. “Come in, come in,” she said, beckoning to Anjuli. “Why don’t you go on into the living room? We have snacks.”
As soon as Anjuli was out of earshot, I turned on my mother. “Why did you invite her?”
“I assumed you’d been too busy with school to worry about party planning.” She patted my cheek. “Sorry if I undermined your independence.”
This was so far off the mark I had no idea where to begin. Had she not noticed Anjuli wasn’t coming over anymore? Did she payanyattention to my life whatsoever?
The doorbell sounded a second time. “I’ll get it,” I said, reaching for the knob.
I was so ready to turn to my mother and say,See? These are my real friends!that it took me several heartbeats to register that I was looking at Neill. He didn’t wait to be invited in.
“Got something for you,” he said, and I almost fell over from the shock.Neillhad gotten me a present? Then I realized he was talking to my mother. He held out a thumb drive as if presenting her with a jeweled scepter. “My latest magnum opus.”
Mom smiled thinly. Neill wasn’t one to write twenty pages when forty-five (plus references) offered so much more scope for his brilliance. “Thank you, Neill. I’d better get back to the kitchen. There are things in need of ... stirring.”
“Is she here?” Neill asked as soon as we were alone.
“Who?”
“That girl you were talking to at Mung’s. Your sister’s friend?”
“I’m not surefriendis the right term. And no, Phoebe is not here.” She was probably too glamorous to attend a sixteenth birthday party. Even though I hadn’t wanted her to come, I felt preemptively offended by the idea she wouldn’t show.
“Great name. Perky.” He made squeezing motions with both hands that I opted not to interpret. “Can’t wait to further that acquaintance, if you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, she’s pretty busy. Lots of ... commitments.” Not that she was honoring them.
He winked. “That’s what I’m counting on. Fits right into my plan.”
Part of me considered putting my fingers in my ears and humming, but the rest was too curious. “What plan?”
“Have you seen my course load this semester?” When I shook my head, he snorted. “Let’s just say it’smonumental. Do I have time to manage a relationship? No way. But does that mean I have to be alone? No. It means I need to be smart. Which as you know is not a problem.”
By pretending I was a statue, I managed not to gag.
“I figure anywhere between a third and a half will work with my schedule.”
“A third of ... ??”
“A girlfriend. Especially if there’s another lady involved. The two of them can handle all the emotional business, freeing me up to devote the necessary time to my studies.” He leaned forward, lowering his voice. “I’m on track to finish my PhD by twenty-two.” He nodded, as if I’d made some expression of amazement. “Quite a feather in your parents’ cap.”
I shook my head. “Van will never date you.”
“Not directly, but by extension—”
