“No,” I clarify. Because truthfully? Despite all our frustrations and disagreements, I love it. Researching, the trial and error, soaking in the silence and debating insight. It’s challenging and often infuriating, but it’s also one of the things I look forward to every week. “But if we complete it before the gala—”
“He stays.” His mouth tenses. “Got it.”
“What’s the harm?” I press. “Right?”
His Adam’s apple moves through a swallow. “Yeah.”
I admire the bookmark in my hands. I still can’t imagine Sumner thinking of me as he picked it out. “I love this. Genuinely. That’s not sarcasm.”
The smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Happy birthday. Almost officially.” He glances down at the time on his phone. “We are both about to get in a lot of trouble.”
24
I’m not in trouble, whichis fantastic because I’m not sure how much more I can afford. Mrs.Vidar-Tett is this weekend’s resident attendant, and as a birthday gift, or extended apology, she waves me to my room with a warning.
Only after I climb the stairs and peer down the hall do I notice the streamers. My chest expands. Students sometimes decorate each other’s doors for birthdays and other special occasions, but I didn’t expect it this year. Analiese’s been drowning in schoolwork and newspaper deadlines, and Jared isn’t around to remind everyone to “be nice, it’s her birthday.” The details take shape as I grow closer, a few half-blown periwinkle balloons and a handwritten sign that readsHappy Birthday Delaney!
A barely audible creak, followed by a whispered hiss. “Delaney!”
Sabine and Inessa poke their heads out of her room and pretend to toss confetti into the air. “Happy birthday!”
“You did this?”
“Yeah, girl!” Inessa steps out of Sabine’s room and starts walking backward toward her own. “Meet here tomorrow around ten.”
So I do.
I email Mr.Kovacs and tell him I won’t need lab access afterall, then pull on my favorite corduroy dress with a cotton turtleneck underneath. I find my favorite fleece-lined tights under my bed and slip on my headband and loafers before stepping out to find—
Analiese.
“Hey,” she says nervously, eyeing the decorations. She has shimmery streamers in her hand. “Someone beat me to it.”
Just then, Sabine and Inessa emerge from their separate rooms, a bundle of energy and excitement.
“Analiese,” Sabine says, smiling. “Come with us. We’re gonna take Delaney to Betty’s.”
Betty’s Coffee House has the best hot cocoa and chocolate croissants in town, no question, which is an open secret because the line is long on weekends. Analiese doesn’t like to go unless she brings a book to pass the time.
“You don’t—” I start.
“Yeah, I’d love that.” She pastes on a smile.
If Analiese feels the seismic shift in distance between us, she doesn’t show it. Our text messages are a long string of rain checks. I didn’t realize how much newspaper bonded us until I was no longer doing it. I miss her, but I don’t miss her rigid scheduling. It’s been freeing, in a way, doing things for myself. And while I’m glad she’s coming with us, I’m not sure how she’ll fit in with Sabine and Inessa. They’ve never run in the same circles.
We’re a jumble of noise and footsteps as we clatter down thestairs and into the commons, where William reads in an armchair next to the lit fireplace. His hand threads lazily through his waves before he glances up, spotting our tiny parade.
“Not Enzo doing homework on a weekend morning,” Inessa hollers from across the room.
He grins, and my heart careens down to my toes. He’s wearing the lost and found hoodie with a pair of dark jeans, hair lightly tousled. His eyes soak in the warmth of the room when they land on me.
“Get your ass up and join us,” Inessa says.
William sets the textbook aside, beaming.
“You only turn eighteen once.” Sabine pushes her back against the door, but William steps over to hold it all the way open. “So it’s gotta be memorable.”
I glance at William. She has no ideahowmemorable.
