“There’s no reason to wait.”
“Why the hell are you pushing this?” I ask, growing irritated.
“Because the longer you wait, the longer your father has a chance to fuck with you, and is that what you want?”
“He’s not going to fuck with me. He has menial things to do that he believes are far more important than developing an honest and thoughtful relationship with his son.”
“Have you told Renley about your father’s pressure to marry by the end of summer?”
“No,” I answer, unable to look Rupert in the eye.
“Is that why you haven’t told your father? Because you haven’t told her? Are you afraid that when you tell her, she’s going to think the feelings you actually have for her are some sort of farce?”
“How the fuck are you doing this? Are you a mind reader?”
He shrugs. “I just know you well enough at this point.” He fully turns toward me on the couch. “Don’t be dumb. Tell her how you feel and tell her the whole truth about everything.”
“She knows I came here to get married; she knows that truth.”
“But does she know about your father’s requirement?”
“No.”
“It’s called communication. Try it.”
“Fuck off, I have been communicating with her,” I say. “Probably the healthiest communication I’ve ever had.”
“Besides the one big elephant in the room.”
“It’s not an elephant in the room, and by making it seem like an elephant, you’re making it worse.”
“I’m just stating the facts.”
“No.” I stand from the couch. “You’re trying to get under my skin. If this is about the table?—”
“It’s not about the goddamn table,” he says, growing irritated as well.
“Then what is this about? You’re trying to start trouble with me and Renley, and I want to know why.”
“I’m trying to help you!” he shouts. “That’s what I’ve been doing ever since I got here. Help. I put my life on hold to be here.”
“What fucking life?” I ask. “All you did before this was party and live off your trust fund. You don’t have a job, Rupert, you don’t have responsibilities other than to fuck around with me. And you’re doing that here in America.”
“Wow.” He shakes his head. “You’re so fucking full of yourself, you know that? Not everything is about you, Theo.”
Feeling like I’ve been blindsided, I ask, “Where the hell is this coming from?”
“The fact that you even have to ask that question tells me exactly where your priorities have been.”
“Yeah, they’ve been with Renley, trying to get to know her, because that’s why we’re fucking out here. I don’t see why I’m getting chastised for that.”
“Because you have completely neglected me!” he shouts. “I thought we’d have a fun summer, kind of a last hurrah, and instead you’ve been completely consumed by a girl. You’ve forgotten that I even existed and left me out to dry, so I had to find my own entertainment.”
“Last hurrah? What are you even talking about?”
He shakes his head. “Never mind.”
He starts to walk away, but I grab his arm. “Rupert, why would this be a last hurrah?”
