“You’re both the worst,” Dev says, but his eyes are twinkling. “And I guess you don’t care that he doesn’t know the first thing about you?”
“That’s why I need to spend more time with him.”
“Sure. So you can tell him your name is Elle and you love real estate.”
“Your boyfriend doesn’t know your real name?” Sage asks.
“Elleismy real name! Technically, at least. And he’s not my boyfriend... yet.” I glare at Dev. “We’re getting to know each other slowly.”
“Maybe you should tell him your father owns Jaguar. Or that you’re the heiress to Heineken. I bet that’ll pique his interest.”
I kick out at him and he laughs.
“So, whatdoyou know about him?” he asks.
“He’s working for his father’s very successful real estate company. He... he’s traveled all over Europe and has been to America twice. And he likes imported beer and cricket.”
“And let me guess, you told him that you also love cricket?”
“I can learn to like it.”
“I bet you don’t know the first thing about it.”
“That’s what Wikipedia is for.”
“Ellie, you can’t trust those sites. Anyone can write stuff up there,” Sage says. “You need primary sources.”
Oh Lord, only Sage would suggest using primary sources to decide what to say to a guy.
She points at Dev. “You’re on the cricket team here. You can help her.”
“Oh, hell no. I don’t want anything to do with this train wreck in the making.”
“How do you know about cricket?” I ask.
“Just because you’ve never heard of it doesn’t mean that no one has.” He rolls his eyes. “It’s a huge deal in India. My whole family is obsessed.”
Huh. I cock my head.
“I’m not getting pulled into this weird little drama with UK Ken, though. If you want to learn about cricket, there are plenty of other ways. You could even join! It’s a coed team.”
Now I roll my eyes. “Like I have extra time to join a sport here. Maybe I can come by your room sometime if I have questions? Just one or two?”
“Fine.” He turns to Sage. “How’s the tea?”
“Oh...” She takes a small sip. “It’s good. Just the right amount of sugar.”
I look back and forth between them. They’d make a really adorable couple if they could get on the same page, but Sage seems oblivious to how Dev feels and I have zero faith that Dev knows what he’s doing either. For all their AP classes and study strategies, it’s comforting to know that they’re just as clueless about some stuff in life.
Chapter
12
I’m jittery as I step out of Will’s car onto the streets ofBath the following Saturday. That’s probably 30 percent due to the crazy-narrow roads Will barreled down on our drive here, and 70 percent sitting next to him. I can barely make eye contact with him as he comes around the car to join me. He’s dressed perfectly, from his snug jeans to his scuffed boots to his double-breasted navy peacoat. Don’t even get me started on that coat. The popped-up collar alone makes my heart leap.
We walk down a narrow city lane lined with upscale stores selling clothing, bath products, and lots of other things I don’t need but desperately want. Something about their unfamiliar European names makes me twitchy to explore them all. Unfortunately, it’s late morning and most don’t look open yet.
Will points to a coffee shop. “Do you want to pop in for a drink?”
