“I have ten minutes before I have to leave. Was grabbing my laundry.”
I scoff. “I thoughtTheta Rho Zeta’sManor had maid service for that.”
“They do. But I, uh… Never mind. It’s broken this week.” His grip clamps down on my shoulder. “I heard a rumor.” He says it loud enough that my mom’s eyebrows shoot up.
My jaw clenches. “What?”
When he turns, his body towers over me. Long blond hair hangs stringy and loose around his shoulders. “Did AyanfuckingDutta cheat on you?”
Mom snaps, “Language, Landon.”
“Sorry, Kinsley.” To me, he lowers his voice. “Did he?”
Dad peeks around him, popping a few grapes into his mouth, blue eyes suddenly serious and icy.
“Yes.”
“I’m going to kill him.”
Dad grabs both of his shoulders, then shoves him toward the door. “Get to your game.”
Lan points at me, then waves two fingers in front of his eyes. He’s not going to let it go. “Uncle G. Aunt Kins. Youneed to educate your daughter on how a man should treat a woman.”
“That’s rich. Coming fromyou,” I say, crossing my arms.Technically, he’s my first cousin. But my mom and dad adopted him when he was an infant after my uncle died. And that was before I was born. I’ve only known him as my brother.
But he still seems to call attention to the fact that he’s notone of uswhen he chooses.
Before he heads out the door, he swiftly plants a kiss on my cheek, then stuffs the rest of the pizza rolls in his glaring face. Dad perches on a bar stool, too big for it. He’s silently waiting for me to say something, and I can sense his anger bubbling beneath his skin.
On the counter behind him sits a stack of medical journals and a yellow folder stampedCONFIDENTIAL – MATERNAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. Mom quickly slides it under a magazine when she sees me looking.
“Is Bo at practice?” I scan the room for my younger brother.
“He’s out with the football crowd tonight,” Mom answers as she stirs some pasta. Casually, and without looking at me, she asks, “Are you two done, then?”
“Yeah, we’re over. He was a mistake.”
“George, try this,” she says to Dad, shoving a spoon of sauce in his mouth. He nods once. “Well, the POT is being weird. And I’m hoping they won’t appoint you to Ayan Dutta. Especially now.” Mom’s face, one that’s almost a reflection of mine, pinches with seriousness.
“Me, too.”
“I want to take a more active role at NU and not allowthem to determine who my child will be married to. Especially now that I’m hearing about…” She glances at me, her cheeks turning pink.
“About what?”
Dad’s hands ball into fists.
A long moment of silence stretches as Mom plates up fettuccini. “They have some newbreedingprogram. I don’t know what it entails. The president of Northview University is being evasive about it. But I think it has to do with new drugs being pushed through our hospital. Ones that increase fertility.”
Dad’s hand tightens around his fork, hard enough that the metal bends slightly.
My jaw drops. Then one thought cuts through the shock. “It’s good that I’m on the pill, then.” I shove a piece of garlic bread into my mouth.
Mom doesn’t smile.
“That’s the thing.” She waves her pasta spoon in the air like a conductor. “There seems to be ashortageof pills right now.” Lower, beneath her breath, she says, “I’m telling Elle. She’ll do a more thorough investigative report.”
Elle Joseph is my mom’s close friend. And the Northview News’ top journalist.
