I see him put the pieces together as he clenches his jaw and moves his eyes back to mine. “Good morning, Fay,” he says, his calm belying the anger I can see roiling behind his eyes. “Good morning, Kent,” I whisper, leaning against the doorframe, wanting the support. Kent opens his mouth to s
“Oh my god, Daniel,” I spit, blushing beet red and leaning forward across the table. “Are you serious? Before coffee?” He leans back in his chair and glares at me. “What, do you think coffee is going to make this any better?” “Yah,” I say, snatching his own tiny espresso cup from its place in fr
I cock my head, curious about that. “Daniel,” Kent says, his voice even but unfriendly. “Don’t you have class to attend?” Daniel just crosses his arms, glaring at his dad and not responding. But Kent doesn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he turns to me. “Fay, I’d like you to go to lunch today at
At eleven, I walk through the door to the garages, a sigh on my lips. I see Jerome immediately, waiting by one of the black cars. He gives me a big smile, which I return unenthusiastically. It’s not him – I just…really don’t want to go to lunch at my father’s house. Jerome gives me an understand
“Oh,” I say, frowning and feeling guilty all of a sudden. “I didn’t mean to – I’m sorry –“ “Romulus,” Tristin calls, and I look up at her, still standing stern by the door. Romulus lets go of me and runs to her. I follow closely behind. Tristin gives me a steady stare as I climb the steps to
My father is shooting out of his chair, Tristin going pale across the room and gathering Romulus close to her side. My father strides towards me, his face livid with rage, a shade of red I haven’t seen before on a human face. I back away quickly, bumping hard into the doorway as I go but eager to ge
Jerome and I come back a few hours later after an afternoon of light chat. We kept it easy, neither of us wanting to address the elephant between us. Instead, we talk mostly about horses. When we enter the house we’re too busy laughing, the dregs of our milkshakes still in our hands, to notice Kent
I surprise myself with my wicked grin, then, as I look down at him. Because this, at least – this cat and mouse game? It’s familiar ground. And really, I do know, after last night, that Kent isn’t going to enforce that contract if I don’t want him to. He wants me to want it. And, if I’m honest? Af