Lex laughs. “Unless it isn’t already clear, I’m blunt. I have a reputation around school for being unapproachable. I’m also rude and rich.” An easy, self-deprecating smile tips his lips. “I’ll be honest, and blunt, and perhaps a tiny bit rude. Mrs. Kole, I like your daughter. I don’t think I’ve ever liked anyone quite as much. She’s too studious to give anyone the time of day at school, and to intrude upon her without her consent is an entirely different problem. I manipulated her into this agreement, so I could attain the right to hang around her with consent. As far as activities are concerned, most notably, we are partners in our joint class, I bother her when I can find her during lunch, and I’m insufferable until she takes the bus home.”
Mom’s expression twists, some anger filtering away into complete bafflement. Blinking, she says, “I’m sorry. You’re doing this because you like Calypso?”
“The embarrassing nature of the whole situation is why she’s done her best to refrain from sharing any details about it.” Lex clears his throat. “Also, with her soft personality, she feared she’d be unable to reassure you away from the obvious misconceptions you have had.”
Mom’s gaze drags to me, and I wince. Lex has even decoded how my mom sees me. As some weak little kid. Soft and broken. Once again, he’s making herright. Or, at least, I hope he doesn’t believe those things about me. I don’t want to be weak and childish in his eyes.
“I want to hear it from you, Caly,” she says, and I can almost meet her eyes because she’s finally used my nickname.
I swallow hard. Whispering, I say, “It’s true. We haven’t even kissed.”
Lex’s sigh breaks the moment of quiet that follows my words. “While the contract stands, I’m not allowed anything more than convenient time around her at school. Blame the pompousness of refusing to give up on my upbringing. Time is money, after all. I’ve learned only to waste either on the best.”
That’s a direct Kenneth quote, the first I ever heard him begin to utter. I glare at Lex, and he flashes me a full, bright grin. Muttering, I respond with Harriet’s line, “How you could possibly think I’m the best, I’ll never know.”
Mom notes the interaction, then sets the contract down beside her plate. “I really don’t know what to say to this.”
“I know.” I lift my fork and nudge some of my casserole around on my plate. “It’s insane. He’s insane. I really didn’t know how to say anything without making you think something horrible or less of me.” Something tastes bitter, like my next words confirm I regret something, like I really am ashamed of anything involving Lex. “I’m sorry.” I wasn’t.
Pain siphons into Mom’s eyes, but she lifts her fork, returning to her food like things are simmering down, like things will be okay. “Why couldn’t you just tell me, Caly? It’s weird, but if you really aren’t doing anything wrong, then…”
My fist clenches. “It’s hard to talk to you sometimes. Our personalities…are really different.” They don’t mesh. It feels like she doesn’t trust me, even whenever she says she does. It feelslike she always believes the worst of everything, including me.
Hardening again, Mom turns her attention to Lex, who is merrily eating like everythingstillis completely normal. How does he do that?
“This arrangement lasts until the end of this school year. What are your long-term plans, for once this contract is null and void?”
Chuckling, Lex looks my way, and dang if he isn’t a good actor. There’s nothing but soft love in his eyes, in his smile. It makes my heart stammer.
“Well,” he begins, his voice tender and gentle, “with any luck, by then Calypso will have fallen in love with me, and I can court her properly.” His smile falters, and before his eyes drag back down to his meal, they ache. “I’m not holding my breath. After all, we’re not even friends.”
My chest pinches, and I don’t know why, but I look at Mom. I look at Mom, knowing my expression is hopeless and troubled. I look at Mom like she can do something about it.
Mom sighs, lifting a bite of spinach bake to her lips. “I wouldn’t be so sure. It seems like you’d have to be at least friends to come all the way here and make dinner together. I take it you’re responsible for ‘getting muffins,’ too?”
Lex brightens, and the business façade seems to melt into something else. Something more open and pristine. Like that perfect boy he pretended to be when they first met. “Sugar mentioned the muffins?”
“She brought six home, yes?”
“Ah.” Lex serves himself some more casserole. “We were supposed to be working on a project that time. I thought she mentioned the muffin offerings I bring her at least once a week. I was hopeful that perhaps she talked about me, even vaguely.”
Mom’s brows rise, and something almost comfortable starts to enter the room. Pinning me, she says, “You mean you onlythought to share one time when you get those amazing things every week?”
I cough, choking on a swallow. “They are my special lunch snack.” She barely accepts whateverthisis, but she’s already interested in stealing my muffins? What the heck.
Mom chuckles, letting the smallest smile lift her lips. “You know I’m not against you having a boyfriend, Caly.”
And now she’s ready to start making whatever this is official? Because of muffins? Or what?
I twitch. “I am kind of twenty-one.” Whywouldshe be against me having a boyfriend? Why is that even something she feels she has to say? I can get married if I want to. I don’t even have to tell her.I am an adult.
Lex grimaces. “Please, don’t pressure her. Calypso does her best to make you happy, and I’d rather her decision be hers alone, not influenced by anything else.”
Mom’s chin lifts, and she rolls her eyes without a hint of ire. “You really believe I could influence her that much? I’m not forceful. I let my daughter make her own decisions and live her life. I’m just teasing.”
She really believes that, doesn’t she? She really believes that the things she says don’t have the kind of impact that they do? That all the things that cut me deeper than anything else are justteasing?
Unfaltering, Lex offers a full, brilliant smile. “All the same then, teasing her like that may ruin my chances.”
