And twenty minutes later, I regretted my decision.
I mean, it was only coffee. And it was fine. But there was no spark. At all. He’s cute, sure, but I could have just as easily brewed coffee at home and stared at a picture of Harry Styles for twenty minutes.
We had nothing to talk about, but that didn’t slow Chris down. He prattled on and on about God knows what. And the whole time, all I could think about was Caleb. He’s never boring. And he never drones on about himself. And he’s funnier. And way better looking than Chris. And…not my boyfriend.
But that’s good because there is no space in my life for a boyfriend.
After that disaster of a coffee date, I took the bus to Target and loaded up on school supplies in an effort to drown my sorrows. Some people drink. I buy highlighters.
But things are looking up. It’s the first day of school, and I’m ready.
My day started with my Business Law lecture and a caramel frap. Not a bad way to begin. And now I’m sitting in my advisor's office, discussing the internship I’d emailed him about last week.
“It’s officially posting tomorrow morning, near as I can tell, Lucy. You’re smart to get the jump on it, quite honestly. Amber Foley interned with the LifeReach Foundation last year and had a wonderful experience.”
Actually, she hated every minute of her time there, but Dr. Philippe doesn’t need to know that. And though it was dreadful, Amber said the contacts she made there were instrumental in getting her into a very competitive program at Northwestern. So, if I have to deal with dress codes and morality clauses for a few months, who cares?
“I’d heard the same,” I say. “That’s what intrigued me so much. As you can see, my resume is ready, and I have the letters of recommendation ready, as well. As soon as I see the post on their social media accounts, I’ll hit send on my email.”
“Wonderful, Lucy. I can tell you it’s been many years since I’ve had a student as talented and motivated as you are.”
“Thank you,” I say, unable to keep myself from preening just a little. I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am, and it’s nice when that hard work is noticed.
We discuss my classes, and Dr. Philippe recommends that I take Business Ethics next semester, so I have room for an independent study my senior year. I agree, and after compulsory small talk, I thank him for his time andhead out.
There, in the hallway, is Derek Stillman, my archrival. He’s been competing with me since freshman year and he’s shady as hell. Where I’m motivated, he’s manipulative. Where I’m ambitious, he’s amoral. But I can’t worry about him. I have an internship to apply for. I smile a polite greeting as I walk past, and he pastes a fake smile on his face, as well.
Ugh. Way to ruin a perfectly good first day.
Chapter 4
Lucy
School’sonly been in session a few days, but already I have a mountain of work. It’ll have to wait, though. My dad is in town, and he insists on taking me out for my birthday. How can I say no?
It’s been just the two of us since my mom left eight years ago, and we’re pretty close, so I couldn’t tell him I have two hundred pages to read before Friday, on top of a response paper and proposal.
Besides, knowing my dad as well as I do, he’d smile and say I need dinner to fuel up so I can study. He made his way through med school with top honors and is now an anesthesiologist at one of the premier medical centers on the East Coast. Hard work is his best friend.
I finish reading and mark my place before changing into a wrap dress and ballet flats. I run my long brown hair through the straightener to smooth it out and throw on some lip gloss and mascara. I trade in my silver hoops for the sapphire studs he gave me for my last birthday. When his text comes through, I grab my purse and head out.
Dinner is a fancy affair, but it’s my twenty-first, so I enjoy it. We’re at DeAngelo’s, a restaurant I’ve never been to in downtown Madison. But my dad likes to spoil me, and he loves Italian food, so I think nothing of it.
Until he starts tapping his foot under the table. My dad is not a nervous man. Not ever. He’s a straight shooter. A take-your-medicine kind of guy. When my mom left a note to tell me she was moving out, he didn’t flinch or shed a tear. He just told me we were better off without her, and then asked if I’d finished my homework.
So, this foot-tapping man in front of me is not someone I recognize.
“Dad? Is everything ok?” I ask, genuinely worried. God, what if he has bad news? He’s fifty-one, which doesn’t seem old, but terrible diseases strike at any age and—
“I’m fine, Lucy. How are classes?”
We talk about my schedule for a bit, and I tell him about the internship I applied for. Soon, our drinks and appetizers arrive.
But then, the tapping is back.
“Dad, seriously. You’re making me nervous. Do you...have you been to the doctor lately?”
My heart is pounding as I’m running terrible scenarios through my head, and my dad just laughs.
