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Chapter Ten

Reed

I didn’t hear a single word my professor said in Probability and Statistics today. Not a word. Not to mention, I didn’t take a single note, yet when I left class, the board was covered in blue ink.

Not good.

I’ve never been the guy that gets distracted in class. Never. Through hangovers, flus, heartache and death–I pay attention, damn it.

But ever since that night at the beach…

“I almost didn’t go that night,” I tell Fabian as he adjusts his cufflinks, both of us standing staggered in front of his bedroom mirror.

Fab, eyes still on his wrist, says, “oh yeah?”

“Yeah. I almost stayed in and worked on my Combinatoric Structure final notes. But my mom was so amped on Elijah and his daughter getting here, and she was so set on everything being just right. The flower arrangements in every room, the pressed edges on the damn bedding–I just needed to get away from that, you know?”

Fabian eyes me in the mirror. “I mean, not really, because my mother requires perfection for all things, not just for special moments, so I’m used to that constant flurry state.” He taps his breast pocket, where he hides a few joints. “But I found the cure.”

I clap my hand on his back, between his shoulders. “You’re a genius.”

“Fabian Frank, how are you my dear? How are your parents?” my mother scoops Fabian’s face up in her hands, squishing his cheeks as she kisses one. To her credit, she smooths her hand over the pink lip mark she leaves behind.

He smiles, swiping discreetly at his cheek. “Hi Ms. Lancaster. I’m good, and my parents are good. My dad is in Europe right now and my mother is with him.”

My mother reaches for her pearl necklace, rolling one of the delicate spheres between two fingers as she converses with Fabian. “Pleasure I hope?”

Fabian shakes his head. “Business.”

“Ah, that’s too bad. I know how hard they work.

I hope they find time for a little bit of pleasure,” she smiles, then turns her focus to Elijah entering the room.

“Elijah, this is Fabrian Frank, his father is Darren Frank, and his mother, Elsa and I are bridge friends. Fabian and Harrison have been friends since they were five.”

Elijah, wearing a smile, extends a hand to Fabian, and they shake. “Good to meet you, Fabian.” He looks my way, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Harrison, good to see you. What class did you have today?”

Elijah has been learning my schedule. And in doing so, he asks me pointed questions about my coursework. It’s exactly what I need in a mentor, but today, I can’t handle his questions because I was spaced the hell out in lectures, thinking about Vivienne.

“Probability and Statistics,” I reply, heat rising up around the collar of my dress shirt.

“Hey, Elijah, have you been to Clear View Country Club yet?” I look over at my mom, and Fabian does the same.

“Ms. Lancaster, tell me you’ve taken Mr. Beaumont to the club?

” Fabian adds, and it’s at that moment I make a mental note to write his Lord of the Flies paper.

My mother’s head falls to the side as she fits an opener over a cork, opening a bottle of wine.

“With furnishing Vivienne’s room, getting her enrolled in school, and sorting a few personal things–we haven’t had time.

” She takes note of our suits. “You two going to the Young Entrepreneur's mixer tonight?” The cork comes out with a pop, and Elijah produces two long stem glasses for her to fill.

“Right after this lovely meal, Ms. Lancaster,” Fabian answers, wearing a charming smile. “Well, we’re picking up Sinela first, then heading that way.”

My mom’s face brightens, but I don’t miss the way her eyes slide to me for a moment. “I haven’t seen Sinela since Harrison’s graduation party last summer. How is she? Still aiming for Harvard?”

Fabian nods, his face all lit up the way it always is when he talks about his girlfriend. “She’s good. And yeah, she did early acceptance to Harvard. She got her letter a week ago. She’s excited.”

“And what about you?” mom presses. I know this is a sensitive topic for Fab since he doesn’t want to leave Florida, but I don’t have to bail him out because at that exact moment, Vivienne pushes through the swinging den doors, her arm linked with another girl. A girl who I don’t even see. I can’t.

Vivienne, in a knee length emerald pleated skirt, fitted white polo and knee-length white socks, pops a hip, resting one hand there as she surveys myself and Fabian.

Her blonde hair drifts down her shoulder in loose waves, waves I see strewn across my pillow or waded up in my fist. “Dad, you said dinner was casual,” she starts, but my mother’s laughter cuts her off.

“Oh don’t worry, Vivienne. The boys are only in suits because of the dress code at the Club. They’re heading to an event there after dinner.”

“The Club?” Viv questions.

“Clear View Country Club,” the girl on Viv’s arm fills in the blanks, grabbing our attention. “Hi,” she greets shyly, raising one hand. “I’m Ricky. I have classes at Dulce with Viv.”

Mom smiles. “It’s great to meet you, Ricky. We’re glad to have you.”

A waiter pops his head in the den, where we’ve all managed to end up. “Ms. Lancaster, dinner is ready.”

My mom brings her hands together in that slow, silent clap that rich ladies do. “Lovely. Everyone?” she pushes open the door between the den and dining room, ushering us through.

Somehow I end up right next to Vivienne, and as the wait staff slides plates of food in front of us, mom and Elijah duck out, in search of the perfect bottle of merlot to go with the beef wellington being served.

Ricky asks Fabian about public school, giving me the opportunity to nudge Viv gently. “I like those socks,” I whisper, my cock rising from the sheer proximity. I can even smell the orange blossoms in her shampoo. “Dulce looks good on you.”

Her green eyes come to mine, wide and shining. “You look good in a tux,” she says, her voice wobbly, like even admitting it is painful. On the outside looking in, we almost appear as if we’re enemies. Only Fabian knows what's really going on.

“Thank you,” I reply, knowing it must stop here. An exchange of compliments is all there needs to be right now. All there needs to be ever.

I wonder if there’s public housing available on campus?

Vivienne rolls her lips together. “You guys are going out tonight?” She looks at the lapel on my suit, searching for words as she attempts to mask her disappointment.

I’m flanked with the urge to tug her chair closer to mine, tip her head back and place a soft kiss on her lips.

I want to tell her it’s okay, that I won’t betray what we have, that she doesn’t have to worry.

But then again, that’s exactly why I’m going.

To forget her and what we have, what we’ve done.

“We’re going, too,” she adds while I’m stuck analyzing the short hem of her skirt, wondering how many times she bent over today and made every high school boy hard as a rock.

Looking up into Vivienne’s eyes, I realize that she has brought out a possessive streak in me.

Never before have I cared what a girl did when she wasn’t with me, but with Vivienne, insanity chews up logic and spits it out.

Finally I process what she’s telling me.

“You’re–you and Ricky are coming to the Club?” My heart is racing. I’m going to avoid her, yet I’m excited she’s going. This is so fucked. “How?”

Her eyes narrow.

“I mean, you’re not…” I trail off, and try again. “Is Ricky a member?”

She nods. “Yes. And we’re going tonight so that I can get my mind onto other boys.

Distracting boys. Boys that don’t live in my house, boys that aren’t my step brother,” she whispers, her eyes flitting between mine as she feathers the painful truth against my lips, leaning in. “I’m going to forget you.”

“Harrison,” Elijah starts, entering the room with my mother in tow. “Did you get around to revising your resume for that internship?”

My head swims and my pulse spikes. She’s what… gonna go get laid? She shouldn’t be going to the club with just Ricky, even on Entrepreneur night. She’s new and vulnerable and it’s a bad idea.

Or is it the best idea ever and that's why I hate it?

“Harrison?” Elijah hedges, sliding into his seat as my mother sits in hers.

“I haven’t yet, sir,” I reply, garnering a knowing glance from Fabian. He knows my head has been in the clouds, aka dreaming of Vivienne, all damn day. “I was preoccupied with other things today but I’ll be getting to it next week. ”

With a satisfied nod, Elijah turns his focus to Ricky, and begins peppering her with questions.

In the process, I learn things I don’t give a shit about.

Ricky’s entire family has attended Dulce, and everyone is a member at Clear View.

Ricky is friends with Brooke, and the girls will be sleeping over at Brooke’s tonight.

Brooke wore a yellow dress today that Ricky just loves.

Ricky also likes music, but is majoring in business in college to make her father happy and keep her place in the family will.

Of everything I heard, the lie is all that stuck.

My mother and Elijah would likely have no problem going with Vivienne and her friends attending the club tonight.

It’s for the younger members, and the club is the safest place in the city due to the heightened security required for high end members.

Why is she lying about going? The only reason I can think of is that she’s going to a party, and she doesn’t want to hide her hangover.

If she sleeps over at Brooke’s, she can wreck herself tonight and sleep it off tomorrow.

I didn’t know who she was that day at Arcane’s. It’s not my fault we’re here, that much I know. Fate brought us together, made our chemistry unreal, then let us know that we couldn’t have the thing we were so eager to have. It’s fucked up, and no one is at fault.