AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Bug him? The boy you spend every, single spare minute with?” She nudged my shoulder. “That’s cute, but I’m not buyin’ it, bestie. You’re both obsessed, and the sooner you get out of the friend zone and talk about something other than a quadratic equation or the structure of an essay, the better for everyone.”
She was right, of course. “Fine.” I fake smiled and sent him a text.
Hey where are you?
“Right behind you, Tutor Girl.” Henry laughed. “You miss me?”
I fumbled my phone and nearly dropped it. “Very funny. You said you wanted to meet
my mom, so—”
“Yeah, I do!” He smiled and looked around. “Where is she?”
I pointed to where she was standing with Lexi’s mom and Headmaster Waltz. “That’s her—in the white shirt and black pants.”
“She looks just like you.” Henry raised his eyebrows. “Is she a genius, too?”
“In her own way.” I smiled.
“Let’s say hi, then I’ll take you over to the Waltons. They’re dying to meet the tutor
who’s saved my ass this semester. You can hear all about what a disappointment I am to the—” Henry threw up air quotes. “Walton legacy.”
We were almost to my mom when Henry froze. “Shit. What are they doing here?” He turned, like he wanted to run but didn’t. “Damnit.”
Three boys I didn’t recognize were standing at the tall table next to my mom and Kate. “Do you know them?”
“Kind of.” Henry shook his head and let out a big breath. “It’s complicated.”
“Hey, hot shot!” One of the boys shouted and waved. Wearing pinstriped, collared shirts and shaggy haircuts that fell over their eyes, the three of them looked like they stepped right out a Tommy Hilfiger ad.
Henry took a step away from me.
“What's wrong?” I asked, but he didn’t respond. His face was pale—like he’d seen a ghost—and he muttered something to himself.
“Who are those guys?”
"They’re nobody, but—” He started to explain as we watched one of the boys hand his empty glass to my mom who was next to him.
“What the hell?” I asked.
My mom looked confused for a second but then laughed and set the kid’s glass on her table. Kate and Headmaster Waltz were in what appeared to be a serious conversation and, thankfully, hadn’t noticed. When an actual server walked up and put the glass on his tray, I realized my mom’s black pants and white shirt matched his. The rich kid thought my mom was the help.
I hurried to her, but Henry walked toward the boys instead of coming with me. He’d meet her later, I figured, so I didn’t say anything. “Sorry about that kid, Mom.” I handed her the glass of champagne sitting on the table. “They don’t even go here. Spoiled rich kids think everybody works for them.”
“It’s an honest mistake, Gracie.” She pointed at herself and laughed. “Next time, I’ll wear a black shirt and white pants, so I don’t confuse anyone.” While I desperately wanted to know what Henry and those idiot boys were talking about, Headmaster Waltz wasn’t going to let me eavesdrop. “Miss O’Connell, I was just telling your mom that you’ve been consistently setting the curve in most of your classes.” I nodded and pretended to be interested in whatever else he was saying about me.
Henry
Seeing Grace was busy chatting up Waltzy and the moms, I hurried to get rid of my friends. “What are you fools doing here?”
“It’s Visitation Day, isn’t it?” Mac said and put out his hand.
I shook it. “Yeah, but it’s for parents. I mean, I’m glad to see you guys, but—”
Sam reached to shake my hand, too. “Your dad invited us. Flew us with them on the family's copter. Pretty sweet ride, I gotta say.”
Nick leaned in for a bro-hug—a handshake plus an arm around my shoulder. He looked sideways toward Grace. “Is that why you haven’t called to complain about this place?”
