“Bryan Aldridge asked Katherine to be his date, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. They’re going to look gorgeous together. And his father is on the board of St. Elizabeth’s.” She smiled, insinuating that I use the relationship to further my career. Mymedicalcareer.
I clutched my napkin beneath the table as I tried to keep my expression neutral. This was it—I just needed to tell them. I needed to tell them I wasn’t going with Bryan to the gala, and I wasn’t going to med school.
I could do this. I had to do this. The add/drop deadline was looming, and my father was too well connected, had too many friends on the college board, to keep this secret for long.
“Actually, um.” I cleared my throat. “I’m not going.”
“Of course, you’re going,” Mom said as if I was joking. As if my attendance was a given. “You will be there, and you will go as Bryan’s date.”
“No.” I shook my head, and even Hunter seemed surprised by my little act of rebellion.
“Daniel, please put away your phone.” She glared at Dad who had started texting almost as soon as he’d ended the call. “And talk some sense into your daughter.”
Dad set his phone aside with a sigh. “This is not up for negotiation. And it’s a great opportunity for you to network. A number of the best doctors in the city will be there. You can start talking to them about summer internships.”
It was the perfect segue into my new major, my new career path. The perfect opportunity to tell them it wasn’t necessary. None of it was necessary because I wasn’t going to med school, and I wasn’t going to be a doctor.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, Mom, Dad, but…I already have a date,” I blurted in a panic.
I’d choked. If that was how they reacted to my refusal to attend a stupid gala, I could only imagine the uproar if they knew I’d ditched premed to attend art school. And I couldn’t do it. I told myself the time wasn’t right, but I knew that was a lie. I was terrified.
“Who is it?” Mom asked. “Is it—”
“You haven’t met him,” I said, cutting her off. “But we will be there.” I nodded. “I will be there.”
Hunter narrowed his eyes at me, likely trying to figure out what the hell was going on with me. I knew he was also likely trying to figure out the identity of my date so he could run a background check and then put the fear of god into him.
“At least tell us about him,” Mother said as the next course was served. “Is he your age? Older? A fellow student or—”
“I met him at school,” I answered quickly, hoping to move on to a new subject.
“What do his parents do for a living?”
“You know, I didn’t think to ask.”
“Well, I look forward to meeting him,” she said. She seemed to miss the sarcasm underlying my tone, finally turning back to Hunter. “How’s the new house coming?”
I tried to force myself to eat, but I mostly just pushed my food around the plate. Despite the fact that it was my favorite—salmon—I’d completely lost my appetite.
Hunter smiled. “It’s good. I hired a decorator, and she’s got some great ideas.”
“That’s wonderful, dear.” She patted his hand. “You know, I’d be happy to look over samples and give you my opinion.”
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary. My designer is—” He cleared his throat, covering his mouth with his napkin. “Very capable.”
Okay. He was totally acting weird—cagey and like he actually gave a shit about the interior decorating of his home. The fact that he’d even purchased a house was a shock, but now he was having it decorated and he seemed to be enjoying himself.Huh.
Finally, after dinner ended, Hunter and I bid our parents goodbye before climbing into his car. I sank into the leather upholstery, grateful it was over. I’d survived another week. But I’d also lied for another week. What was wrong with me?
“What was that about at dinner?” he asked as I fiddled with the temperature settings.
“What?” I played coy. I knew what he was referring to. I just didn’t want to talk about it.
“The gala—you have a date?”
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“No. Of course not.” His grip on the steering wheel tightened. “When do I get to meet him?”
