Some of my happiness ebbed. “Because he’s going to Columbia?”
Almost from the first day they met, Daisy and Jamie shared the same dream—to go to New York University together. I never often felt left out between the two of them, but when they talked of that dream—roaming campus, going out into the city, spending what little free time college allowed them together—sometimes I felt like a third wheel. They even talked about creating a graphic novel together, with Daisy as the artist and Jamie as the writer.
And then Daisy had been waitlisted, and Jamie had chosen Columbia, which Daisy had only found out about just last night.
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.
“Daisy—”
“Nope. I’m not, Nellie. You might as well just drop it.”
I stretched my arms across the table, leaning my head down on them as I watched Daisy draw. “If it makes you feel any better, I only just found out he turned downNYU, too, when Mom paid the deposit. I didn’t know it either.”
This time, Daisy didn’t even respond.
I sighed, letting my gaze slip past her and to the other courts at Alderton-Du Ponte. It was warm out today again—a glorious sixty-five degrees. After a winter chill that had seemed to seep even into early April, this was a much-needed heatwave. A perfect day to be outside, soaking up the vitamin D.
A perfect day to be on the Alderton-Du Ponte grounds, waiting on a reply from a certain Pembleton.
A perfect day to get out of the house, avoiding thinking about a certain Jennings.
Electricity shot through me. I grappled for a word.O-M-N-I-B-U-S. “What time is it?”
Daisy flipped her hand over to check her watch. “Ten minutes to two.”
I rested my chin on my arm. Ten more minutes until it was our turn. Ten more minutes to fill the silence in my head.D-R-I-V-E-L.
Then, unbidden?—
I’d hoped you’d be uglier.
“Eleanor! Daisy! Oh my gosh, hi!”
Daisy let out a small groan, not lifting her head.
I lifted mine, though, and found Lydia Johnson and Raelynn Meyers walking over to us from the direction of the country club’s doors. The blondes were both dressed in activewear, even though I knew for a fact that their names weren’t on the list for thecourts.
Even though Lydia practically dedicated her life to being like me, the one thing I was happy about was howunalikewe looked. Blonde hair to brown. Light eyes to dark. A small consolation.
“What are you two doing here?” I asked lightly, curling my fingers under the table.
“We saw your name on the schedule and thought we’d pop over and say hi.” Lydia glanced at the other girl who flanked her. “We’ve been trying to get on the schedule for a game for weeks but haven’t had luck.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Raelynn agreed, and reached out for the chair beside me. “Where’s Jamie at today?”
Ah, Raelynn’s massive crush on Jamie. I didn’t think I’d ever understand it. “At home.”
She didn’t bother hiding her disappointment. “Do you two have doubles partners?”
“We normally play singles.” It was easier for Daisy and me to coordinate a schedule than adding two others, and Jamie hated pickleball with a passion.
“Oh, we should join you then!” Lydia took the seat on the other side of Daisy. “Raelynn, do you have paddles in your gym locker?”
Raelynn perked up. “I do!”
Daisy lifted her eyes from her sketchbook to meet mine, both of us thinking the same thing.This wasn’t a coincidence.
I collected my political science notes and slipped them into my bag at my feet. It’d be rude to outright refuse them, but I wanted to. Badly. “Well, our hour starts in a few minutes, so you’d have to hurry and?—”
