“We both know it’s not just breakfast, Em.”
I don’t respond, because she’s right. It’s unspoken, but all of us have kept that tradition sacred. None of us Brandt kids have been keen to invite outsiders in on our traditions. Evan is the only one who has brought a girl to breakfast. And we all knew she was special—special enough to marry.
Which is why my bringing Julia is so inexplicable. I didn’t even think twice. It felt obvious. Like,of course, it would be fine if she came for breakfast.
“She’s cool. You’d be overachieving if that ever became a thing.”
I chuckle at that, because she’s not wrong. But it’s still impossible. “Shit, thanks, Parker. But don’t get your hopes up. She’s Theo Silva’s little sister. A terrible fucking idea. Plus, I have to finish out the show.”
Parker scoffs and shakes her head. The look she hits me with borders on disbelief. “You really going to sit here and lie to us both?”
Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. “What? Like you’re being super forthcoming today? Got something to share with the class, Parker?”
“Funny you should put it like that because remember how I was supposed to graduate after taking this one stupid summer political science course for my last credits?”
“Yes,” I venture carefully.
“Well, I pulled an all-nighter helping Opa with a breech foal delivery, fucked up and slept through my final exam. It was weighted at fifty percent of my final grade. My marks were good going in, but not one-hundred-percent good. So now I’m fucked, and this professor is strict as hell. I swear the man is like forty going on eighty and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t believe me. He just keeps sayingthe policy is clear in the syllabus.Like some sort of stuck-up automaton.”
My stomach lurches. “Fuck.”
“Yeah. That’s what I said.” She yanks the bottle from my hand. “So it’s looking like I get to do a whole extra semester of school. With Dr. I’ll-scowl-over-my-glasses-at-you-in-disappointment. Like it hasn’t taken me long enough or cost me enough already to finish this stupid program. I wassoclose, Em.”
I reach across the space between us and give her hand a squeeze as she takes a swig. “When I get paid, I’ll cover the semester.”
“No, you won’t. I’m a big girl. I fucked up. I’ll pay the price. I’m going to talk to him again during office hours. All I want you to do is sit here and wallow with me, please.”
And after admitting out loud that I need to finish the show and that Julia is off-limits, wallowing sounds pretty damn good.
So that’s what we do.
CHAPTER 19
Julia
Theo
Honestly, Jules. Can you tell me ANYTHING? What about the title? I’ve been deep diving online, searching for clues, and reading fan theories. But it’s a brand-new show, and there’s zero information.
Julia
You need a hobby.
Theo
It’s the offseason. I’m bored. Have pity on me, sis!
Julia
You’re annoying. Go bug Winter. She signed up for you. I was born into this without consent.
Theo
I tried!
Theo
But she gave me that hot, grumpy look she does and told me to stop trying to make another baby. Apparently, it’s “too soon.”
