“Michigan, actually.”
“Did you always want to go to NYU?” Jules asks, jumping in the conversation. And it’s then I realize, that for as long as she and I have been dating, this is only the second time she and Jules have spoken. The thought kind of bothers me.
“I did, but I would’ve moved here regardless of whether I was accepted.” She smiles and glances at me. “It just happened to all work out.”
“And you’re originally from Ohio?” Brian asks, and I notice he’s focused on me.
“We moved to Virginia from Cincinnati when I was seven.”
“Julia said you like the Reds.” He smiles and takes her hand, placing them on top of the table. “Did you see many games when you lived in Cincinnati?”
“No, not really. We couldn’t afford to go,” I answer honestly, staring at the way his thumb gently strokes her skin. When no one says anything, I meet his gaze. “My dad liked them. Had them on all the time before he left us. Guess it kind of stuck.”
He nods like he gets it, but I know he doesn’t. According to Jules, he grew up with an abundance of money and both his parents, so there’s no way he can understand.
I debate telling him as much, but Jules gives me a pleading look from across the table. One that I interpret as “He’s trying so, why can’t you?”
I clear my throat. “Where are you from?” I ask, doing my best to play nice.
“Chicago, originally. My family now lives in Maryland.”
“O’s fan?”
“Eagles, actually. I don’t really watch baseball.”
I wrinkle my nose. It’s not that I don’t enjoy football. I just don’t enjoy the Eagles. There’s a quip about baseball being America’s favorite pastime for a reason that dangles precariously off my tongue, but I bite it back when Jules kicks me under the table. There isn’t a lot of force behind it, but it’s enough of a warning that I get the message not to go there.
I kick her back.
“So, Trinity, you seem to be catching fire,” she says, as if I didn’t just strike her bare shin with the toe of my boot. “Chloe and I saw you inVogue.”
Trin seems genuinely surprised. “You did? What did you think?”
“You looked amazing,” Jules gushes. “Do you get to keep any of the clothes?”
“I wish,” Trin says dreamily.
“Me too,” I add with a smirk. This earns me a pinch from Trinity and an eye roll from Jules.
“What’s next for you?” Jules presses, leaning in and ready to gossip. She’s always been good at this part, connecting with people and keeping a conversation going.
“Well, I can’t get into specifics, but I might be signing a contract soon,” she teases.
“A big one,” I add.Thatearns a slap to my arm. “Ow! What? I’m proud of you.” She shakes her head, but I can see that she’s smiling. Technically, I was sworn to secrecy regarding all details of her working with a major lingerie brand, but I know she’s not really angry.
When I turn back to Jules, I notice she’s watching us carefully. I start to ask her how her semester’s been so far, but she leans back toward Trinity and plasters on a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
The rest of our meal is filled with small talk. Brian explains thathe’s also at Wharton, concentrating in business economics and public policy. He starts talking about investing, and for some reason, Trinity seems genuinely interested and asks him a million questions about it. To be honest, I don’t understand half of what he’s saying, so I keep my mouth shut.
Once our plates have been cleared and we’ve put in our orders for dessert, Brian excuses himself to take a quick phone call. When Trinity slips away to use the restroom, I let out a long breath, grateful for the break.
Jules and I look at each other from across the table.
“You look really nice,” I tell her. I’ve wanted to tell her that since I saw her standing outside of the restaurant and again when I saw her dress.
“Thank you.”
“The color of your dress brings out the blue in your eyes,” I tell her. She blushes but doesn’t say anything. “You know what would make it even better?”
