“Hot? Sexy? Scrumptious?” Kitty supplies oh-so-helpfully.
“Kit, you don’t even know what the man looks like.”
“Well, I’m about to when I have reliable internet and can look him up.”Of course.Maybe it’s a blessing she’s decided to extend her hike another six weeks. “And in the meantime, you now have the perfect distraction for the weekend.”
“What’s that?”
Kitty sounds way too delighted as she answers, “Figuring out Grayson Gold’s new adjectives.”
The bleachers area sea of styled hair, proud smiles, sundresses, and ties, everything cast in the dead, grayish hue that indoor stadium lights have down to a science. Or maybe it only appears that way because I’ve gotten too accustomed to the warm tones of sunshine.
It’s easier than it should be to spot my parents in the bleachers. They’re the only couple wearing formal black, mom’s white-blonde hair an abrupt contrast with her tailored dress.
I used to want hair just like hers—a short bob, always curled, bleached to such an unnatural shade it demands attention. Thank goodness Kitty told me about color theory. I scoot my way down the row, and Mom’s perfectly done-up face tracks my progress.
“Eliza.” She stands up for a stiff side-hug when I arrive.
Dad glances up from his phone. “Good to see you.” You’d never think that from how he goes right back to analyzing his stocks.
“Itisgood to see you,” Mom says, giving me a once-over as she sits. “What happened to your hand?”
“Cooking accident. It’s fine.”
She harrumphs. “You look…tan.”
“It’s summer.” I lower into the seat they left open between them.
“It is summer, but you’re also working hard in your free time to find another job, yes?”
And so it begins.
“I am. I finished two more applications for Suzanne last night.” One of them had involved a test assignment that took me three hours to complete—which should honestly be illegal. It’s free work from people that company will never have to pay.
“Only two?”
“I would do more this weekend, but James is graduating and I’m here with you.”
She’s not impressed with that retort, but before she can respond, an announcement is made and the ceremony begins.
Speeches, names, and awards go on for the next three hours, and I might be the only person here who wishes it was even longer. Fortunately, it takes another thirty minutes to find James after the event, and even longer for him to take photos with all his freshly minted lawyer friends.
He’s a chatterbox in the car as we head to dinner, buzzing with excitement, and I’m reminded this weekend isn’t about me; it’s about celebrating my nerdy little brother, who’s worked his butt off since elementary school and just fulfilled his dream at an incredibly competitive program.
I’m proud of him.
It doesn’t matter that our parents have always held our successes over the other’s head, or that he and I aren’t as close as I’d like. This is ahugedeal.
I elbow him as my parents take a corner. “You realize I’m calling you for any and all legal trouble.”
He’s the spitting image of my father, all dark hair,Roman nose, and intelligent brown eyes. “Don’t know if you can afford me, sis.”
“The sibling discount’s one-hundred-percent off.”
“It’s subject to change.” He’s only half-kidding, which doesn’t surprise me. We’ve never been the type to trade heart-to-hearts or take pictures with each other.
Besides, a bit of snobbishness is probably necessary for the environment he’s about to be in.
The dinner conversation is mostly about James. How much he’s already prepared for the Bar Exam. If he’s excited to move into his new apartment. Which of his friends are working for equally prestigious practices in the city.
