Little Thief
Seriously, though. Economics is rough.
Me
It can be.
Little Thief
Says the TA. Tell me, are you majoring in Economics?
Me
Is there a problem with Economics, Miss Public Policy degree?
Little Thief
Did your research again, huh?
Research. Obsession. Same difference, right?
Me
I have my ways. What made you want to go the public policy route?
Little Thief
You can blame your father on this one.
My eyes widen. My father? What would Violet’s degree have to do with my father?
Me
What’d he do this time?
Little Thief
I’m half-kidding.
Me
I’m not. The man’s an ass. Let me guess. Seeing the way Harden Heights thrives while The Drift is a crime-ridden shithole taps into your savior complex and makes you want to fix the imbalance of it all?
Little Thief
Ding, ding, ding. So tell me, why Economics?
Me
Maybe you and I aren’t so different, Little Thief.
She types a response but must delete it at least a dozen times. I wonder why. Did I accidentally step on a grenade by highlighting our similarities instead of our differences? With a frown, I reread our conversation a couple more times before following up my text with another one. It’s an out. Or is it? I’m not sure, but I send the invite anyway.
Me
There’s another Harden Night next weekend. I want you to come.
Her response is just as jilted, but after a solid thirty seconds, her text comes through.
