Page 163 of The New Place

“To the Cape? Yeah, we go every year and I thought you wanted to come with us,” Ned says. “It’s right on the beach, and you can help me beat Pat at volleyball.”

Nothing. Just her eyes on him and the set of her jaw.

“Not a volleyball fan?” Ned asks. “I never said this, but between you and me, I need your help because your brother should probably stick to statistics, not venture into sports.”

Not a laugh at that, or even a smile.

Ned ducks closer. “What’s going on?” he asks, pitching his voice low and confidential.

“Not come to the Cape. Come to Switzerland,” Liesl says. “To see me.”

“I—he did?”

“He said you’d tell me yourself, but you haven’t.”

“Oh.” Ned straightens. “I guess I’m not entirely sure of that trip yet.”

“But he said.”

“Right,” Ned agrees. Who hasn’t Abbot told? Ned’s credit card company, though wouldn’t they just be thrilled to see yet another charge that will accumulate interest while Ned tries and fails to pay off the balance.

“Aren’t you?” Liesl asks.

“I would love to,” Ned hedges.

“That’s what you said last year.”

“I did.” Ned nods slowly. He sure did. He’d been so excited too, until the fun of this imagined trip touring the Alps with his gorgeous boyfriend gave way to the actual reality that no way in hell was he going to be able to make that happen.

Peggy tugs at his sleeve. “I’m cold.”

“Yeah, let’s get you in the car,” Ned says, but Liesl’s still looking at him, an accusation in her face.

Ned turns to Abbot, but Liesl beats him to the question he’s forming. “You said,” she tells him. “You promised, about this summer.”

“Yes, of course,” Abbot says. “Ned, this summer in Switzerland. Liesl wants to make sure you’ll come.”

“Like I care,” she mutters.

“Come to Switzerland,” Ned says, like he’s checking they’re all on the same page about where exactly he’s supposed to buy plane tickets to.

“Aren’t you?” Liesl asks.

“I…” he starts, and he’s ready to defend himself, he realizes.

Which he shouldn’t have to do, because he didn’t ever tell her he’d go, and whatever Abbot said to her is a hell of a lot more of a guarantee than Ned ever made.

He’s a little mad, he finds, a dim burn of it kindling in him. Because what is he supposed to say to Liesl now? He can see the disappointment on her face that he never meant to put there.

But when he turns to Abbot to fix this, Abbot has the same creased forehead. “You don’t want to come?”

“Of course I do,” Ned says quickly. He bends down to her, so he can look her in the eye, not tower over her. “Liesl, I’d love to come, but I don’t think I’m going to make it this summer. I’m really sorry. Maybe next year?”

“That’s what you said last summer,” Liesl says.

“I know,” Ned says gently. Yeah, he very much remembers, thanks, Abbot. “I wish I could hang out with you and have you show me all around, but we’re going to have to wait.”

“Why?”