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“You mean meeting Marcus?”
“I never should have hesitated to meet him or any of your friends.”
“He likes you too. Hasn’t stopped talking about how to convince the Reynoldses he’s getting a bike. The bravado will vanish as soon as we get home.”
Ed laughed. “You guys have good chemistry together.”
“Funny, he said the same thing about us.”
Ed sipped more coffee, then cleared his throat. “Are you busy Saturday evening?”
“How long do I have to wait so my answer doesn’t sound ridiculously eager?”
God, Ed’s laugh warmed him to the toes. “I can’t promise there will be any time to fork, though.”
“Then I’m busy. Totally busy.”
Ed nervously played with his cup. “My parents have wondered why I’m out more than usual. I told them I’ve been hanging with a friend.”
Jack managed not to let his smile slip at that distinction. “Uh-huh.”
“Long story short, they’d like you to come over for dinner.” Ed looked up, all kinds of hope and nerves in his eyes. “Still busy?”
Chapter Eleven
On Saturday evening, Ed picked Jack up from the bookstore parking lot. Jack had been anticipating the evening since the moment he’d agreed to come. It wasn’t like he was being introduced as the boyfriend, but still….
“Last guy I dated was spring semester last year.” How on earth had their conversation turned to their exes? “He turned out to be an asshole.”
“Sorry.” Ed didn’t press it, but Jack could tell he wanted to know more.
“It happens. Once I mentioned how Dad and I went to yard sales, and he told me he was sorry I had to go to such a ‘low class’ event. His words, not mine.” Dumb fuck. It wasn’t the money that mattered.
“Nice guy.”
“Yeah, I know. I told him a few things about me and my family that I thought would be private. My mistake. After we broke up, he made sure to tell anyone who would listen some of the more personal things we shared. Enough things that I really haven’t wanted to date anyone else from campus.”
Ed shook his head and swore under his breath. He settled a hand on the back of Jack’s neck and gently squeezed. “Sorry, Jack. The guy sounds like an ass.”
Jack sighed into the touch. “What about you? You mentioned an ex….”
“He was a guy I knew in high school. We banged into each other at the library a couple of years back. When he noticed I was checking him out, he and I got… friendly.”
Jack snickered.
“He wanted our relationship to be in the open. Didn’t care who knew, but I did. Told him I wasn’t ready. One day I get home and a friend of mine is sitting on my steps, on edge, nervous. Evidently he let slip about us to force my hand.”
“That’s pretty shitty of him.”
“Things didn’t work out.” Ed shrugged. “He certainly wasn’t ‘the guy’ worth the risk of coming out.”
Jack’s breath stalled. Hope and frustration and disappointment glugged through his body, settling heavily in his feet.
Stop being ridiculous. You’ve only known him three weeks!
He was meeting Ed’s family, though.
As a “friend.”
Ed pulled his hand back and changed gears. “I guess I understand how you felt betrayed by your ex.”
Jack laughed tightly. “Because of him, I’ve acquired a reputation as a stuck-up snob who thinks he’s better than everyone else.”
“How’d that happen?”
“Got a few minutes?”
“Yeah, I think so. I’m just driving this hot guy back to my place. I don’t think he’ll mind.”
Jack twisted around in the small cab. “I think he left. You’re stuck with me.”
“Not a problem. You’re more interesting anyway.”
Heat stole over Jack’s face. “You probably know that Harrison has its share of kids from wealthy families.”
“Just a few.”
“Yeah, well, Kieran’s family is one of them. I overlooked that because he seemed nice.”
“You don’t like your own?”
Jack had entered one of those taboo date topics and tried to pick his words carefully. “Marcus and I are in the weird minority. Mr. Reynolds is a partner in a big law firm, and Mrs. Reynolds is a doctor in a small medical practice. But we’re considered to be at the lower end socially at Harrison. We’re not old money or hedge fund daddy rich.”
“What about the kids who are on scholarship or get financial aid?”
“Assholes like Kieran refer to them as ghetto.”
“Really nice guy.”
“I did say he was an asshole.” If only he’d noticed it sooner. “These kids with rich parents tend to travel in groups and have adopted a pack mentality.”
“What?” Ed laughed. “They surround their prey and take turns going in for the kill?”
“More like there is a pecking order, and those of us not at the top need to feel honored when those above us are generous enough to find us interesting.”
“Let me guess. You didn’t display the appropriate amount of gratitude.”
“Evidently not.” Especially since he had more waiting in his trust fund than any five combined. He was glad he never shared that with Kiernan. “Saying no isn’t considered good form for someone of my social standing. Who knew?”
