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“Yes, uh. He’s in my class. I’ve known him since first term.” Her voice quavers, and it’s nice to know she’s weird in front of her dad, too.
“Yes, I was at her thirteenth birthday party, the one you all held at that ice cream parlor on Cherry Street.” I loved that party. All you can eat ice cream and the place all to ourselves. Plus, the man hired a band who covered anything we requested.
“Cameron, right,” he says, his eyes crinkling at the sides as we continue to shake. I let go when he initiates it, and while I’m pretty sure he doesn’t really remember me, I admire his effort to make me feel important. Damn, he’s suave.
“I guess you could say we’re workout partners too. Right, climbing partner?” I wink at Brooklyn who suddenly looks ghost white and mortified, despite her efforts to hide it with a smile. I grit my teeth and put on a forced smile of my own, realizing that my rambling probably was over the top and unnecessary. That was an overshare.
“Is this where you tripped?” He lifts a sharp brow and stares at his daughter. I open my mouth to try to explain it away, figuring she doesn’t want him worrying about her banged up knee. I’m surprised she mentioned it to him.
“Aren’t you going downtown today?” Brooklyn asks before I have a chance to speak, making a quick change of subject and looking to me.
Her father pulls out his phone, looking at a message.
“I have to run. Rescheduled my flight . . .finally. Glad we got to have breakfast this morning, though,” he says. Her dad kisses the top of her head and nods to me before taking big strides toward the main parking lot. He does that cool thing where he jerks his arm to expose his fancy watch so he can check the time while he walks away. I try the move while I look on, and it works. Only, I don’t have a fancy watch.
“Cameron?” Brooklyn brings my attention back to earth. Away from the sexiest man alive.
“Oh, yeah. Uh, I am. But . . .” I hold up my phone to show the message. “I have been summoned. I’m gonna have to take an Uber.”
“I’ll wait for you. I can drop you off.” She pulls her coat tight and sits on the planter wall right by the door.
“You sure?”
Theo’s voice slips into my mind.Brooklyn’s different.
“Absolutely,” she says, her smile taking up her entire face, red lips that part to hit me with one of those magical sparkles from her teeth.What is it with that family and dental hygiene? Damn!
“Okay, I’ll try to hurry this along,” I say, bouncing on my feet.
I rush toward the office, stopping to show Karen my text message. She’s on the phone, so she nods me toward the headmaster’s door. It’s clear he’s waiting for me as he stands from his chair with an envelope in his hand that’s probably meant for me.
“Let me guess, you changed your mind and those are my expulsion papers,” I say, only half joking. We both know that walking around campus in boxers is mild for me.
“I’m afraid you’re stuck here, but . . . I have had a change of heart.” He taps the envelope against his open palm as I look on suspiciously.
“I’m guessing you aren’t changing the dress code to incorporate an underwear day.” I chuckle. He does not.
“You’re off the hook for maintenance work. In exchange, I am going to need you to help out as a server for a very important gala Walden Bennett is hosting for his campaign. There will be a few Welles students helping out. In a way, you could say this is a privilege.” He hands the envelope to me, and I peek inside to see a formal letter with instructions on parking at the hotel, arrival times, and a badge for workers.
“What’s the catch?” I glance up and lift a brow.
“No catch. We need volunteers, and I’m aware I may need topersuadea few of them to work. This event is a way for Welles to be involved, and it is vital that our institution be mentioned in rooms like this.”
No catch, huh?There’s always a catch, but he may be showing his cards with this one. The catch is that he has leverage against me—I can either scrape gum and clean toilets or spend one night holding a tray of hors d’oeuvres in a room of Boston’s elite. Brooklyn will be there, too.
“All right. I’ll do it,” I say, tucking the contents of the envelope back inside then slipping it into my suit pocket.
“Wonderful. And maybe you can see if there are any members of the football team who would, perhaps . . .”
I nod. This is also part of the catch—asking my friends so he doesn’t have to. I don’t think Theo or James will mind, and maybe a few other guys I know.
“They’ll want compensation of some sort. Community service hours, maybe?” I add, knowing that I’m excluded from any extra perks.
“Done,” he agrees.
I leave him with a tight smile, still not sure whether I gave the devil a part of my soul just now.
Brooklyn stands the second I exit, and I can tell by the way she takes the stairs slowly that she’s sore from our climb.
