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“I know, I know.” Victoria chuckled. “I was just testing you.”
I smiled in response, grateful to have such a supportive sister. As she got up to grab more snacks, I took the opportunity to steal a glance at my phone. I wanted to text Emilie, but that was forbidden in the season. I knew people did it, but Emilie was very worried about taking a wrong step and attracting attention.
“Do you know what you’ll wear tomorrow?” Jack asked.
“What’s tomorrow?” Victoria asked when she came back into the room with a package of cookies.
I shook my head. “You’re a human garbage can. How do you expect to fit into a dress next year if you keep putting away the junk food?”
Victoria huffed, tossing a cookie at me. “I’ll worry about that later. Right now, I’m pigging out.”
“Do you want to wear the navy blue slacks?” Jack asked, steering the conversation back to my attire for tomorrow. It was his job to make sure my clothes were clean and ready when I was attending a function.
I nodded, grateful for the distraction from my own thoughts. “Yeah, that works. Thanks, Jack.”
“No problem,” he replied with a small smile.
As the night wore on, I found myself getting more and more restless. I couldn’t stop thinking about Emilie, about how much I missed her.
“I’m going to bed,” I said with a yawn.
“Gee, are you tired, Theo?” Victoria teased.
“Very funny.”
I went to bed, hoping tomorrow was a better day. If Sophia was around, I was keeping Emilie away from her. I wasn’t going to let anyone make her feel bad.
The next morning, I rose early, excited about the tennis match that all the Wed season participants were set to attend.
Jack was at my door with my pressed slacks and the casual button-up I was wearing. “Thanks. Have you seen Astrid this morning?”
“No, we plan to meet for lunch,” he said.
I nodded absentmindedly. “Good.”
“Do you think you’ll be late?” he asked.
I shook my head, letting out a long sigh. “I have no idea. I’m just hoping Emilie will go. I’m not sure if she will.”
I dressed for the event and headed downstairs. My parents were enjoying a leisurely morning after their late night.
“How were the races?” Dad asked.
“It was as you would expect,” I replied, trying to hide my impatience. “I was bored. Emilie left early. It wasn’t fun.”
“Why did Emilie leave early?” Mom asked with concern. “Did something happen? I hope this has nothing to do with the fact you didn’t come home after the ball.”
“It didn’t,” I said.
“Did you do something to offend her?” Dad asked.
I frowned. “I didn’t,” I said, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl. “It wasn’t me. It’s the season. It’s the rumors and gossip. It’s hard.”
“Because of her sister,” Mom said, sighing.
“Yes. People are cruel. They don’t think before they talk. They think it’s funny. They don’t seem to understand Emilie is a real person who’s getting screwed over here. She’s the one that got yanked out of her life and was plopped into her sister’s life. No one asked her. Everyone assumes these matches are a chess game. Feelings are not factored in. Hopes and dreams are not an issue. It’s bullshit!”
They both stared at me with shock on their faces.
