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He looked up at the stars, just visible past the lights of the city. “To at least go so far as to try to hide their disdain.”
“You don’t hate us.” I knew it to be true on some bone deep level. I would’ve figured it out if he did by then. “No, I don’t need advice for talking to Lionel.”
The apartment upstairs was so noisy right then. My father yelling at the maid, Hope and Layla arguing about clothes… They would all go out soon, and then I could be alone to read. That’s really what I wanted. I didn’t have to go to a party that night. I was free. “I wanted advice about dating,” I explained.
Michael gawked at me. “Why would you think I have advice on that?”
“You’re always dating.” I shrugged, but Layla and Hope certainly didn’t date, and Justin hated everything and everyone this year. I didn’t even want to speak to him lately. My father?Forget it.He’d grunt and then he’d scream at me. I didn’t have friends, since it was too hard with my forced appearances at events and my need to have alone time to fit friendship into my schedule. “I thought you might have advice.”
He shook his head before running a hand through his thick hair. “I’m not always dating.”
I shrugged, considering him carefully. “Women are always texting you. Presumably you date them.”
I struggled to read Michael, which was unusual because I could read most people. I didn’t have the slightest idea what he thought about what I’d just said, and his expression revealed nothing, as usual. Finally, he answered me. “How do you know women text me?”
I shrugged again. “I notice everything. Hard for me not to. It’s like a blur of information sometimes. Anyway, women text you, and I noticed. Any advice?”
“You could be a spy.” He shook his head. “But then you’d probably tell everyone you were a spy, and it would all go to hell. Okay, first of all, I don’t date those women. I really don’t have time to date, if I’m honest. I spent most of my twenties in the service, or overseas, or getting my degree and my MBA.”
Yes, he did sound busy. Very busy. Of course, being impressed by Michael wasn’t something new for me. I hoped I got to go to college. I really wanted to, but I wasn’t sure if it would fit into my life yet.In another year, they’ll have to be past needing me to pose, right?
“You’re in your thirties.” I knew that much about Michael, at least. And that, although he was born in China to an American father, he came to the States when he was ten. “You could date now.”
“At the moment, I’m building something, which takes a lot of my time. I’m not sure I’m made for relationships. You’ll understand, maybe, when you’re older. I see those women but it’s not really dating.”
“Oh,” I sat up straighter. “They’re just hook ups?” That I understood.
He held out his hand to stop me like he really didn’t want to go there. “Who is this kid that you’re going on a date with? Does he go to your high school?”
The cars on the street honked, but I was so used to the background noise of New York, I hardly noticed it anymore. The wind blew, cooling my face. “He goes to NYU, a freshman.”
“What?” His voice was louder, and I peeked at him. “You’re still in high school. You have, what? Another year to go? What does this ass think he’s doing with you?”
Well, that was unexpected. I rolled my eyes. “I’m seventeen. He’s nineteen. It’s not illegal or anything.”
“No, it’s just…never mind. I was living in a tent in Afghanistan when I was nineteen, so you’ll have to excuse my perspective. It might be skewed. You wanted advice? Fine. Here’s advice: go somewhere in public, and he pays. You’re a rich girl with a lot of publicity. Guaranteed, he knows that. It doesn’t mean he’s a bad guy, just…makehimpay. Whatever you do, he pays whether he’s rich or not. That’s how you’ll know he’s not after you for the wrong reasons. I know it’s not modern, maybe, but he shouldwantto take you out and pay. That’s my opinion. At least four or five times before you start offering to split the check.”
Huh.I hadn’t thought about that at all. I considered the possibility, then pointed out, “Surely, if he wanted money or publicity, he would’ve gone after Hope or Layla. They’re much more popular than me.”
“No. He’d go after you. Trust me, Bridget. You are the one they’ll pick a million times.”
I shook my head. “Don’t you read the papers? I’m the girl next door of the group.”
“Don’t you know what that means?”
My father bounded down the stairs. “Let’s go. I need to get out of here. Now.”
“Goodbye, Father.”
He barely looked at me as Michael jumped up and trailed him to the black car waiting for them to take them wherever they were going. I could just watch. Advice time was over. Wherever they were going, someday, I’d get to go, too. I’d be so important, people would always want me in their meetings.
I blinked awake.We were in the air, someplace over water. When had I fallen asleep? I unlocked my seatbelt then glanced around. Both Roy and Stephen snored in their seats. Tito was awake, earbuds in his ears. He nodded at me, then his gaze went back out the porthole next to him.
Michael leaned against the window across from me, sleeping or at least resting with his eyes closed.
What a strange memory to dream about, I realized as I stretched. Sort of random. Why had I been so stupid, to pester Michael of all people about dating all those years ago? I went out with Todd three times after that. He paid each time, and he’d been a good kisser, but then he broke up with me for a theater major, and I’d promptly forgotten he existed. My heart wasn’t hurt, not by Todd or anyone else, ever.
Nor until Michael professed feelings I couldn’t let myself return.
