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Dammit. I asked.
“Atherengagement party?” Aidan smirks. “Yeah. Parker was there.”
That’s all he says.
Since I’ve come this far, I prompt, “How was that?”
“Underwhelming,” he replies.
I have no clue what to make of that answer.
Thankfully, he elaborates this time.
“She’s changed. We grew up together. Our moms were—are—best friends, so Parker was always around. We played in the yard as kids. Got into trouble on vacations together. She used to be…” He shakes his head. “She used to hate all the fancy shit, same as me. They had an eight-piece orchestra at the party.” Another head shake. “Fucking ridiculous.”
“Did you talk to your brother?”
“Nope.” He pops the P. “That was another highlight of the night, actually.”
“What about your parents?” I ask as we step out of theelevator and head for the same table as last time. “Did it go okay with them?”
I’m overstepping. He’s here for tutoring, not a therapy session.
But I’m curious, and Aidan doesn’t appear annoyed by the questions.
“We didn’t talk much. My mom was so busy with the party, she barely noticed I was even there. Got into it with my dad when I left early, but I held up my end of the deal. He won’t cut me off.”
“Your dad said he’dcut you offif you didn’t go to the party celebrating your brother marrying your ex-girlfriend?”
“Yeah.” Aidan grins unexpectedly. “Bet your family’s looking pretty normal right about now, huh?”
I mean…yeah.
His smile grows, like he knows what I’m thinking. “Don’t worry, I know it’s fucked up. If you ask my parents, it’s my fault Parker dumped me, so I have no right to be upset.”
“Shedumpedyou?”
“Uh-huh.” He’s not looking at me, pulling his textbook out of his backpack and flipping through the pages. “After I picked Holt over Stanford.”
“You got into Stanford?” I ask, stunned.
Aware that’s a little harsh but also…he failed a class here. I’m doubting his high school grades were stellar.
Aidan looks up and smirks. “Ouch.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean…”
“Money can buy most things,” he tells me.
“I wouldn’t know. My family doesn’t have a ski chalet in Vail.”
I hide the wince that wants to appear. I didn’t mean to bringColorado up. Neither of us has mentioned it recently, and that’s how it should stay.
“Your friend does, though,” Aidan says, appearing unbothered by the mention.
“That was probably my only visit,” I tell him. “Jess and I hung out a lot in London, but we’ve barely talked since break. She goes to school down in Georgia.”
“What about your friends in Boston?”
