Chapter Seven Brewing a Plan #2
“Yeah, I can’t imagine growing up in a big family,” I say. I didn’t even have a cousin before now, because Mom’s only brother doesn’t have kids.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here. It’s absolutely the best thing ever to have a girl my age in the family.”
I smile at Sadie. I can tell she means it.
It’s funny. Now that I’ve met Sadie’s girlfriend and some of her friends, Sadie feels so different from them.
She’s almost na?ve, likely because of how privileged she was growing up.
I don’t think Sadie would last a minute in a Toronto high school—she’s much too nice.
But privilege and na?veté aside, she’s real and earnest, and maybe about the only person in Cherrybridge whom I can trust without second-guessing their intentions.
“Hey, is it true that Jason used to be a rebel?” I ask.
Sadie thinks for a moment, then shrugs. “He’s always been super responsible to me.
My dad says Jason works too hard and has been on Jason to settle down forever.
” Her eyes flit quickly over to the pool.
“Emmet, stop whipping the ball at Evan’s face!
Ugh. Boys are the worst. I’m so glad I’m a lesbian. ”
I laugh at that. But yeah, Jason working hard his whole life—for the town and his family business—doesn’t sound very rebellious. “You know he’s running for mayor, right?” I only mention it because Jason said his brother’s family knows.
Sadie nods. “Wasn’t sure they’d told you yet.”
“They did over dinner.” I sigh, then take a long sip of my drink.
“They want me to go to all these events and stand next to them looking like the perfect stepdaughter. I mean, I’m happy for him and all, but this is not what I signed up for.
Mom married the man, but now I’m stuck here, even after she promised me she’d never force me to leave Toronto. ”
“It’s only for the summer, though. And I’ll be at those events. Liv, too, for some of them.”
“I know.” I smile at her. The events will be better with Sadie there. “But… hey, Sadie, can you keep a secret?”
Sadie’s eyes widen, and she nods. She slides her lounge chair closer to me. “What’s up?”
“I overheard Jason say that it would be better for his campaign if I went to Randell in the fall. Because that’s where all LeClairs go, and he wants Mom and me to seem like we…
you know. Belong here. Belong in the family.
” I guess because I don’t look like a LeClair, he wants me to learn to act like one.
Sadie’s nose wrinkles. “That would suck. I can’t understand why everyone thinks Randell is so great. My mother’s still trying to get me to transfer back. My brothers are there, and they hate it.”
“Is the school racist?” I ask. I know Liv kind of implied that some of the teachers are.
“Not outwardly. I mean, I didn’t really notice it until I got closer to Liv.
I’ve seen the stuff people subtly say to her.
And I’ve seen people who seem to want congratulations for being nice to her.
I don’t think you’d be bullied or anything, but you’d be different.
I was the first girl to come out in our grade, and it wasn’t great. ”
I stand corrected about Sadie. Coming out before anyone else in her grade in a posh private school is brave.
She’s a lot tougher than she seems. I smile sympathetically at her.
Sadie really is the best silver lining in Cherrybridge.
“Toronto is one of the most diverse cities in the world. Being different isn’t something I’m used to.
” I shake my head. “I’m so mad at Mom for forcing me to be here for the summer, and now she wants me here in September, too?
I only got into trouble because of the stupid curse. So why is she punishing me for it?”
Sadie looks at me, confused. “Curse? What curse?”
Right. Sadie wouldn’t know about my family’s affliction. “Okay,” I say. “Again, keep this in your vault, but all the girls in my family have the same curse going back four generations… It all started when my great-great-grandmother pulled a gun on her fiancé, and his uncle cursed her.”
Sadie’s eyes widen in shock. I tell her all about the curse and how it specifically affected my grandmother, mother, and now me. “So, I get that, yeah, I was pretty dumb to go along with the guy’s plan, but this punishment is too harsh,” I say. “Mom made mistakes because of the curse too.”
Sadie shakes her head. “I’m sure your mother doesn’t think having you was a mistake.”
I shrug. “Well, they’re acting like I’m a bad kid that can’t be trusted, even though I’ve been basically on my own since I was fourteen.
I’m an honor student who wants to be an architect!
I mean, you should see this girl Kennedy in CROP.
She growls at people. And she stole my AirPods from my pocket the day I met her. Jason should be glad I’m not like her.”
Sadie winces at my description of Kennedy.
I slump down in my lounge chair. “Maybe I should show him what a real liability to his campaign is, so he’ll send me home.”
Sadie gives me a little mischievous smile. “If you want to go full delinquent this summer, let me know. I’ll get the spray paint.”
I laugh at the thought of Sadie and me tagging Main Street. “Honestly, I’m still scared of breaking the law. Maybe I should date another criminal.” I say it jokingly, but as the words come out of my mouth, an idea comes to me. “Wait, that’s exactly what I should do!”
“You want to date a criminal?”
“No, no,” I laugh, sitting up straight. I don’t know why I haven’t thought of this before.
“My mother knows about the curse, so she’s not going to be surprised if I date the wrong person again.
Jason said I could bring someone to all those campaign events.
And, conveniently, they’ve arranged for me to spend five hours a day with teens with criminal records. Why not bring one of them?”
Sadie makes a face. “Didn’t you say they growl at you? Besides, I thought you were never dating again?”
I shake my head. “Only Kennedy growls at me.” I smile widely and lean in closer to Sadie.
“I’m not going to actually date anyone; I’ll pretend to date one of them for all the events.
It will prove I don’t fit into perfect Cherrybridge, and Jason will insist that I be far, far away for the rest of his campaign.
And Mom will do whatever Jason wants.” I know I promised not to lie to Mom, but she promised that I wouldn’t have to live in Cherrybridge, and she broke that promise first.
Sadie laughs, shaking her head. “That’s positively diabolical, Meera. I love it. Who are you going to convince to pretend to date you, though? That Kennedy girl?”
I shake my head. One, because Mom knows I’m only into guys, and two, because I don’t want to lose my earbuds again. It needs to be someone I don’t mind spending time with. Someone who’s on the way to being a friend.
“I’m going to ask Noah Jacobs,” I say, and Sadie’s eyes widen at the name. “You said the Jacobs brothers have a bad reputation in town. Do you think that Jason LeClair’s stepdaughter dating a Jacobs brother would be a liability to his campaign?”
“Seriously? Noah Jacobs? He might be too… bad.”
“He’s not. I don’t know him that well, but he’s a good guy. He got me my AirPods back. And he’s… funny.” I chuckle, remembering our tree puns. “Trust me, Sadie, I don’t know about his family, but I’m positive Noah isn’t trouble. He’s great.”
Sadie eyes me suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re not suggesting this because you actually want to date Noah Jacobs? He is kind of hot.”
I shake my head. “I’m going to make it clear to him that this is fake dating only. I’ve already been a victim of the curse once. There’s no way I’m going to let it get me again.”
I smile to myself. This is perfect. Noah already sort of asked me out yesterday, and we had a few laughs together today. All I have to do is get him to agree to pretend to date me, and I’ll be sent back to Toronto before that first campaign party has even ended.
“Okay, I’ll trust you. Sounds like you have a potential solution to your problem. How are you going to convince Noah to do it?”
My shoulders slump. “I have no idea.” I remember how sympathetic he looked when I told him about my family and my goals.
And I remember his comment about wanting to see the looks on members’ faces if he walked into the country club.
“Maybe if I explain my situation, and tell him about the delicious country club food, he’ll agree? ”
I hope he does. Because this is the only way I can think of to get home.