Chapter 22 #2
“I’ll take a water too, Mom,” he says, guiding me over to the open couch.
Philippa nods on her way to the kitchen. “Sure thing.”
“Rory likes ice and lime in hers,” Flynn adds as we sit.
I elbow him discreetly. “I’m fine with whatever.”
“I have ice and limes too,” Philippa says. “It’s no trouble at all.”
“Thank you,” I call after her.
“Sounds like your new job has been keeping you awfully busy, Flynn,” Dan comments, helping himself to one of the bruschetta. “We were hoping you might be able to visit our new place on Nantucket.”
“It has,” Flynn answers, adjusting his tie. “I would have loved to make it, but the Hamptons are a quicker trip from our apartment.”
He tosses it out casually, but I believe it’s intentional, unlike my earlier gaffe. Flynn’s gaze is on his father, not Dan, observing his reaction to the revelation.
“I wasn’t aware you were living together,” Julian states. “Your mother and I hadn’t even had a chance to visit your old place.”
Flynn shrugs. “New one is better.”
“We would love to have you over for dinner sometime,” I say.
“We would,” Flynn confirms. “Rory can whip up one of her specials for you guys.”
I nudge his ribs again. He glances at me, the corners of his eyes creasing as he flashes me a wide, genuine grin.
There’s a sudden clench in my chest.
“That would be nice,” Julian states, missing the subtext.
“Did you move to New York recently, Rory?” Flynn’s uncle, Frank, asks.
“I moved back recently,” I reply. “I grew up in the city. Just left for college and for law school.”
“Rory is a Kensington,” Julian declares. “One of Oliver and Hannah’s daughters.”
I nod awkwardly.
Until Julian announced it, I hadn’t realized not everyone here knew who I was.
Flynn didn’t mention my last name when he introduced me to everyone, and I wonder if that was on purpose.
As Kit’s best friend, he’s been exposed to plenty of interactions where people act differently as soon as Kensington is mentioned.
“Oh, so you’re one of Kit’s cousins?” Perry asks.
“I am,” I confirm.
“I work at Bradford, Nash, and Monroe,” he tells me. “I was there when Collins was a paralegal at the firm.”
“Oh, cool. You’re a lawyer too?” I glance at Flynn, who seems to have stiffened even more, not sure why he never mentioned his cousin’s shared profession. Never mentioned his cousin, period, who seems perfectly nice.
“I am,” Perry confirms. “How is Collins doing? I haven’t seen her recently.”
“She’s good. Busy, between performances and chasing after Dylan.”
Perry smiles. “Say hi to her from me.”
“I will,” I tell him, although it occurs to me that Flynn would be the better person to pass that message along. He talks to Kit more often than I do.
“Here are the drinks.” Philippa sets down two highball glasses filled with ice and sparkling water, a wedge of lime perched on each rim.
“Thank you so much,” I tell her, stealing a sip.
“Where are you working, Rory?” Perry asks, continuing the conversation.
“I’m at the Manhattan Public Defender’s office.”
Perry lights up. “That’s awesome. I spent a summer at the Public Defender’s office when I was in law school. The caseload is exhausting, but you feel like you’re making a real difference every day, you know?”
I nod in agreement. “Exactly. Did you consider public rather than private practice?”
“I more than considered it,” Perry says. “But I couldn’t swing New York rent and loan repayment on the salary. The plan is to stick with corporate law for a few more years, accumulate some savings, then make the change.”
“That makes sense.”
I steal another sip of water, realizing I stumbled into an awkward topic.
This house must be valued at eight figures.
The Parkses not only paid Flynn’s law school tuition, but they made a hefty donation to encourage his acceptance.
I don’t know any details about the source of their wealth, but it appears to be limited to Flynn’s immediate family, not his extended relatives.
“Are you guys spending all summer on Nantucket?” Flynn asks the Waylands.
“We’ve hardly been there,” Lorraine replies. “We’re selling our house in California now that Greer has graduated from Stanford. She’s the one who’s been out there the most.”
“She’s considering moving to New York this fall,” Dan adds. “We suggested she reach out to you before signing a lease. I hope that’s okay. I know you’re busy, but any advice you have to offer would mean a lot to us.”
“Of course,” Flynn says.
The Waylands are beaming at him again. Their lackluster reaction to me suddenly makes total sense.
They’re hoping Flynn will wind up with their daughter.
I’m an inconvenience in the way of that, but they don’t appear especially concerned about my presence anymore.
I wonder how many of Flynn’s previous girlfriends they’ve met.
“Where in California is your house?” I ask, joining the conversation.
“Cupertino,” Dan answers. “It’s west of San Jose.”
I nod. “My grandparents live in Los Angeles. We visited McClellan Ranch Preserve on one of our trips to see them. My little sister loves horses.”
“How nice,” Lorraine says. “We used to bring Greer there a lot when she was little. Beautiful property.”
“It is,” I agree.
“Do you travel to California a lot?” Dan questions.
I shake my head. “Only a couple of times a year. My grandfather retired recently, so he and my grandmother are able to come east more often.”
“Was he in the entertainment industry?”
“Sort of. Sports.”
“He founded Garner Sports Agency,” Flynn states.
I wasn’t aware he knew that. It has to do with my mom’s side of my family, not the half that overlaps with Kit’s.
“I didn’t realize that,” Julian muses. “Quite the accomplished girlfriend you have, Flynn.”
Flynn has accomplished as much as I have. I’m about to say that when he speaks first.
“Rory is very impressive, yeah. She’s the most extraordinary person I’ve ever met.”
I’m a people pleaser. My entire life, I’ve striven for success and enjoyed the recognition that accompanies achievement. I’ve received no shortage of compliments.
Not a single one has affected me the way those two sentences did.