Chapter 11
BEN
Gosh.
Dancing with Elias was … an experience.
And I think it definitely convinced my brothers that something’s going on.
The morning after the party, I come downstairs to find Nate, Archer and Miles all staring at me.
Archer pulls a stool out from the breakfast bar and orders me to sit. “Spill,” he says the second I park my butt.
“Spill what?”
“Guys, leave him be,” Nate says. His voice lacks conviction and I can tell he wants to know, too.
“Come on, just tell us what’s going on with you and the new guy,” Archer whines.
“We should probably stop calling him ‘the new guy,’ I can’t imagine it’s making him feel very welcome.”
“Did he say that?” Archer asks.
No, and I’m sure he wouldn’t. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t feel it though.
Before I can reply, Archer goes on. “I don’t say it to his face.”
“Shush,” Miles says, waving his hand in front of Archer’s big mouth. “Tell us about Elias, what’s going on?”
I feel their eyes on me. “Jeez, I haven’t even had a cup of coffee yet. Can I at least get my caffeine before you all start grilling me?”
Archer slumps in his chair as I make my way around the bar to the coffee machine and pour myself an espresso. I might need a few of these today.
With my back turned, I say, “Elias asked me out.”
Archer slaps his hand down on the counter.
“I told you! Miles, you owe me ten bucks.”
“You guys were betting on this?”
“Since the day he walked into the locker room.”
Since day one? But Elias only started flirting with me last week.
“Why?”
Archer shrugs. “Thought I saw him checking you out.”
“You must have been mistaken.”
“Obviously not,” Archer says with a grin.
Miles rummages in his pockets and starts pulling dollars out and slapping them on the counter.
I notice that Nate has been quiet throughout this conversation. He tells Miles to keep his grubby money away from where we eat and I slip upstairs to get out of the way.
Ten minutes later, there’s a knock on my door and Nate steps in.
“So, you’re going on a date with Elias?”
I shrug. “Yeah, why not?”
He smooths the sheets on my bed before taking a seat. “Ben, are you sure about this? Elias is your teammate. What if it doesn’t go well?”
My throat gets tight. Does Nate think I’m going to screw this up? That Elias will get bored with me? Even though this is fake, the thought hurts.
“I’m sure we can both be mature enough to still get along as teammates.”
Nate slow nods. “It’s just …” He picks at the cotton on my comforter, his gaze trained carefully down at the bed. “I still don’t know if Elias is a good fit for you.”
“Nate—”
His head shoots up. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to tell you what to do, it’s just, I don’t want you to get messed around. Elias just comes off as kind of a douche.”
A sudden urge to defend Elias surfaces, but I push it down. Nate is my best friend. He has my best interests at heart. Elias doesn’t. Elias just wants to monopolize my time so we can be a better doubles pairing.
“I appreciate you looking out for me, Nate, I really do. But I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself.” I try to be gentle, but firm enough to let him know I really mean what I’m saying.
He takes a deep breath, nodding. “Okay, I’ll stay out of it. If you want to date Elias, I’ll support you."
After he leaves, I find it hard to focus on anything. I hate lying to Nate. I consider going downstairs and telling him the truth, but I think it’s far too late for that now.
Plus, Elias texts me saying,
Hey boyfriend, want to go on a date with me tomorrow night?
My insides turn to jello. I wish I could go on a date with him, even if it is fake, but I can’t.
It’s my mom’s birthday, I have to go back to Connecticut for a few days for a party. We’ll hang out when I get back.
A reply appears ridiculously fast.
What about the match this weekend? We can’t miss any practice sessions.
I remember our conversation in the laundry room and feel like I’m not holding up my side of the bargain. But I can’t blow my mom’s birthday off. My life wouldn’t be worth living. He sends another text before I can reply.
Where are you? We need to talk.
I should have known Elias wouldn’t let it go that easily. But if it’s a toss-up between getting on his bad side or getting on my mom’s, I know who I’d choose.
I’m already pretending I didn’t forget her birthday and dealing with the extra workload I’ll have when I get back from whatever extravagant two-day party she’s got planned. I don’t need Elias on my case as well.
On my way to the library, got lots of work to catch up on.
I don’t expect him to text back so fast. The light turns green and I pause before someone starts honking behind me. When I glance down, I catch a glimpse of his response.
Meet you there.
Elias is waiting outside the library with a textbook and a laptop shoved under his arm, a petulant scowl on his face.
“Hey.” I try to act casual and walk past. He follows me, keeping his voice low once we get inside.
“What the hell, Ben?”
“Shall we take this table? Looks quiet in this spot.”
“No, over there’s better.”
I frown.
“I was just here with Joelle.”
I unpack my books and start up my laptop.
“Ben, we need to practice. We don’t want to lose to Harvard, do we?”
“We won’t. We’re a much better team. It’s Stanford we have to worry about.”
“When do we play them?”
When I glance up, his eyes are glowing with something akin to fear.
“Elias, don’t worry. We’ve got plenty of time.”
His nostrils flare and he huffs as he leans back in his chair. His legs splayed open, exposing the impressive shape of his thighs in grey sweats. I gulp.
“Can you explain to your mother—”
I laugh so loud I have to clamp my hand over my mouth.
“Clearly you’ve never met my mom. There is no ‘explaining’ where she’s concerned. It’s her way or the highway.”
“So, what’s wrong with the highway?”
I cock an eyebrow. “Elias, what’s your mom like?”
Something changes so drastically and suddenly on his face I want to recoil like I’ve been burned. He swallows. “My mother died in a car accident when I was sixteen.”
My stomach drops. It’s like a trap door being opened.
“God, Elias, I’m so sorry.”
An awkward silence follows. I have no idea what to say except sorry, and I’ve already said that. If he wants to give me the silent treatment now, I guess I’ll just have to take it.
“It’s fine,” he says finally.
I look up from where I’d been blushing into the cover of an economics textbook.
“You should go home for her birthday.”
Oh damn, I feel freaking terrible now.
My parents house surfaces in my mind. Its acres of land. The gardens with their labyrinthine mazes and carefully trimmed hedges. The well-maintained tennis courts.
“We could…” No, what are you doing?
His head snaps up, his gaze meeting mine.
I sigh. “You could come with me and we could practice on my parents’ courts.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You have tennis courts at your house?”
“My parents do. Yes. On their property.”
I flush. I hadn’t anticipated getting many chances to be embarrassed about how wealthy my parents are while I’m at Princeton. But I guess that just shows how sheltered I was from real people before I got here.
That cocky exterior seems to be hiding for the time being. He shuffles uncomfortably in his chair. “I won’t be intruding?”
“No.” I chew the inside of my lip. “Actually, my mom loves new people. She’d be really happy to meet you. And there’ll be like a hundred people at the actual party. Her birthdays aren’t exactly … intimate.”
He perks up and for a moment, it’s worth it. Introducing someone to my family. Bringing something that’s safe and just mine into that world for the first time. It’ll be hell. But maybe worth it to see that smile on his face.
“Excellent!” He sits up straight and grabs his textbook and laptop. “Where did you say they live?”
“Newtown, Connecticut. Don’t Google it, it’ll just depress you.