The next moment, though, her cousin clearly caught herself, glancing away.
“Sorry, I’m still burned about my parents not coming in this weekend. I just meant that I’m not that much of a catch. Obviously, since I haven’t been, you know, caught.”
Katy tried to push her hurt feelings aside. Cassie was still reeling over her parents’ sudden cancellation and then this Maine boy’s rejection. Surely she hadn’t really meant what she’d insinuated. Besides, Katy didn’t really have any moral high ground here.
“You just need to meet the right guy,” Katy continued, trying to sound comforting.
Cassie looked back over at her, her eyes lighting up. “You mean like David?” she asked.
Katy felt her heart clench in her chest. “I mean like someone who likes you and treats you with respect.”
Her cousin suddenly sat up, hanging her legs off the side of her bed. Katy moved back to allow her more room.
“David is pretty much the most respectful guy on campus. I melt when I think about him taking care of me that night at the Wolf Club,” she went on.
Katy sat silently, unsure of how to respond, barely able to hold onto the thread of the conversation. Was she supposed to encourage her cousin to go after a guy who had admitted to Katy that he didn’t reciprocate Cassie’s feelings? A guy whom Katy was secretly falling for herself? How would Cassie feel if Katy told her not to pursue David and then turned around and asked if she could have him instead? There was no good way to proceed, and she blamed herself entirely for that.
When Katy didn’t say anything, Cassie spoke again, saving her from further awkwardness—maybe.
“Speaking of, I finished the scene for our play. You’re going to love it!”
Katy seriously doubted that. Cassie hopped off her bed to run to her bag, zipping it open and pulling out her laptop. She hurried back to sit beside Katy on the floor, excitedly opening up a file called Forbidden Passion: A One-Act. Katy already wanted to scream.
“I’m about to email this to everybody,” Cassie said. “But we can run through it together right now.”
The “forbidden passion” was, obviously, between David and Cassie’s characters: two unnamed star-crossed lovers battling the male character’s unsupportive parents. Wait.
“Am I playing . . . David’s mom?” Katy asked slowly.
Cassie laughed. “And Zeke is your husband! I thought David would think it was hilarious.”
Katy’s eyes scrolled quickly down the page, past the cheesy dialogue, to the finale.
“You and David . . . kiss?”
“Yeah, and then you and Zeke kill him. Your own son! It’s going to be a riot.”
Katy’s stomach roiled. But before she could react, Michelle appeared in the door.
“Hey, you’re both back,” she said in greeting.
“Both?” Cassie asked, her eyes narrowing in confusion as she turned to look at Katy.
Uh-oh.
“I did a little sightseeing in Boston. Alone. Just to get away from campus for a bit,” Katy quickly replied, hot shame sinking into her. Good thinking: more lies!
Cassie looked surprisingly concerned, even hurt. “You weren’t going to tell me?”
“Of course I was! I just wanted to ask you about your trip first.” Katy wondered if she was as red in the face as she felt.
“So what sights did you see in Boston?” Michelle asked.
“Umm,” Katy started. Boston, Boston, Boston. What was in Boston?!
Luckily, this time, Michelle’s short attention span saved her.
“Oh, I forgot to show you guys my costume for Primal Scream! Hold on!” She took off down the hallway, leaving Katy sitting awkwardly on the bed beside Cassie.
Their bouncy roommate returned quickly, holding an elaborate Mardi-Gras-style mask and a plastic bag of tricolor beads. She smiled expectantly.
“That looks awesome,” Katy replied politely. “But I thought Primal Scream was done . . . in the buff?”
“Oh, it is,” Michelle replied with a devilish smile. “This is my entire costume.”
“Oh, that’s smart!” Cassie said with a laugh. “So they can’t see your face! I need to get a mask, too.”
Katy turned to face her cousin. “You’re doing Primal Scream?” she asked in surprise. True, Cassie wasn’t under the same royal expectations that Katy was. But regardless, Katy hadn’t known that her cousin was planning to participate.
“Why not?” Cassie replied with a grin. “It’s part of the Harvard experience! When will we get a chance like this again?”
Katy couldn’t argue with that. But, even with a mask on, there was no way she could do something so bold, not after years of Lorrellian values being impressed upon her over and over again.
“Besides, I bet David will be there. The Wolf Club guys always are. Maybe he’ll be a little keener on me when he sees me with nothing but a mask on,” her cousin said with a smirk—and suddenly Katy’s nerves were steel.
“So you guys are in?” Michelle asked.
“I am! But Katy would never—”
“I’m in,” Katy said.
Cassie turned to face her, her mouth agape. And truthfully, Katy had shocked herself. But if Cassie was right about David participating, then Katy was going to take the risk.
30
David
“You know, I’m starting to get the impression that Cassie might have a little crush on you,” Zeke said from behind his laptop.
David looked at his own computer screen blankly, unsure how to respond. They were sitting in David’s room, finishing their first readthrough of “Forbidden Passion.” David certainly had some thoughts about it, but he was having a hard time phrasing any of those thoughts politely. He exhaled slowly.
“Well,” he said, “I guess we should start memorizing these lines.”
There was a pause, and then Zeke replied, “I just counted, and I have three. So I think I’ll be all right.”
Lucky. Cassie and David’s lines made up the bulk of the dialogue, and most of it was either sappy affirmations of love or accusations of injustice and unfairness. David rolled his eyes. He had to admit to himself that he had joined the drama club mostly to spend time with Katy, not perpetuate Cassie’s one-sided crush. He would’ve been upfront and honest with Cassie to begin with, but he hadn’t been entirely sure that she was flirting until Katy asked him about it in New York City. Now he couldn’t let Cassie down gently without completely humiliating the poor girl—and possibly isolating himself from Katy in the process.
“Want me to help you run your lines?” Zeke asked.
David turned to face his friend and shook his head. “No, don’t worry about it. You keep studying. I’ll handle this on my own.”
Zeke nodded and turned back to his laptop. “I’m actually feeling pretty good about finals.”
David looked back at his friend and smiled, his appreciation genuine. Zeke seemed to be doing much better in general, which David attributed to his counseling sessions. He had become much more easy-going and sociable. David was proud of his progress.
“So when do you think you’ll go back to visit the Bests?” Zeke asked. David had shared almost all of the story of his trip with Zeke, barring a few rather sensitive details.
“I’m not sure,” David replied. “I was thinking maybe I’d visit for the holidays, but I haven’t heard anything from them yet, and I’d hate to invite myself.”
David didn’t mind spending Christmas by himself at the Wolf Club, but he certainly wouldn’t mind spending it with his newfound family if they invited him.
“Well, you’re always welcome to come back home with me,” Zeke offered. “My parents aren’t as scary and demanding when you’re not the one spending their money on tuition.”
David laughed. “Thanks, mate. That means a lot. But I’ll be all right, whether I’m here or in New York City.”
A knock came at their door.
“You two going to fail your exams as hard as I
am?” Max asked from the doorway.
David chuckled. “It’s always a possibility.”
As per usual, Max was holding a red plastic cup. David’s Wolf Club housemates had made a bad habit already out of using the reading period before exams as an excuse to host parties rather than study—though Max had a preternatural ability to still somehow pass his exams. He was a decent bloke, though, and David didn’t harbor any resentment over it.
“I forgot to tell y’all what our theme for Primal Scream is,” Max said. “We’re doing formal nude. So everyone has to wear a bow tie and top hat. It’s going to be hilarious.”
David shook his head. “Eh, I think I’ll sit this out. Want to use that last night before exams to study.”
“Look, dude,” Max started, his tone suddenly serious. “I won’t make you stay late at the Yard for the afterparty. Won’t even pressure you to have a drink with us. But you have to come to Primal Scream. The Wolf Club has done it every year since they built our house. You can’t break tradition.”
David sighed while Zeke looked over at him, awaiting his response. David knew Zeke wasn’t big on the tradition either, and he was probably waiting to see if David would stand his ground, which would give Zeke an out as well. But David didn’t think the fight was worth it. After all, he had known what he was getting into when he’d first moved in. And as long as Max was true to his word and didn’t force David to participate in the afterparties, the hardest battle had already been won.
“All right, fine,” David replied. “I don’t have a top hat lying around, but I’m sure I can conjure one up.”
Max smiled. “I got you, man. We bought the hats and ties in bulk from a party store. All we need is the naked British guy to complete the ensemble.”
David chuckled. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, as long as he could get it over with and get back to his books. Besides, there was a chance that Katy would be there. It certainly didn’t seem likely, but still . . . a guy could dream.
Max raised his plastic glass to David and Zeke before retreating; Zeke turned back to David.
“We’re really doing this?” he asked nervously.
“You worried that Nur will be there?” David teased good-naturedly, thinking of the pretty and bookish young woman that Zeke had fancied from the moment he’d spotted her in a political science class.
“Yes, actually,” Zeke replied. “We’ve been talking a lot more lately, and I was even thinking about inviting her to the play tomorrow. But I’m not sure how that’ll go if she has to see me looking like a Chippendale’s dancer with even less modesty.”
David closed his laptop and turned to his friend. “Zeke,” he started, repressing his laughter at the apt description, “if anything, Nur will probably be impressed by your bravery. And who knows? Maybe she’ll be participating herself.”
Zeke raised his eyebrows. “Now that’s a thought. I mean, it’s a long shot. But it would be a . . . welcome surprise.”
David nodded. He knew that exact feeling.
“Anyway, let me know if you want help with your lines. The offer stands,” Zeke said. “In the meantime, I’ve got a yoga class to attend.”
David cocked an eyebrow.
“Go ahead and make fun if you’d like,” Zeke went on. “But my therapist says meditation is a great way to relieve stress. You might want to try it before your big kiss tomorrow.”
David blinked. It wasn’t every day that Zeke seized the last word so deftly.
With that, his roommate departed, and David was left alone in his room, faced with a choice. He could study, like he wanted to—or he could memorize his tawdry lines to the best of his ability and thereby fulfill a commitment that he had made to Katy. It was a pittance, really, to sacrifice a few hours of his time when Katy had done so much for David and for the Bests.
But, try as he might, nothing made the prospect of kissing Cassie any better. She was a nice enough girl, and David knew that it was just a play, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was leading her on, now that he knew how she felt about him. And what did Katy think about all this, especially after he had told her that he wasn’t interested in Cassie? Would it bother her?
Or would she care at all?
David opened up his laptop again and sighed, scrolling up to start “Forbidden Passion” again from the top.
* * *
“She’s here,” Zeke said nervously, his eyes wide. “Oh, man, I didn’t think she’d actually come!”
David looked out beyond the curtain at the small crowd that had gathered in the auditorium. He was thankful that it didn’t seem to have attracted a large crowd apart from Mrs. Clarke’s husband, the other drama club members, and a handful of their friends. But, sure enough, Nur was sitting in the back of the auditorium with one of her friends.
“That’s good, Zeke,” David said with a smile. “It means she likes you.”
But, standing there in an ill-fitting suit meant to make his character look older, Zeke still looked a bit green around the gills.
“Don’t go passing out on me up there,” David warned.
“Who’s going to pass out?” Cassie asked, sauntering over in a way that was obviously meant to catch David’s eye. It did, but probably not in the way she intended.
“Nobody,” Zeke replied. “I’m fine.”
“Good. Can’t have my love interest’s father keeling over,” Cassie replied with a pointed smirk in David’s direction. He smiled uncomfortably back. At least he didn’t have to wear a costume. That was probably the only thing in the world that could’ve made the situation any more unpleasant.
“Where’s Katy?” David asked, noting that Cassie’s eyes seemed to flash with momentary irritation—jealousy?—before she regained her composure.
“She said she’d be here any minute,” Cassie replied. “Must be performance day jitters.”
David furrowed his brow. That seemed odd. Katy had always jumped into the improv and skits at the drama club so effortlessly before. Why would she suddenly get nervous now?
“But you’re right,” Cassie went on, reading the time on her smartphone screen. “She’d better hurry. We’re next.”
Connor’s group was performing at the moment, doing some sort of insufferable skit with too much talk that was doubtlessly supposed to be profound. Profoundly annoying, maybe. Still, it was probably better than what he was about to do. He had spent hours memorizing his lines, occasionally laughing out loud at their ridiculousness. If Cassie had been intending to create an uncomfortably funny romantic parody, then she was an utter genius. But David had a feeling that wasn’t the case.
“Sorry I’m late,” Katy’s voice said from behind him.
David whirled, a little bit surprised, to see Katy standing there, as radiant as ever. Her dark hair was teased into a matronly bouffant—her just-visible blonde roots reminding him of the secret she’d shared with him in the New York deli—and she was dressed in a vintage pantsuit for the part, but, even so, she looked lovely. He couldn’t help the smile that eased onto his face at the sight.
“Nice of you to show up!” Cassie teased. Though there was a bite in her tone that gave David the impression that she was only half joking.
A smattering of applause from the other side of the curtain announced that Connor’s group had finished their performance. While the rest of his troupe took their seats in the auditorium to watch the other plays, Connor came back behind the curtain wearing a leather jacket and jeans that were too tight. David watched him suspiciously as the other man slid between himself and Katy like a snake.
“Wow, you look like quite the cougar,” he said to Katy, oozing an undeserved confidence.
Katy rolled her eyes, making no effort to hide the gesture from her admirer. “Buzz off, Connor.” David smirked at her obvious distaste.
“I just wanted to tell you to break a leg,” Connor went on, seeming totally unbothered by her rebuff. “But try not to break a nail, because when this is over I want to take you to dinner.�
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This time Katy straight-out laughed in disdain, but Connor took another step toward her, and at that point David had already had enough. Before Katy had to tell this jerk no a second time, he extended his arm and scraped Connor out of his way like a windshield wiper splattering a bug.
“Hey!” Connor began. But, turning around and looking up—quite a bit up, in fact—at David, he seemed to decide against putting up too much of a fight. Instead, he spat, “Let the lady choose for herself.”
“She chose,” David growled. “You just weren’t paying attention.”
Connor opened his mouth like he wanted to continue, and David took a deep breath, expanding his chest and pushing his shoulders back. Connor wouldn’t be the first twerp he’d scuffled with, and David was fairly confident in his overeager-jerk-bashing abilities. Wisely, this overeager jerk thought better of it and turned to skulk away.
Katy chortled.
“Next group!” Mrs. Clarke’s nasal voice intoned from the auditorium seats.
Here goes nothing. Right on cue, Cassie looked over at David and smiled, then reached down to grab his hand. Cassie and David walked out onto the stage alone. Katy and Zeke—David’s parents—wouldn’t join them until the end of the short play.
David squinted in the bright heat of the stage spotlights and then, as his eyes adjusted, peered out into the crowd. Nur waved politely from the back, and David almost forgot that he couldn’t wave back. Connor had rejoined his group and was sitting grumpily, his arms crossed. And Mrs. Clarke, whom David got the impression took all of this way too seriously, was standing up holding a legal notepad and a pen, poised to document all of her “constructive” criticism. David took a deep breath.
Let’s get this over with.
He turned to face Cassie, pantomiming a look of enraptured love and grasping both of her hands in his.
“They know about the baby,” David said, his voice rising with every syllable until he found an appropriate volume for the acoustics of the auditorium. If he was going to act in a bad play, he might as well make sure everyone could hear it.
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